The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-08
ROMANCE OF THE SPRINGS
ARLINGTON GREATLY FEARED
ANOTHER MAN.
Talked of Great Wealth and of Rich
Furniture to Mrs. Minnie Smith
and Then Stole Her
Purse.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,

9OS Broadway, June 7.
Mrs. Minnie M. Smith, an attractive
young widow, told Judge Quinn this af-
ternoon OF very interesting trim she
took with a reputed wealthy miner to
Piedmont Springs a few weeks ago The
reputed wealthy miner, Mr. Arlington,
alias Mr. Hobbman. alias several other
names. sat in court while the little widow
told how he had played a very smooth
confidence game.
Some time in April Mrs. Smith was look
ing for employment. Through a friend,
Mrs. Hem, who resides at the Hotel
Merritt. she was introduced to Mr. Airing
ton He is a fatherly looking old gentle
man, with hair almost white, but with
none OF that vim and attractiveness which
might be supposed to endear him to
bright women. Yet this reputed wealthy
miner has a record of which he ought not
TO be proud. He has seen the inside of
the Alameda County Jail, is not unac-
quainted with the interior of San Quentin.
ana the detectives assert that he is known
elsewhere. In each instance the trouble
was caused by his confidential dealings
with woman. His latest conquest and
pr3 pre- defeat were told with much de-
tail and very earnestly by Mrs. Smith
After l had been introduced to MI
arlington and he had been informed by
Mrs. HEM that l was looking for a stua-
ton, he rather startled me by his first
spoken man. Now, let us understand each
other at once. Is. there any man in this
case?' told him there certainly was not;
that / always acted for myself. Then II
there is no man in it, he said, we will
talk business He told me that he had
daughter whose welfare must be the most
important duty of any housekeeper he
might employ. He said he was going to
furnish house and had been recommend
ed to look at a fiat on Hobart street He
suggested that | go with him to see the
place and help him to arrange for fur
nishing ii; Money was no object with
him. and he wanted everything nice and
convenient both for himself and his
houSekeeper and daughter. We went to the
house, and after satisfying ourselves that
II would be very convenient we walked
several blocks, when Mr. Arlington men
toned that l must be tired and that 1t
would be better to ride. An electric car
was passing and after we boarded 1t he
told me that he was not feeling very
bright and that if | had no objection we
would take a ride to Piedmont Springs
l agreed to go, and as soon we arrived
he saw some one to whom he wished to
speak. and left me on a bench for a few
minutes, sending me a glass of lemonade
When he returned he threw bag of pea
nuts in my lap. Then he asked me If |
could change $50 for him. l told him that
could not, as l had not that much
change. As soon as l opened my purse
he said, i will take care of that | pro-
tested, but he said, IN pay for anything
that we spend out of 1t and will settle
he expressed great surprise that l should
be suspicious of an honorable man. He
said that compared to his wealth all
might have would be but a drop in the
bucket l demanded of him that he give
me my purse back, but he would not do
So.
At this point the widows attorneys
promptly cut off her story, and when
Arlington's attorneys wanted to know
what transpired after the purse-snatching
they were also shut off by the rules OF
cross-examination. In several ways At
torney Aldrich wanted to know what
transpired between the time her money
was taken from her at the springs and the
time she swore to the warrant for the
arrest of Arlington. They could make no
Roadway against the courts rulings and
this part of the mystery was not divulged.
Mrs Smith said the purse contained
1914 s. of which 800 was in greenbacks.
Mrs. Hem, who introduced the widow
to the alleged wealthy miner was to have
been the next witness for the people but
she did not appear and the trial of the
case went over for a week.
Arlington's attorneys had asked Mrs.
Smith the question, do you see anybody
in the courtroom that was at the springs
when the incident happened?' and she
replied No" Her attorney had her re-
called to ask her If she had not seen one
man In the courtroom at the springs, to
which she replied. shaking her fist at Ar
lington. Yes, certainly; | saw that gray
haired man there, of course