The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-27
bARILLAS RISES
IN HIS WRATH
Declares He Never Talked
Marriage to Miss
Blair.
Incidentally He Pays His Re.
sre:ts to Interpreter
Rihas.
The Swarthy Don Juan Cannot Get
the Hang" at Distance of
the Present Row.

The echoes OF the affidavit match now
going on between Attorney Henry l..
Dimond and the Blair family have
reached Guatemala. From his coffee
plantation the swarthy Don Juan rises to
explain that he never contemplated marry
ing Miss Blair. 1t was mere affair, so to
speak. Through the medium of friends
General Barilias has written that he is
going to even matters up if any attempt is
made to drag him I'M 10 the squabble.
The Guatemalan millionaire evidently
does not love Armande Ribas with the
iervor the interpreter would have his
friends believe. In his letters Barillas in
Inmates that the Blair breach of promise
case which attorneys once intended bring
ing, was a scheme to Tighten his pocket
book, and he intim ates that Ribas was the
principal in the plot, Miss Blair being,
however, a willing and anxious second.
When the storm was threatening some
weeks ago Ribas FASTENED to assure his
patron OF his friendship, at The same time
declaring that Miss May Taber and her
brother-in-law, A. Berans. were the insti-
gators OF the plot. Now the tables are
turned on the interpreter. Miss Taber
has in her possession his correspondence
with Barillas, and some comments by the
millionaire on Ribas and tie Blair i'm
broglio in general. Here is an extract
which sums up BarIllas' Iong-distance
estimate OF the row:
az have just received your cable, in which
you speak OF Miss Lillian Blair's suit. I am
astonished. can only find reason for this in
this scoundrel Ribas. She has absolutely no
reason and no justice on her side. never
understood word of hers. have seen her
comparatively few times. Once | invited her
TO The Palace Hotel. and have seen her other
wise in her mothers mouse. Do not be misled
by the lies which doubtless will be circulated
by Ribas.
You will remember that he wrote me al New
York, which letter I remit to you that you
may see to what lengths he has gone to do
harm. l do not doubt that he went to San
Francisco to prepare this disagreed BILE bust
ness for me- Also that upon seeing the coiors
in which the whole affair was necessarily to
be shown up that he wrote TO me TO New York
10 go the other way fearing reactionary re-
suits. l am in receipt OF another letter from
him. and also there is one for Bruni in
which he corroborates the same story and
adding an implied blame upon Mr.. Berans. i
believe the whole thing is the work of Rivas.
am told, among other things, that L have
offered her matrlmony. l do not know how
or when. l am waiting my letters from San
Francisco Tor more light OH this point. In no
way or in no manner have had such supposed
serious relations with Miss Blair. Believe me,
and the proof viii not be long in coming I
do not see this thing clearly. Cannot under
stand. l am confused. You have good judg-
affair.
have ceased to be surprised at anything 1
suppose l should not look so indifferently
upon the matter and should realize that those
who are implicated will stop at nothing.
Miss Taber declares that she feels iusti-
fed i'll making public General Barillas'
opinion of the scandal, in view of long
standing friendship with him. She deeply
deplores the whole incident and regrets
exceedingly that she should have been in
any way dragged into it.
Il have no III feeling toward any of the
actors in the controversy" said Miss
Taber. Miss Blair do not know, but
have nothing but the kindest feeling to-
ward her. This Is not q case of one woman
against another. 1t is an unfortunate
affair, and feel very sorry for every body
who is mixed up in it. My own position
consists in simply being friend of Gen.
eral Barillas. When he came to this City
he was lavish in his generosity TO all who
met him. This confidence has been
abused and he was imposed upon, and that
is all there is to it."
Tomorrow afternoon Louis Hirsch will
continue his deposition before Court Com
missioner Lawl-T.