The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
PUT HIMSELF
 IN 4 TRAP pr. Formers Nice Laid Schemes Fail.
LOCKED UP IN CITY PRISON.
ARRANGED TO MARRY A LADY
 HE HAD BETRAYED.
He Is Unexpectedly Confronted by His Wife, Whom He Had Deserted in Kansas City
 Year Ago.

enacted in the City Prison yesterday afternoon when a husband who had deserted his wife in the East some time ago and had applied for a divorce was unexpectedly confronted by her. The husband was Dr. w. H. Former, who, until recently, had an office on Market street.
 Former has got himself into a peck of troubles. On March P last Victoria C. Martin, now employed with family at 1605 Baker street, swore to com plaint for his arrest on a charge of be- trayal under promise of marriage while she was one of his patients. For ner left the city about that time for Los Angeles, and the police were un- able to serve the warrant upon him.
 Yesterday afternoon, accompan1ed py Miss Martin. he walked into the office of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Drllry of Judge Joachimsen's court and, making himself known, said that the young woman wanted to WlthdraW the warrant against him. Drury LOOK him to Sergeant MOffitt, who had a surprise in store for him. The ser geant asked him to go with him to the prison and booked him on the charge of betrayal, much to his surprise and indignation.
 The reason for the sergeant's action was owing to the fact that Former S wife. whom he had deserted in Kansas City over a year ago, had arrived here Monday night, accompanied by her eight-year-old son, and had at once gone to police headquarters and told her story to Chief Lees. It seemed that Former on May filed papers for divorce from his wife, alleging cruelty, and copies of the papers in the case were sent to Kansas City, Mrs. Former having, to Formers knowledge, Ieft there and gone to live in Chicago. By this means 1t was hoped that the pa pers would be returned certifying that they had been served at her last known residence and she would not hear of the proceedings.
 Friends of Mrs. Former in Kansas City sent the papers on to Chicago, and she immediately made arrangements to come here and contest the suit, as the charges were not in accordance with the facts She brought letters of rec ommendation from the head of the de- tectiye force in Chicago and other prominent people. When she reached here she was stranded, and the Chief sent her and her boy to a hotel, agree ing to be responsible for their board and lodging. It was not then known to the Chief that there was warrant out for Formers arrest for betrayal, and yesterday IuOf1lluS MI .. O ol llCi oPpliCN for warrant for his arrest for failure to provide. Thereupon Drury notified the Chiefs office of the previous war rant, and it was decided to do nothing further till Former was arrested.
 To the joy of the upper office For ner walked into police headquarters and thereby saved the department a lot of trouble and expense in searching for him. Officer McMurray of the So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had been detailed on the case, and after Formers arrest he brought Mrs. Former to the prison. Former was unaware of her presence In the city, and when he saw her he was paralyzed with astonishment. She went into mysteries, and for a few moments the scene was painful in the extreme. She did not upbraid him, her only thought being apparently to get him out of prison. Former promised Officer Me Murray to support her and her son, and after the strangely reunited pair had talked for some minutes she left, but not before Former had consented to withdraw the suit for divorce.
 It now remains to be seen what Miss Martin will do. Former had agreed to marry her as soon as he got the di- vorce and take her to Los Angeles, and that was why she asked to have the warrant withdrawn. Her baby was born about six weeks ago.
 Mrs Pierce, 1912 Fillmore street, also l the charge of defrauding an innkeeper It was at her house that Miss Martins ] baby was born, and she declares that 1 Former took the woman to her house ! and became responsible for all eX- ! penSes, but he has not paid a cent