The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
Preaching in a Tent in Santa
Rosa for the DeS.
titute.
MRS. BARTON's QUEER STORY.
The Robber Killed at the Franklin
House Identifed-New Light on
the Brown Scandal.

The wife of Evangelist J. D. Barton, in
telling the story of her wrongs last night
to CALL reporter incidentally threw some
light on the identity of the burglar who
was killed in the Franklin residence some
weeks ago.
While the body was lying in the Morgue
with detectives in plain clothes on the
threshold watching all visitors for any
signs of recognition, Evangelist Barton
and his 16-year-old- d-daughter Lizzie, who
had identified the dead man by the por-
traits and descriptions in the newspa-
pers, visited the Morgue. and were con-
vinced beyond all doubt that the burglar
on the slab YVES an acquaintance named
Bowditch or Bowdish, Chinatown
gambler.
when my husband left me the first
time three years ago he placed his daugh-
ter with Bowditch and the woman who
was called his wife, on Union street, and
that's why they were able to identity him."
said Mrs. Barton. "Bowditch left wife
Ind five children in Topeka, Kansas"
This was the most sensational episode in
Mrs. Barton's story. Next in point of
interest is her statement that her husband
remarked to her. after the First Congrega-
tionai Church scandal got into the news
papers, that she could make $500 by repre-
senting herself to be Jane Elizabeth Bad
din, the woman for whom Mrs. Davidson
claimed to be acting as agent when she
received $500 from DR.. G. 0. Brown. Mrs.
Barton continued:
II told him that if there was $4,000 or
0,00O in it | would not swear falsely.
"After having left me three years ago
and remaining away in Fresno tor seven
n m 10 mo nd
went along smoothly for few weeks. I
bought him shirt, an overcoat and some
other things. don't think the overcoat
is paid for vet"
Evangelist Barton skipped from home
the last time on the 1st of March, Just
month ago, for the purpose of spreading
the gospel among the heather in the inte-
rlor. His wife said that when he left she
had two cents, two sacks of potatoes, one
can of corn and can oftomatoes. HeItold
the landlady that he was well fixed for the
campaign, with two suits of clothes and
260 acres of land.
"Pe has not written to me nor given me
q cent since he has been gone," continued
his wife, land / nave been obliged to go
out and do housework to support myself.
It's nothing new, because | had to work
the same way when he was with me-"
Mrs. Barton is a Swedish woman, and
looks as though she had worked hard all
her life. She was Salvation Army lassie
in San Diego five years ago, and being
ordered to Los Angeles there met John d.
Barton, who was leading checkered ex-
istence between carpentering and preach
Ing.
The Salvation Army lassie married the
carpenter-evangelist and all went well for
about two years when he left his wife and
took his 13-yeaI-old daughter Lizzie with
him. Some time last year Barton made
the acquaintance of pious widow named
Minnie Soule, who had received $1,000 in
surance money by the death of her hus-
band.
The widow. who had been connected with
the Salvation Army, was frequent visitor
and took great interest in evangelical
work. She left the City at about the same
time that Mr.. Barton did
Mrs. Barton is very much worried over
the fact that Barton left several unpaid
clock missing, for which Mrs. Barton paid
installments of so cents per week.
Rev. w. n. Meserye, pastor of the Union
square Free Baptist Church, told what he
knew about Mr.. Barton. He was employed
by q certain number of the congregation
for street work, Barton being a lusty
shouter of hymns, and kind of collar-and-
elbow open-air exhorter of the unregener-
ate He got out flaming circulars and had
"John D. Barton, evangelist" painted in
big letters on a white cloth tackled UP on
the church wall. The following is copy
of the circulars:
REVIVAL MEETINGS.
UNIoN-souARE FREE BAPTIST CHURCH,
Bush Street, Between Hyde and Larkin.
Commencing Sunday Evening, August IL, 7:45
O'Clock.
Meetings Every Evening During the Week.
Grand Open-Air Meetings Every Night at o'clock
the Corner of Bush and Larkin Streets.
Are You Saved :? Are You Ready to Meet Your
God?
Jesus Died for You! God Loves You and Will
Save You NOwl Give Him Chance!
Come to the Meetings and Bring Your Friends.
Services Conducted by
Evangelists ]. d. BARTON and f. l.. GAUTHIER.