The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
KICKS AND LOWS
THIS WOMAN'S LOT
Thomas Siddalps Method
OF Attesting Love for
His Wife.
The Millbrae Man Admits in
Court That He Abused
Her at Times.
Physicians Decide That His Is Not d
Case of Insanity, but of "Pure
CussednesS"

REDWOOD CITY, CAL, Feb. s. -
Thomas A. Siddall of Millbrae, accused of
being insane and attempting to poison
his wife by administering morphine to
her, was this morning again brought be-
fore the Superior Court on the insanity
charge.
1t will be remembered that Siddall was
arrested last Friday night on a complaint
signed by DR.. Baldwin of San Mateo
charging him with being dangerous to be
at large. On Saturday he was brought
before the court on habeas corpus proceed
ings instituted by his attorney, it being
then contended that he was illegally de-
prived of his liberty for the reason that
he was not legally committed, the COM
plaint not having been sworn to before
the committing magistrate. The Judge at
that time made an order releasing SiddalI
on his own recogniZance, provided he
would again appear before the court on
the following Monday. The matter COM
ing up again for hearing thi, morning the
writ of habeas corpus was granted.
This, however, availed nothing, for in
the interval between Saturday and to-day
another complaint was properly sworn to,
charging the same offense. The hearing
OF this took place this morning. Drs.
Barret of Redwood City and Miner of San
Mateo were the examining physicians.
Mr.. and Mrs. German. who live oppo-
site the Siddall home in Millbrae, testified
to many acts of cruelty on the part of
Siddall toward his wife. They had fre-
Quently been called in from their home at
oil times OF the night by the cries of Mrs.
Siddall. They said that at one time Sid
dali took lighted lamp into the barn,
which was tilled with hay, and threw it
on the floor, smashing it to pieces. They
described certain eccentricities OF Sid
dall's, such as going to work when the
moon arose and working all night, tear
ing apart and rebuilding his wagon, and
blowing cornet while riding about on
horseback at different times of the day or
night.
Siddall denied these accounts. He
swore that his wife had a most impetuous
temper. He admitted that he had NAL
treated her in times past, but denied that
he mad done so lately.
After hearing the evidence on both
sides, the physicians suggested that there
were no symptoms OF insanity, but that
the acts complained of showed rather a
spirit of mere "cussedness," and they
could not commit him on the evidence
The court ordered him to be discharged
and minated that the only way to reach
him would be by criminal proceeding,
Temarking that there was no Jury in the
county but would convict him on the evil
dence produced before the physicians to-
day.
But Siddall's troubles were not to end
with his discharge. Late this afternoon
his wife caused complaint in divorce to
be served upon him. In the complaint
she charges him with extreme cruelty,
alleging several instances when he NAL
treated her, beating her with his fists
and knocking her down and fracturing
her arm. In the complaint she also ac-
cuses him of having in the last week &t-
tempted to take her life by administering
poison to her. She prays for divorce
and asks the custody of their fiv month
old boy; that Siddall be compelled to pro-
vide for herself and boy and pay her coun-
sci fees. and that she be awarded the
whole of the community property.
Even this was not the end, for at the
time of the service of the divorce papers a
restraining order was served upon SiddalI,
commanding him to refrain from incum.
bering, transferring, disposing of or in
any way interfering with the personal
property. 1t further COMMANDED him to