The San Francisco call., 1896-03-12

Yes, SIT.
How could you have been ready to clear up
that matter when you had not thoroughly read
the Oyerman letters at that time?
l must leave that entirely to Miss Overman
Knowing my innocence, was going to state
that knew nothing about those letters.
But you knew what was in those letters?
had glanced those letters through but be-
came heartily sick of them and did not read
them through carefully until February g.
When did Miss Overman make a written
statement TO you and Mrs. Brown in eXplana-
ton of those letters?
1t was two or three days after the appear
ance of the letters in the papers
Did you feel satisfied with that statement?
l can't say that l felt entirely satisfied
with it.
Without a full knowledge of those letters
and with that unsatisfactory explanation of
them you were ready to go before your
brethren and say you could explain the whole
matter with few sentences?
In explanation of my stand at that time
wish to relate certain occurrence. On Feb
ruary / received letter signed by one
Samuel Wellesley. In that letter | was asked
to meet the writer at Fruitvale at a O'Clock on
the 9th, and that | would hear something to
my interest in reference to Mrs Davidson. l
have learned in the progress of this unhappy
affair to trust nobody whom l did not know.
l Immediately telephoned to Detective Sey
mour and learned that he was able to go with
me. We took the 3 o. clock boat and reached
the Frultyale station at 4 O'Clock, in time to
keep the appointment. We got off the train at
that Mr. Seymour was with me. | looked
around to make it apparent was expecting
some one to meet me, and lady of respect
able appearance came up and spoke TO me.
She said she was the mother OF Samuel YIELDS
ley. She said she had known Mrs. Davidson
for many years and that she formerly resided
at Mulkilteo, Mich. l then told her that any
stateme Mt that she might want to make to me
would have to be heard in the presence of Mr..
Seymour. She agreed to this, and Mr.. Seymour
heard every word that was spoken. Her story
was this:
She knew Mrs. Davidson for many years md
used to correspond with her. Her son had
been engaged us a collector for Mrs. Davidson.
and had in gambling lost $1S5 of Mrs. David
sons money at Portland besides nearly every
thing of his own that he had with him at the
time and which had any value. Mrs. David
son demanded that this money be paid back to
her. and she had done everything to liquidate
the debt. Mrs Davidson said she did not care
how long it took to pay her, and that she did
not care to prosecute the young man, as she
had had similar trouble OF her own. Mrs.
Wellesley said that after this she returned to
Michigan. and claimed that an agent came to
her and asked her to come TO San Francisco
and swear that she was Mrs. Jane Elizabeth
Baddin. She said she would rather throw her.
self into the bay. This ended our talk. Sub
seluently Mrs. Wellesley suddenly disappeared,
and | feel now that the whole thing was
swind!e, and was uni ust and unfair to Mrs.
Davidson and Attorney Gallagher. I think it
was simply scheme to get the S1S5 out OF me.
felt that in the light of o ther circumstances
was an innocent man.
You made two statements previous to this to
the committee that you could clear uD this
matter in a few sentences?