The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-21
SOCIETY HAS
AN inning IN
ST. SURE COURT
Pin-Holes and Grease
Spots Involved.
BANCROFT VS.. HAMILTON
STAINS THAT WERE MADE BY
CHAMPAGNE OR BEER.
A Fashionable Whist Party and a
Maggoty Mouse Cut an I'm
portant Figure in the
Case.
BANCROFT VS.. HAMILTON
STAINS THAT WE'RE MADE BY
CHAMPAGNE OR BEER.

ALAMEDA. May 20-Society had an in
ming to-day in Recorder st. Sure's court.
Questions involving fashionable house.
keeping occupied his Honor's attention.
The title of the case to which was at
tached so much that was important in
society circles was Sarah Bancroft VS..
Robert Hamilton. The plaintiff is the
wife of H. p. Bancroft, the head of q
school supply house in San Francisco. and
the defendant is a member of the firm of
Baker & Hamilton.
From the evidence it appeared that a
fashionable whist party was at the bot
tom of the whole trouble. The Hamil-
tons came to Alameda to spend the win
ter months, and rented furnished, the
home of Mrs. Bancroft 1927 San Antonio
avenue. Mrs. Bancroft sued for $97 al
legged damages to the premises during
the Hamilton occupancy. Three broken
glasses, a smashed Mexican plaque,
binful of coal left at the house for safe
keeping and missing bed comforter were
important items in the bill of particulars
while grease spots on the carpets and
nail holes in the plastering were matters
of contention There was Weighty argu-
ment as to whether certain stains on the
dining room walls were made by spark
ling champagne or bubbling beer. and as
there was no expert testimony on the
The courtroom was comfortably filled
with an audience representing society
circles of both sides of the bay. The
plaintiff, wearing bonnet respen-
dent with yellow flowers and Spangled
feathers, gave her testimony with much
positiveneSS and a decided touch OF feel
ing !!;r ~ 80, che sata .uos
present from former tenant, who paid
81 for it, and Mr.. Hamilton used 1t all
up" Mr.. Hamilton denied the impeach-
ment, and added weight to his statement
by the assertion that he never built the
morning fires.
Mrs. Bancroft described in detail 500
pin holes in the walls Of the spare room,
for which she made charge OF less than
cent per hole. The plastering in the
front room, she asserted, was trescoed
with pins, spikes and tacks.
When she told of the stains on the din
ingroom tinting she, frankly admitted
that they were made by champagne, and
was apparently proud that she had had
tenants who could afford the luxury:
However, her husband was not inclined
to allow the defendant any such distinc-
''The stains were made by beer he
said, and he curled his upper lip ana ele-
waited his nose toward the, courtroom
ceiling Mrs. Bancroft closed her tesu-
mony with a broadside aimed at Mrs.
Hamilton's reputation as housekeeper.
when l leased that house" she said,
there was not spoonful OF dirt in 1t.
When they relinquished possession It was
simply awful. never was III d ulrller
place in my life. l could write my name
in the dust all over the house, and in
the kitchen l found trap containing
maggoty mouse"
Mr.. Bancroft went on the stand as an
expert on flower gardens and expressed
the opinion that his wife's tenant had
attempted to raise crop of hay on the
front lawn.
Captain j. S. Hanley, commodore of the
Encinal Yacht Club, was introduced to
give a professional opinion on grease
Spots, and Colonel j. c. Bullock, county
expert gave testimony on the value of
nail holes
show that the house had been well cared
for Even the Chinese cook, All Charley,
was ready to testify that he had swept
it until his back ached. Mrs. Hamilton
explained how the trouble originated.
When we We're ready to give up the
Bancroft to check off the inventory. 1
knew a few trifing things had been
broken and l wanted to pay her for them.
She replied she had to attend a fash
ionable whist party and could not come.
That shows what kind of business wo-
man she is.
Judge, l must reply to, that" shrieked
the plaintiff, jumping to her feet and APP
preaching the witness.
sit down." firmly commanded his
Honor, and the case proceeded.
Mrs Alice NJ. Garrison. mother of Mrs.
Hamilton, insisted that her daughter was
a model housekeeper, and in this she was
corroborated by Miss Lillian Garrison,
Miss Anna Graves and Miss Fanny Ar
mold.
Judge St Sure took the case under adj
visement and will probably consult with
several prominent society housekeepers
before he renders decision.