The San Francisco call., 1897-09-24
YOUNG BELL
AS A HERO
Threatened a Duel With a
SuitOr for His Mothers
Hand.
Slept in a Gorgeous Bed Cham
ber, but Obliged to Be
His Own Cook.
Once Arrested for Arson and Has a
Record as a Rather Bad Boy in
His School Days.

According 10 his own story, young Fred
Bell has been the hero OF a great many
diverse episodes in his % years. He
loomed up first as the extraordinary vic
tim OF the circums auce of sleeping in the
most ella aborately furnished bedroom in
San Francisco and still having to cook
his own meals. The scene shifted and
the spectators beheld him in the role OF
seeking a duel with pistols with Bayard
Saville because the latter was seeking to
marry his mother. In another act he is
under arrest in Guthrie, o. t., on the
serious charge of arson, and in minor side
light he alternates from a scheme to de-
fraud his mother under the guidance of
Nanny Pleasant to a plan of setting fire
to st. Joseph's Academy, in Oakland, as a
revenge for some petty reprimand at the
hands OF the prefect OF the institution.
OF course the young man denied all the
insinuations Of wrongdoing. When the
light shone on him to disadvantage 1t
was directed by his mothers attorneys.
When he played the grand role the shut
ter was operated from his own side OF the
house. Such are some of the idiosyncra-
sizes of this notorious case that is now
being tried in Judge Coffey's court.
Every body connected with il seems to
revel in the nasty and wearisome revela-
tions that are being slowly drawn out by
the witnesses. Bell himself enjoys APP
parently the manner in which the mai
odorous skeletons of his home are dancing
for the benefit of the queer push that
throngs the courtroom daily. Mrs. Bell
only smiles when he tells of her short
comings. Reference to debauches and
orgies of all sorts meet the general APP
proval of every body except Judge Coffey
who has apparently become resigned to
his lot and has decided to let the opera
bouffe that is performing before him so
through as it may.
The ghost of Bayard Saville, who is now
serving tern. for forgery in San Quen tin,
came sailing into the proceedings yester-
DAY morning, when young Bell recounted
how he had saved his mo- her from marry
ing him. 1t seems Nanny Peasant was
the first to be taken in by Saville, who in
trod uced himself into the household as
the son of a very rich man from Boston
who had been a friend of the colored
woman's parents. With her usual saga
city for turning milTionaires to her profit
Nanny soon had matters arranged for a
marriage between her mistress and her
visitor Savile accom- panied his tiancee
to the Bell ranch in Sonoma County, and
was making love at rapid pace when
Nanny discovered there was q flaw in
his CudTdCleI III lHe matter Oh DelnB an
ex-convict. According 10 young Bsll the
woman delegated to him the work of frus-
trating the marriage.
First of all he prepared a campaign on
the courts to remove his mother us the
guardian OF her children; charging her
with consorting with Saville and one OF
the hands at the ranch. Then he pro-
ceeded 10 the ranch and proceeded 10 read
the law 10 Saville, denouncing him as an
ex-convict and forb .dding his mother
from consentlng to have further dealings
With the wolf who was trying to invade
the home. 1t was quite a stormy affair,
according to Bell, in which there was a
good deal of talk and a possibility of
tragedy, for both he and SaYille were
armed. In the end bloodshed was averted
and matters were settled by Bell loaning
Savllle 81 90 to return to the city. That
was the end OF the love-making.
Then, by way of making things pleas
ant, Bel declared he had seen his mother
intoxicated: In fact, he had been good
enough to get drunk with her. Iu re-
sponse to the question as 10 who were his
mothers sureties. he answered that they
were Nanny" Pleasant and Mrs. Stew
art, also colored woman.
Ihe afternoon open ed with the begin
ming OF the c-oss-examinatlon. Mrs. Bell
Is charged with having neglected her
children, and by way OF beginning her