The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-03

had entered the apartments. On a
large trunk was a note:
This trunk and machine, with con-
tents, is the property of Miss Edith
Cox, 1928 Valdez street. Oakland"
This was the only message left. Mrs.
Hassell had torn up several pictures
Of herself, but a large panel portrait of
her friend reposed on the bureau.
Edith Cox. the girl mentioned in the
note, arrived here tonight. She was
Mrs. Hassel's, or as she always re-
specially addressed her the Coun-
tess maid She knew the woman in
England. After Virgine Mathilde
Reike, the Countess" had become the
wife of a remittance man, she sent for
the girl to come out and live with her.
Miss Cox says Mrs. Hassell was
reared in Carlisle Mansion, London, at
which place her mother died less than
eighteen months ago. The mother had
q bona fide title, derived from the
French side of the family. and the
father, who died many years ago, left
considerable property.
=
latial establishment" she continued,
and when she died, about all she left
to poor Mrs. Hassell was the French
title-genuine, I know. but I cannot at
this minute recall it. The young
Countess has had every advantage. She
had her swimming and dancing mas
ters She rode like a man and often
went off into Scotland on hunt She
was finely developed and few men could
equal her for all-around athletics. She
was always odd and did not care snap
what the people thought Of her She
would go up into her room and smoke a
cigarette and gossip. She always car
ried a small revolver in her bosom ever
since I knew her. She was dead shot
and brought to this country with her a
gun which she had had made at a cost
of $50.
A year ago last January, and shortly
after her mothers death. she got what
money she could together, and. with an
old lady. started out on a trip OF the
world. On an ocean liner she met Has
sell, and as he was suave and made
great representations regarding his
landed interests in California, she came
overland to San Francisco with him and
they were married. They came to
Stockton, and in June, at her request,
I came out from England bringing sew
eral of her trunks with me. l found
them living in a scantily furnished
rented house and the Countess selling
her silver plate and pawning her valu-
ables in order to get food. He put on
airs and the poor woman even picked
chickens for the market. 1t ended by
him beating and abusing her, and last
July they separated.
She went out to work in private
family, and later got into q store. She
got some money from England occa-
sionally, and I understood she had some
interests remaining there which would
be quite valuable if they ever got out
of court. went to Oakland to work
and. like a fool, have been sending
every cent of my earnings to her in
order to indulge her as far as possible
in what she had been used to.
"A month ago her letters Began COM
ing irregularly. so 1 came UP to Stock
ton to see what was. the matter We
ate and slept together, and she seemed
as cheerful as usual We made plans
to go back to England soon. and she
never once mentioned having any new
trouble. She was not woman who
would allow any man to break her
heart. She did love Mrs. Hickman.
though.
When ! came I found she had been
giving nearly everything she had in
the way of clothing and fancy articles
to Mrs. Hickman. Her valuables she
had been selling to keep up her wants.
She had several trunks of the finest
kind of things a few months ago, in
Guiding some silver plate. I suppose
all is gone.
She probably wrote me a letter, but
I missed it at Oakland in my hurry to
get here. That may throw some light
on the tragedy.
Mrs. Hassell was born in Rio
Janeiro and was not yet % years old.
Her father was. believe, in the Brit
ish Consular Service. She has seen
all kinds of life. from London drawing
rooms to starvation"
Mrs. Hickman was known before her
marriage as Beauty Smith" The
woman who ended her life was of
striking appearance. Her dress and
manner indicated that she had not al
ways been forced to limit her expedi-
lures.
Hassel comes of a good English fam
lily. He viii bury his wife, whom he
has never ceased to love.
Mrs. Hickman was probably shot
while she slept, as her eyes were closed
as if in sleep. The English woman's
eyes were open and there was a set
look Of pain on her face AS far as as
certained to-day Mrs. Hassell had only
20 cents in her possession. Her story
that she had received money from Eng
land and was on the eve of returning
to that country is believed to have been
a myth invented for the deliberate pur
pose of getting Mrs Hickman into her
power that she might kill her. In the
course OF a statement to-day Mr.. Smith,
father Of Mrs. Hickman, said:
"One day she wanted Emma to 60
riding with her and I refused to allow
it, Mrs. HasselI made some remark to
the effect that she would rather die
than be separated from Emma. 1 then
became afraid of the woman"
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