The San Francisco call., 1904-02-03
CARRIE SWAIN
AND HER SUITS
They Keep Attorney Joseph
Redding Away From the Seve-
raj Delights of Bohemian Club
BATTLING FOR MILLIONS
Once-FamOus Actress Seeks Di-
vision of Fortune Owned
by Millionaire Frank Gardner


One reason, and probably the princi-
pal one. for Attorney Joseph Redding's
protracted stay abroad was incidental
ly disclosed yesterday through a pri-
vate communication received from New
York by a San Francisco promoter of
amusement enterprises. 1t is his con-
scientious devotion to the legal inter-
ests Of a lady client that deprives Mr..
Redding Of Bohemian Club delights
and creates a vacuum in the social en-
semble Of that organization. He is
fitting between London and Paris at
tending to Miss Carrie SWANS suits to
have the divorce OF Frank Gardner
from Annie Graham Gardner set aside
and to secure a division Of the Gard
ner fortune, which Is said to amount
to, about $4,000, ,o0e
This bit Of intelligence will awaken
the interest of many Californians out
side of the coterie that is interested in
the comings and goings of Attorney
Redding. 1t will recall memories of
the Bella Union Theater thirty odd
years ago, when the singing and dane
ing of Carrie Swain was an attractive
feature of the bill. 1t will also recall
some Of the events Of Miss SWANS
subsequent meteoric career.
HER EARLY SUCCESSES.
On the Bella Union stage Miss Swain
appeared in a double turn" with Sam
Swain, and she claimed distinction as
the first woman to do ''knockabout'
work. While she was doing "f1ipfiaps"
and splits" for the edification of large
and demonstrative audiences, there
came to the city one Frank Gardner,
a handsome actor, and at the same
time there was appearing at the Cali
fornia Theater, as lfading lady of
John McCullough's company, one An
ME Graham. a beautiful woman and an
excellent actress. Mr.. Gardner and
Miss Graham became such very good
friends that the Rialto busybodies be-
gan probing for membranes that
might prevent their marriage. and sure
enough they succeeded IN bringing to
light a Mrs Frank Gardner, who had
been Miss Clementina Derringer of
Philadelphia until she welded the actor
in 1873. In 1875 he obtained a divorce
and then, one version of the story goes.
he married Miss Graham in this city
It is another version upon Which Miss
Swain now bases her suit.
It was in 1879 Chat the SWANS, Sam
end Carrie, Joined the rush to Lead.
Vile, Colo, and they made friends and
money in that greatest mining camp
in history And it was while there,
say the latterday gossips on the Rialto,
that Carrie decided to pursue her pro-
fessional career unhampered by Sam.
She went to Chicago and was next
heard Of as the star OF Cad the Tom
boy" managed by Frank Gardner.
Annie Grahams Whereabouts at this
period is not recorded but she was not
a member of the company. The play
was put on tour and met with good
success In the year 1885 the marriage
Of Miss Swain and Mr.. Gardner was
announced in the theatrical parers.
THEY FOUND FORTUNE. g.
When She attractiveness of Cad the
Tomboy' began Ctwane in this coun-
try Mr. Gardnen and Miss Swain took
it to Australia and in that country
they waxed wealthy. BY fortunate in
vestments IN mining stocks they ac-s
cumuIated millions, and Miss Swain
now asserts it was always understood
between them that they were partners
in all those mcney-making enterprises.
When they became multi-million-
aires they shelved tCad the Tomboy"
and went to Europe, where they cut a
swata of splendor and extravaganza
that made some of the native spend
thrifts green with envy. In Paris they
purchased a beautiful home near the
Rois de Boulogne.I where they enter
tanned glavishly. In suburban London
they bought another estate and started
a racing stable, which for time was
managed by Tod Sloan. About ten
years ago came an estrangement be-
tween the pair Gardner returned to
this country and suit for divorce was
filed against him by Annie Graham
Gardner No defense was interposed
and a decree was granted. 1t is this
divorce that Miss SWAIN during a re-
cent visit to this city. retained Mr..
Redding to have set aside.
WIZ ATT CHE CLAIMS