The San Francisco call., 1897-06-15
SAYS THEY TOOK
HIS GYMNASIUM
Rev. James Blackledge Said
to Have Formed a
Conspiracy.
George Bates Alleges That He
and His Sister Were
Victims.
Miss Caroline Bates Said TO B, Starv-
ing Whtn Rescued by Her
Surprised Frien1s.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
9OS Broadway, June IA.
year ago George Bates was principal
OF the school known as he Berkeley Gym
nasium and Rev. James Back edge and
John J. Moran were teachers. Now Rev.
Blackledge and Moran are Joint princi :
pals and Bates is a humble teacher.
In sensational complaint brought by
Bates against Moran ami Black edge the
plaintiff asks for $72. $50 and costs for n
variety OF causes which he alleges have
deprived him of his school and his finan-
cial standing and nearly brought about
the starvation, lunacy and death OF his
beloved sister Caroline.
Several years ago Bates established the
Berkeley gymnasium. He employed Mo-
ran teacher ana somewhat later en-
ployed the Rev. James Blackledge 10
teach physical sciences and to act as vice
principal OF the gymnasium. In this DO
sition Mr.. Blackledge had recourse to ell
the private books and letters OF Principal
Bates, and the confidence reposed in the
minister By Bates is now alleged to be at
the bottom OF all the trouble that followed.
Although on several occas ions Black
ledge gave plaintiff his word of honor as 8
gentleman and as a minister of the Cos
pFl kldl ne NOUlQ never QlSClOSe anything
connected with the private or otner af-
falrs of said plaintiff 10 any one whatever,
still, it is alleged, that Through the de-
ceit, fraud, conspiracy, wrongful acts,
treachery and wrongful design, intent and
purposes" the Rev. Mr.. Blackledge did.
IN onjunction with Moran, do damage 10
the plaintiff of the value of $72, $50
The plaintiff states that thew spread
false stories about him throughout Ala
media County, which led some OF his cred
ltors TO attach the gymnasium. This
forced insolvency upon Bates, and when
he was discharged from his debts he de-
clares that he had neither a school nor a
financial standing.
Caroline Bates, a sister of the plaintiff,
also appears to be party TO the com
paini. Moran is said 10 have obtained
from Bates and his sister apparatus and
furniture reasonably worth $3.50 Caro-
line Bates was engaged as a teacher in the
school established by Moran and Black
leige, known as the Peralta Hall Acad-
emy, and as part payment for her services
agreed 10 provide her with reasonable
board and lodging. This part of the pro-
gramme was not carried out for the health
OF Caroline was gradually undermined be-
cause of the poor quality of the iood and
she was further injured by the unmanly
threats made by Moran to her 1t is al
legged that Moran threatened that if she
against him she would be eprlved OF tEe
little property the law had left her, and
would be discharged from the school.
This treatment must have gravely
affected Miss Bates, for it is alleged that
she became seriously and permanently
Ill, utterly collapsed, physically and men
tally, and for time was entirely without
sense or feeling. and that defendants
neglected to care for her properly, did
not notify plaintiff of his sisters condi-
tion, refused to send for necessary medi-
cines and gave food OF any kind to her
only at long intervals, ana plaintiff on in
formation and belief alleges that Caroline
was prevented from starvation and dea
only by the acc dental visit of frlendn
George Bates declares that he has now
been compelled to secure employm mt as
a teacher in the City of San Francisco" ="
and thinks that the sum mentioned, with
cost for his attorney, II. d. Talcott, Will
adequately recon pense hIm tor mis- mental
and physical sufferings and those of his
sister.