The herald., 1896-09-05
More Light Thrown On Peculiar
Proceedings
B0SLEY'S STORY ATTACKED
Al Endeavor to Justify the Acts Of the
Conspirators
The Charge Made Thst Bosley Had by His Con-
duct With Mrs. Dodson Created Great
ScandaI-Text of tile Document

In last Thursdays addition OF the
Herald there was published an account
of an alleged conspiracy to blackmail
G. w. Bosley, a well-known resident of
this city and owner of several oil wells
and pumping plant situated in the local
field, between Figueroa street and Park
place. Mr.. Bosley accuses four persons
Of conspiracy to ruin his reputation, or
to force him to pay money and trade
his pumping plant for twenty-one lots
of little value situated on Angelina
Heights. In support of his story Bosley
produced an affidavit of Mrs. Narcissa
T. Dodson, who confessed in the pres
ence of witnesses that she and three men
named Erastus Root, George Simpson
and Rich had concocted a scheme to
surprise Mr.. Bosley in a compromising
situation and to force him to accede to
certain demands as the price of silence.
Since making her affidavit, Mrs. Dod-
son has flown and is now supposed to be
in Mexico, where she cannot be reached
by the local courts. AS a sequel to the
charges made by Bosley against Root,
who is man 81 years of age, the latter
has now come forward with an affidavit
explaining his connection with the mat
ter The document is self explanatory
and is given below in full, as follows:
State of California, County of Los An
geles, ss.:
Erastus Root, being first duly sworn,
deposes and says:
That | am a resident of Los Angeles
county, Los Angeles city, and have been
a resident of said county for twenty
two years, and of said city most of said
time.
That on or about the 18th day Of No
vember, 1895, leased to one Mrs. Dod-
son a part of the house which I was oc-
cupying. That she at once. in company
with her little son, boy of 10 or II
years of age, took up their residence
there. Soon after their residence there,
she and George w. Bosley began course
Of conduct toward one another that was
scandalous and shameful for anyone,
and especially so for married mar. as
he Bosley, represented himself to be.
That such conduct created great scandal
in the neighorhood amonS my neigh
bors, and brought my house and myself
into great disrepute.
That / frequently entreated them to
stop such conduct or leave my premises.
That about two months prior to the
Glol udy VI <Au6ust, lHS iiiptiiCi oiiu i'oS
ley sought by legal proceedings to con-
fine the boy in the reform school at
Whittier, but could find no legal cause
for doing so. That Iihen they failed to
get rid Of the boy in that way, they so
abused and ill-treated him that neigh
Dor interferred and found a home for the
boy elsewhere.
That l used every possible means to
induce Mrs. Dodson to leave my prem
tee hor conduct with the old
man Bosley, but she failed and refused
to do either.
That 1 called upon Mr.. George Simp
son, a neighbor and friend OF mine, to
advise me how to get them out of my
premises, ana, acting under his advice,
1 served two written notices on Mrs
Dodson to quit and surrender to me said
premises.
That l found myself unable by any
peaceable means to get rid of the par
ties, and so get rid of the odium and
disgrace, and was unable for lack of
means to remove them by legal pro-
cess.
That 1 thought if could expose them
in their guilty conduct I could frighten
them from my house.
That acting upon this plan I asked
Mr.. George Simpson and Mr.. Rich to
come to my house on the night of the
21st of August, 1896, with a view to dis
cover them to witnesses occupying the
same bed together.
That on the night of the 21st of All
gust, 1896, Mr.. Simpson and Mr.. Rich
came to my house. and after Mrs. Dod-
son and Bosley retired for the night
we three went to her part of the house
struck match, and discovered them
occupying the same bed as man and
wife.
That when Bosley saw the situation he
asked what we wanted to make the
thing right We told him we wanted
them to take their effects and peace
ably leave the premises, which they did
the next day, and nothing whatever
was said about the pumping plant trade
or any other trade at that time.
That as to the trade for the pumping
June.
That at that time Bosley said to me
he would like to trade his pumping
plant, and that he would leave the bust
ness and that neighborhood if he could
trade, and that he would give me a COM
mission.
That, hoping to get rid of the par
ties, I saw Mr.. Simpson and asked him
to work up a trade.
That some kind of a deal was at one
time about made between Rich and
Bosley for some lots; the trade for some
reason was not consummated .and that
was the last l heard of the matter. 4,
ERASTUS ROOT
Subscribed and sworn to by the said
Erastus Root before me- this 4th day of
September, 1896.