The herald., 1898-12-22
DUNBAR and THE KIDS
A HUSBAND OF ONE DAY GETS A
LITTLE GAY
And His stepson Thumps Him Good
and Hard-The Story Will Be
Heard in the Police Court

William Van, +. Westphal and John
Howard, three youths for whom Constable
Augment had a warrant, having been ap-
prised of the fact, came into the police
court yesterday afternoon and surrendered
themselves. The complainant is one John
Dunbar, an advertising solicitor, who tenn
porarly occupies lodgings in a Hill street
caravanserai, who complains that the trio
disturbed his peace on Monday last by
traducing and threatening him. Dunbar
holds the position at present of. step-father
to young Van, but Mrs. Dunbar, formerly
Mrs. Van, is doing her best to have him
berett of it as soon as the law will allow.
The story behind the disturbance OF the
peace case is quite interesting. Mrs. Dun
bar is a herb doctor, whose herbarium and
place of business it situated at 8U31s South
Spring street. Until recently she was q
widow. Some time ago she became &C.
quainted with Dunbar, who drew glowing
imaginative pictures OF the extent of his
operations in the soliciting line. by judic-
ious blowing he made Mrs. Van believe that
he would be very desirable helpmeet, and
when he had made himself solid he began
borrowing money OF her, sd ID is claimed
by the friends OF the botanist, for legitimate
purposes.
Whether the Widow Van did some tall
blowing on her side as to the magnitude OF
her own resources is only surmised. At any
rate, Dunbar put out his matrimonial bait
and the female Barkis was only too will.
ing. The match was settled promptly and
on Friday-a bad day for marriages
9th inst, the couple were joined. What
occurred between Friday and Saturday will
be learned in the superior court when the
case is heard. Suffice it to say that on Sat
urday, the l0th-bright and early in the
morning Dunbar hied her unto a law
yer and confided tale of woe to him, upon
which complaint for the anntllment of the
marriage, on the ground that it had been
procured by Defendant Dunbar by means
of fraud and deceit, was drawn and filed.
After the benedict of only one day had
been served with the summons and the COM
plaint he became somewhat discouraged,
and concluded that he would not fight the
suit. lie went to San francisco, where
pickings in the way OF soliciting ads proved
deucedly poor, and in few days he found
himself on the "hog." Los Angeles, even
with matrimonial troubles thrown in, was
still preferable to the Golden Gate city, with
its fogs and rains. 1hereupon Mr.. Dunbar
mounted his trusted brakebeam and re-
turned ''muy pronto" to this city,.
He heraided his arrival by an act of au-
thority which turned out sorrowfully. Pro-
ceeding to the South Spring street herb
arium, Mr.. Dunbar interviewed his alter
ego and proclaimed his intention stoutly OF
staying amidst the dried herbs, which was
his home Mrs. Dunbar objected fearful
ly. Willie Van, her son, and his two friends,
Westphal and Howard, who were present,
interposed in behalf of the lady in distress.
Then the old Adam arose in MIR. Dunbar
and he gave one of the boys swipe with a
stove lid, while second one was rudely re-
membered with two-pound cobblestone,
and there being nothing else handy, he
smote the third boy on the cheek with his
ponderous list This violent conduct demor-
allied the boys, who lied into the street,
still chased by the irate Dunbar. He, how
ever. as precaution, locked the door as he
came out, leaving the weeping Mrs. Dunbar
a prisoner inside.
The three youths had gained the middle
OF the street, and during the short respite
given them by Dunbar's tumble at the key
hole, they had held counsel. 1t was to the
effect that they were going to join forces
and give Papa Dunbar the ''thumpiR . OF
his life. When he came up with them they
piled upon him in great style and just wore
him out. This is what dunbar calls threat
ening and traducing.