The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-15
CONFESSION
Of A MAN
WHO FLED
Ernest Jones Tells of
Many Plots.
COULD NOT RESIST LOVE
MET HIS WIFE WHILE SHE WAS
A CHURCH SINGER.
The Disbarment Proceedings Against
Attorney Hutchinson Are
Dismissed by Judge
Hall.
COULD NOT RESIST LOVE
MET HIS WIFE WHILE SHE WAS
A CHURCH SINGER.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
ono

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
90S Broadway, Sept IA
The disbarment proceedings brought
against Attorney Joseph Hutchinson pro-
duced a sensation this morning such as is
rarely heard in a court of law. The pro-
ceedlngs arise out of the alleged murder
of Annie Johnson a year ago. the divorce
proceedings brought by Gertrude Jones
against her husband, Ernest Jones, and
the subsequent scandal revealed In q suit
over a note in which several attorneys
are interested.
Ernest Jones would have been the most
important witness in the case could he
be reached, but he fed East. and has sent
full confession and life history to Attor-
ney Hutchinson. Jones is facetious, and
he headed his peculiar story, "A Short
History of Some Deeds, Wise and I'm
wise" He proceeds to tell of his early
education and his attendance at church
and Sunday but says he inherited
the habit of lying and has always told
the most absurd falsehoods without the
least cause. Regarding his engagement
TO Gertrude Jones. he says:
Gertrude singing in the choir and i'm
mediately made up my mind that II ever
weakness and fought against it, and many
were the struggles I had with myself as
had conquered my habit. But my love for her
finally got the best of me, and We became en-
gagged unoer false colOr6, Tor had magnlned
my position most wonderfully 1 always
was what people called queer and did not care
for company. Finally one day could not
stand the false coors under which l was sail
ing and told Gertrude all the truth about my
self and. family, and she helping me 1 made
g desperate effort to reform.
We married. I absolutely correct
when l was married and remained for ten
years, At that time we had moved to Frank
lin street, and had taken up with former
Iriend-a certain Harry Beatty, who
past master in the ways OF the world. com,
menced TO emulate his deeds and he abetted
my efforts. Up to this time had absolutely
tried TO do right in every way, but from about
septemoer, 1885, | commenced to go down hill
rapidly, and as l drank more / had less and
less conscience, until I was no better than
the lowest.
l never knew to a certainty whether / was
responsible for the Annie Johnson affair Your
at any rate l happened to be one picked out
as a victim, whether by the lawyers that de-
Tended me or not I could never tell. but they
were all unprtncipled robbers and stopped to
From 5irl' that time my many troubles COM
mehced. and 1 had 10 borrow from whom I
III finally I met this Mrs Leary -Cieary-For-
roster combination, q friend of Francoeur, a
to the older Beatty. Then my troubles were
terrible: but this Cabrera business is absolute
ly false. just hated the sight OF that girl.
and how she got mixed up in this affair a
correspondent l cannot tell, unless II was be-
cause H. NJ F. got mad at me when l left
her and got her chum. this Cabrera.
Girls like that demand money, and l was
weak fool enough not to see the end and kent
borrowing until the amount l owed lust ap-
palled me. The subterfuges and means en-
ployed to raise the money you are aware of.
I find that since January 1897 | have bor-
rowed about $780, and l expect It will take
at least ten years to pay 1t back, for |
mean to turn over new leaf and try and do
right and return these men their money.
Accompanying the letter was a confess
sion going into the details of his friend
ship with Annie Johnson and Attorney
Beatty, who is one of those now attempt
ing to disbar Hutchinson. Regarding his
dealings with Annie Johnson who was at
that time but 13 years old, he says:
It is sufficient to say that had become
well acquainted with Annie johnson and that
about the same time took up and became very
chummy with Henry Beatty. He was what
learned to call a sport, in quiet way, and we
and three months before Gertrude went to the
sanitarium. | told him about Annie Johnson
and he asked me to let him see her. or l
asked him-at any rate we met her several
times.
said. Harry Beatty. do not think am
the guilty party, but 1 cannot have my name
connected with this case on Gertrude's ac-
count. so Ak 1t up to the best of your ability"
land who could help us. but that il was all
nonsense about my not being guilty. and had
given her the he, money, any way. and that would
family He Said TT viii cost lots ' of f'G dough- tE
sad You get any from oT VSey He
l said could II 1t was absolutely necessary.
! was Just crazy with excitement, as they
made me believe that II II was not for them
should go to jail Immediately. I paid them
down. all to Harry Beatty Tor retainer; Beat
~ G. Beatty. $50: Francoeu, $3.50; man in Oak
land whose name l forget. 500; and all their
daily expenses, for which l had an itemized
account from Harry Beatty. which included all
their fare. meals, money claimed have
been spent money to Huda for clothes and ex-
penses and bonds to get her out OF Jail; same
FOR Howard: all the court expenses, copies of
testimony. buying Jurors, etc. etc They.
through Harry Beatty charged me every cent
any one OF the three spent during the time
Harry Beatty employed them. Il paid in odd
sums from s25 UP to $500 or $500 every few
days. Ny recollection is that IT was about
$40 day on an average.
! under the impression that they gouged
DR.. Sharp. as they knew about hts treatment
OF Hulda, Annie johnson having told Harry
Beatty and they seemed TO have the whole
crowd so completely under their thumb that
began 10 mistrust and come to ask your ad-
vice.
After some argument by counsel, Judge
Hall stated that it was quite impossible
to discover anything definite reliable
from the mass of contradictory evidence,
and ordered the disbarment proceedings
dismissed.