The San Francisco call., 1896-02-02
DR. PREST0N'S CRUELTY,
Grave Charges Against the Ply.
sician Are Made by
His Wife.
Mrs. Preston, Once a Society Belle,
Driven to Beg From Public
Charities.

DIR. Walton FL. Preston, the we'll known
physician. was sued yesterday by his wife,
Mary B. Preston, for divorce. The COM
plainant accused the doctor of almost in
credible cruelty and desertion.
And this is the sequel to a.brilliant event
in society at Saginaw, Mich, not quite ten
years ago, when DR.. Preston led his beauti-
full bride to the altar. There followed a
brief spell of happy welded life, the young
couple occupying prominent place in San
Francisco social circles.
The dream was only dream after all,
for this happiness was like the existence
of butterfly, and DR.. Preston and his wife
dropped out of the gay whirl. Then fol-
lowed the dissensions in the physician s
home that are now alleged to have cul-
minated in cruel treatment, family Jars,
desertion and the helpless wife knocking
at the doors of the Associated Charities
and of Masonic benevolence to save herself
and her two little children from starving.
Such is the story related in Mrs. Pres
toms appeal to the courts as set forth in
legal language, and even more is told
therein.
DR.. Preston has elegant offices at 90
O'Farrell street, but for year or more has
In his wonted style, having taken up the
retired life OF bachelor in apartments.
His wife declares that he receives a large
income from the practice of his profession,
and she believes it to be at least $500 a
month. Yet she is compelled to live with
her two children in INDECENT circum-
stances, depending upon the assistance of
public charities for support.
The PrestonS were married June 8, 1886.
The issue of their union was Walton, boy
of years, and Marguerite, now years of
age.
Mrs. Preston charges that her husband
for more than ayear past has failed to sup
port either the children or herself, not
even with the common necessaries of life
She has during that period been compelled
to depend on the charity of kinsfolk and
friends. while the husband has been earn
ing large sums OF money. She goes even
further, claiming that she has been forced
to apply to the Associated Charities and
the Masons of San Francisco for support
for herself and the children in order to
procure food.
All her jewelry had to be pawned, and
her mother, living with Mrs. Preston, had
to sell and pawn her effects to keep the
wolf of hunger from the door. The Iaun-
dryman refused to return her garments
because the bill for washing was refused
payment by the doctor.
With regard to cruelty Mrs. Preston .ac-
cuses her husband of treating her in "a
cruel and inhuman manner many times,
so often that record of times and dates
would fill a volume; also of calling her
vile names, which she hesitates to men
tion. The vulgar language, she says, was
part of her daily life.
She was accused of unchastity and other
crimes. Many days she was compelled to
go with out food for herself or the children,
particularly in March. 1894, when the
doctor gave her 15 cents in one week to
buy luxuries for the table.
Once the infant child was exceedingly
sick, but the doctor would not attend it.,
although he fed the babe on raisins
secretly until its life was despaired Of At
another time, in June, 1895, the older child
was injured in the knee, but the father
refused to care for the little boy, who had
to be taken to the public hospital for
treatment and relief
sions on which the doctor abused, threat
ened to stab, lnsulted, assaulted and re-
yiled his wife. Once, after calling her vile
names, he threw her down upon the floor
and left her back and wrist blue from
bruises inflicted by him in his fit of pas
sion. Again he vilely insulted her and
accused her of disreputable conduct, and
in August, 1894, the wife was beaten and
frlghtfully bruised. She claims to have
been in fear of her life IN addition to suf-
fering intensely in body and mind through
his brutality. In the end the doctor de-
serted his wife, leaving his family desti-
tute.
Mrs. Preston wants the custody of her
children, wants alimony and expenses of
court, as well as divorce.