The San Francisco call., 1899-04-02

ing story of the concoction of the alleged
blackmalling conspiracy as told by Tur-
ner.
About fourteen months ago Clarence
W. Ashford, the circumstances OF whose
departure from Honolulu and arrival in
this city caused, no little comment, was
presented to me as the legal representa-
tive of M. a. Rose, a man with whom I
had done considerable business. Suisse
quently Mr. Rose recommended that 1 call
upon the lawyer regarding a loan then un-
der negotiation. Ashford, at later date,
called upon me and offered to loan me
$1,000 and take as security a mortgage for
$225O held upon a piece of Oakland prop
erty. AT that. time he told me that Rose
was very anxious that he (Ashford) be-
come the assignee of the 'Nobby' Clarke
estate. He knew that had placed in
the hands of Rose a block of the notes
held against the estate in question and he
told me that If he could make a proper
showing he could secure the appointment.
II he secured the appointment, he said,
he could raise some money, which he
would use in Strengthening up titles and
would give me any that might need at
and he would have it If I would transfer
a block Of the Clarke paper to him in
trust and sufficient mortgages to back
him up. With this backing in hand he
could get Mr.. Thurston. Who was as
appointment.
Through his smooth talk and by re-
commencing his own honesty placed in
MS hands in trust $176,100 Of the Clarke
notes of face value, without interest. and
also mortgages to the value of about of
$ll0OO, and also for collection some notes
ana insurance policies amounting to
about $500O In a short time after this
matter was fixed up Ashford wanted some
money, and 1 paid him back 1924 When
Ashford drew up the trust papers he
made them all to suit himself, and I
thinking 1t was all right signed them.
Then In very short time l discovered
that Ashford, was trying to make ar
rangements that did not suit me. and to
my great surprise one day I got note
that 1 was wanted in court to make a
statement to Mr.. Ashford concerning the
Clarke estate I at once began to seq
that had another man on my hands to
several months of continual annoyance
and large amount of expense I sue
ceeded in knocking Mr.. Ashford out in
ter telling me that Ashford, NJ A Rose
and A E. Lucas had joined hands and uh-
less | came to the front at once with
prison, as they had eonspired together to
send me to the penitenitary.
ut appeared to me then that Ashford
was going to try and blackmail me out
Of all the property l put in his hands,
but the greatest surprise of 1T all to me
was to learn that Lucas has joined in to
lend his assistance and obtain more
money.
ut turns out now. however. that Lucas
has a good reason to join Ashford in his
blackmail, for some time ago Rose en-
pIOy6Q Lucas TO settle up the business
that stood between Rose and myself. AS
soon as Rose put his business in the
hands of Lucas. he (Rose) at once be-
came hostile to me and in a short time
refused to speak to me when we met. Lu-
cas- began to crowd me for money and |
began - pay him. so as to get rid of the
amount l believed Rose was entitled to.
Lucas soon arranged it so that l could
not talk to Rose and the most of the
time he ducas) would warn me against
meeting Rose. He also warned me against
saying anything to Rose about the money
paid, for he said Rose was armed. and,
just as sure as l got into dispute or
even. q talk with Rose there would be a
shooting scrape. He said he could handle
Rose If 1 would say nothing. but pay as
fast as could toward settling my indebt
edness to Rose and by so doing all would
come out right.
"He Uucas) represented to me that he
would act and work for my interest il 1
would pay him for his services as well.
He successfully kept Rose at swords
points with. me, but / was ignorant that
such was the case, and now [ find out
that out of $4,000 that l have paid Lucas
on my account with Rose he has never
paid Rose one dollar. but kept'it all
His idea was that / would get beaten
in the suits l had with the Italian bar
ber. Frenna, and go to Jail; and then my
word would not be taken and he would
get away with the entire $4,000. So his last
resort was to join Ashford and have me
arrested. Then he would swear that he
had received no money and Rose would
believe him and in this way he would