The San Francisco call., 1899-07-18
DID NOT WANT
To MARRY HER
GRANDFATHER"
Why Edith Gould Left
Her UncIe's Home.
JOHNSON'S OFFER REFUSED
WAS 55 AND HIS NIECE 16
YEARS OF AGE.
Wanted to Marry the Girl Because
She Remained Out at Night
and He Feared She Had
Been Imprudent.
JOHNSON'S OFFER REFUSED
WAS 55 AND HIS NIECE 16
YEARS OF AGE.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
COS BROADWAY IulY IL

SlS BIOauWdHs Julg IL
Because J. c. Johnson. a carpenter, ljv-
ing at 1859 Eleventh street, wanted to
marry his pretty niece-in-law, Edith
Gould, the latter left his home, preferrInG
10 battle her way in the cold world rather
Than, as she expressed il, marry a man
old enough to be her grandfather
The unholy linking Of youth with old
age seems 10 be all the rage in Oakland
just a present. Only a short while ago
Capitalist Joseph BOardman startled and
shocked society by taking to him a wife
who had just graduated from the High
School and who had only seen seventeen
brief summers. Johnson, who Is 90 years
Of age, wanted 20 60 Boardman one bet
ter, so he proposed 10 Edith Could VINO
IS only Is years of ase.
Johnson's suit was as brief as her re-
fusal Of marriage was determined. About
q month ago Edith went to live with her
uncle-in-law. She had been at his house
scarcely two weeks before her elderly rel
ative became obnoxious by his persistent
offers of marriage. The girl left his home
and went 10 Piedmont, where she secured
work il a private family. On Saturday
Mabel Johnson, a daughter Of johnson,
called upon Chief of Police HOdgkins and
told MIN that Edith had left her fathers
home without saying where she was 60
ing and that the family was very much
concerned about her. Detective Quigley
was detailed on the case and he went TO
Piedmont and brought the girl into the
city. She was questioned by Chief HOdg-
kins who declared that she told straight
story and that there was nothing for the
police 10 do in the matter. Edith has
as temporary guardian, J. L. Henderson
of the HOmefnding Association.
Mr. Henderson makes the following
statement: When Mrs. Q. NJ. Sanford,
the former secretary Of the association,
went away about year ago she left IN
my charge a number of her wards, among
them being Edith Gould. A short while
ago the IOhnSOnS came TO me and said
that they wanted Edith to visit them. AS
harm in her so doing and I permitted her
10 go. When she informed me that her
uncle had proposed 10 he I told her to
leave the house. This she has done and
this IS all there is 10 the case. At pres
ent she is at work in private family
at Piedmont
Edith Gould herself confirms the state
ment made by Henderson.
At the Johnson home no one was 70 be
seen but Mabel Johnson She said that
Edith had told her father of the harsh
way in which she had been treated at the
different places at which she had worked
and that he had felt sorry for her and
had made her an honorable proposal OF
marriage. This Miss johnson declared
was all there was TO the matter. She said
Edith had been in the habit Of staying
out very late at night while at their home
and that her father was afraid she had
been Is1pTUdent and that wanting 10 pro-
tect her ne had proposed to her
Edith Could is a very handsome blonde.
She IS well developed for her age and
might easily pass for IS Tears She de-
MES that she told her uncle that she had
been badly treated elsewhere or that she
remained out late at night.