The San Francisco call., 1896-06-05
Led a Gay Life Previous to Mar
rying the Son of the
TeStator.
INTRODUCED BY a HOTEL MAN
Late Drives and DinnerS-Incidents
Concerning Which Her Memory
Is a Blank.

Parker the contestant OF the Will o.
George H. Parker, deceased, was on the
stand the entire day, and put through q
rigid cross-examination. From her own
admissions it is evident she led gay life
prior to her marriage to Edward L. Par
ker. She said she was introduced to him
in a hotel by man whom she herself had
known before only by sight.
As to Mrs. Parker's life in San Francisco
aud Virginia City she could give only q
shadowy account of it, all the people that
she met then having since dropped out oi
sight as completely as the mysterious
first husband, Mr.. Brown, who, the wit
ness said, never existed. Mrs. Parker was
also not certain about the exact street OF
other localities in the cities that she lived
in prior to her marriage with Edward l..
Parker.
There were stories in the testimony
about dinners at restaurants and sleigh
riding and drives, and altogether the
record is that Of gay career, to say the
least. The witness also admitted that
after her marriage she told her husband S
father and his aunt falsehoods in regard to
her former life.
by Mr.. Delmas this morning Mrs. Parker
said she told George Parker that when she
married his son Edward she was widow.
He answered that he did not believe her.
Both spoke in joking way, and that was
the only time the matter was discussed
between them.
Mr.. Delmas read from Mrs. Parker's
deposition that the falsehood she told
George Parker with regard to her former
marriage was the trouble between them.
All that could be extracted from the wit
ness by frequent questions was the vague
reply that she and the late George Parker
were on the best of terms throughout his
visit.
Mr.. Delmas then asked Mrs. Parker as
to her relations with II. K. Mitchell of
Virginia City. She first met Mr.. Mitchell
in a restaurant in San Francisco in the
spring of 1871. She was in company with
Mr.. Tillnghurst and lady. The four had
supper together. She could not tell where
ahouts the restaurant was. About week
afterwa.d Mrs. Parker got a letter from
him offering her employment in Virginia
City.
Mr.. Mitchell employed her as copyist
at $25 month. She had rooms on Taylor
street opposite his office. He was not mar
ried at the time. A boy from the office
used to bring up her work. Mr.. Mitchell
never came himself. Could not remember
the exact address of the room, the mum Der
of stories in the building or the name of
the landlord. Witness did not receive
company In her room.
Delmas again contradicted Mrs. Parker
by her deposition stating, 81 saw plenty
of people in my room. Mr..
Mitchell frequently came there"
Mrs. Parker said that the man she was
engaged to and left home and changed
her name to avoid marrying was named
Roberts. His uncle kept a piano-stool
factory near Plankville. She was en-
gagged to him in 1869. but could not re-
member the time of the year. She kept
company with him for over year. Ques-
toned more closely with regard to the
matter, Mrs. Parker said: Really, Mr..
Delmas, it was so long ago 1 cannot re-
member"
Mrs. Parker was assisting in a boarding
house in Brooklyn kept by Mrs. Ross. 1t
was on Fulton street, but she could not re-
call the number. She received no remun-
Grafton except her board and lodging.
Mrs Parker went with Mrs. Ross to New
York. She could not tell the name OF
the street-it was one that crossed Broad
way. There were sixteen or eighteen
boarders, but she could only recall the
name of Miss Law.
Brooklyn she never saw her mother. A
hair-dressers sign, George L. Brown, -
in Brooklyn, suggested that name for her
to take. In her deposition she did not re-
member that.
Mrs. Parker first met Edward Parker at
the Allen House. Hartford, while waiting
for the train with q Mrs. Smith. A Mr..
Scranton introduced them.
Were you at that time acquainted with
Mr.. Scranton?"
81 only knew him by sight"
"Was Mrs. Smith acquainted with Mr..
Scranton?"
mo-
'Yet he introduced Edward Parker to
youP
Eyes"
Witness related how Mr.. Parker took
herself and Mrs. Smith out riding. A few
days after she and Mrs. Smith went to call
on Mr.. Parker. Then she and Mr. Parker
in one sleigh and Mr.. Scranton and Mrs.
Smith in another sleigh drove out to re-
sort called Rocky Mountain and had din
ner at about 3 o'clock.
Witness did not remember how long the
dinner lasted. Anyway, on returning
home, Edward Parker's driving was some
what erratic and he managed TO upset the
sleigh. The party rested awhile in Mr..
Parker's apartments in the Charter Oak
building.
Witness denied that it was Parker's bed.
room, but said it was room for Parker
drummers to sleep in when they were in
town.
Mr.. Delmas again referred to Mrs.
Parker's deposition saying that Edward
Parker used to sleep there.
"Was there not bed in the room2"
81 don't remember"
who was in the room at the timer"
"Mr. Parker, myself, Mr. Scranton and
Mrs Smith"
WAS there any one else in the room P'
II don't remember"
Delmas suggested that subsequent to
the dinner the witness memory was
liable to be defective
Frequently after that she and Edward
Parker were in the room together.
Twice Edward Parker took her to the
Pomeroys' house, but on both occasions
Noah and Jane Pomeroy were out. The
only member of the family she met was
Grandma Parker. who is now dead.
The case went over until Monday.