The herald., 1897-03-11
Those spencer LETTERS
Finally introduced as Ex-
hibits i in the Case
THE PLAINTIFFS REST THEIR Case
The Aged Mrs. Livingston Now
Under Arrest
FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT
The Scott Suit Against the Los Angeles
Railway Company
Mrs. Clarion Seeks to Recover Frem Lud
zobeI, the Milliner
FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT
The Scott Suit Against the Los Angeles
Railway Company
Mrs. Clarion Seeks to Recover Frsm Lud
zobeI the Miiliner
Judge Allen Renders an Interesting Opinion
The Threatened Legal Fight Between
the Traction and Los Angeles
Railway Companies Off

konWay \OmpauIeS Ou
Those mysterious letters that have
been alluded to so frequently in the
Spencer case were submitted in evil
dence yesterday.
Mrs. Spencer did not identify them
as her husbands handwriting, however,
merely conceding that the handwriting
appeared much like his, save that the
signature was too cramped.
Mr.. Way, receiving teller of the First
National bank, upon going upon the
stand, was offered the letters and posi-
lively identified them as being in the
handwriting of Mr.. Spencer.
FORETELLS HIS OWN DEATH.
Perhaps the most interesting, If not
legally the most important of the batch
of letters, are those written by Mr. Spen
Ger to his son and daughter. The one is
in essential particulars practically a
duplicate of the other. The one ad-
dressed to his daughter Eva reads as
follows:
Los Angeles. Cal-Dear Daughter:
When you receive this will be through
with the cares and troubles of this life.
l feel that this life has not been
wholly failure. Although when
look back over the past forty
years of my life I see but few
bright, sunny spots. I have outlived
my usefulness, and I feel that you will
be benefited by my non-existence. Ev-
erything has worked against me since
my unfortunate investment in Los An
geles and every attempt to extricate
myself has been abortive. If I had been
the only one to suffer it would have been
all right but my dear wife has been
greater sufferer. If had consulted with
her and followed her advice it would
have been very different with us ALL
She seriously objected to my purchas-
Ing the Orange property which cost me
$36,000 and was not worth over $40 900.
Being a newcomer and having an idea
that an orange property would be a good
investment and being so assured by the
real estate sharps. l was prevailed upon
to purchase, much to my sorrow. Be-
tween the interest on the mortgage and
the expense of running the place and
our living, everything going out and
nothing coming in, 1t has caused me
many sleepless nights. The family sill
yer, with that of Mrs. Spenoer's, was
packed in a trunk and put in the store
We were living in the Rose block. This
trunk with all of its contents was stolen.
Mrs. Spencer demonstrated against put
ting the trunk in the store room, but it
was so much in the way and l thought
II would be perfectly safe with the other
trunks. This has worried us dreadful
ly. 1t was my fault. I hope you and
James and Bell and Mrs. Spencer will be
firm friends when you become acquaint-
ed with each other. She is true noble
woman. You must have friends that
you can rely upon. You and your broth
er have lived apart so much that YOU are
like strangers. You must cultivate him
and trust him, for he is true and noble
brother. l regret that you and Bell have
not been better friends. I have pro-
tected you in every way from ever COM
ing to want. by my life policies and the
100000 secured to you in Honolulu which
hope will be managed in way to give
you handsome support. You have had
the Carthage property; I have decided
my dear wife the Orange property as it
is subject to the mortgage. The money
Mrs. Spencer drew from her fathers es-
tate was used in common. and the per-
sonal property belongs to her, as she
purchased it with her money. I am
thankful that I leave you all comfort
ably situated Now my dear daughter
that you have neither father or mother,
SOu Will Dt your SulQe ana protector.
Your affectionate father,
A. H. SPENCER.
Walter D. Stephenson has been my
legal adviser.
AN OPEN STATEMENT.
While there are many allusions in the
above letter which can only be under
stood when taken in connection with
the testimony put forward to show the
peculiar relations existing between Mr..
and Mrs. Spencer, the following state
ment is more explicit Under what cir
cumstances 1t was written, and what
prompted the old man to write it, can
only be matter of conjecture. 1t reads
as follows:
Il have nothing to live for, and know
that everyone will be benefited by my
death. i have done everything that is
bad, have lied and deceived Mrs. Spencer
and treated her with personal abuse
Why have done as l have / do not
know. 1 have been possessed by the
devil, l suppose. 1 cannot account for
1t. l am losing my mind and am not
capable of doing business, and have
put everything into her hands to do
Whatever she thinks best. do not wish
10 90 anything to bring reproach upon
enyone."
LETTER OF PATHETIC PROTEST.
While neither the letters or the state
''SfN NNCl SCtl ny MIS-. spencer,
- testified to by herself, it might have
been supposed that the letters addressed
TO herself would be familiar to her.
Inc illusions made in the following
letter illustrate the weak mentality OF
the writer, and at the same time there
is strong touch of pathos in it, consid-
ering the unhappy position he. by its
terms, confessedly occupied:
Annie: Time after time I have ac-
knOWledged to you that have done Il
great wrong. 1 have destroyed YOUR
happiness, your life, by my cowardice
and weakness, and 1 have ruined my
own existence. If had only been more
open and candid and trusted in your love
and goodness and consulted you and
been governed by your advice, I should
not be in the condition mentally and
finacially that I am today. Everything
has gone against me. The unusual cold
dry weather has made what was an
unwise purchase at best a failure, and
the $4,000 paid will probably be to-
tai loss. o. what fool was that 1
Gid not consult you before l paid thai