The San Francisco call., 1904-12-16
MYRTLE'S AUNT
ON The STAND
Doctors Neglect Depicted
by Relative Who Advanced
Money to Girls Husband
MOTHER ADMITS HATE
Mrs. Estes Says She Had Rea-
sons for Strong Dislike.
Many Divorces Granted

The trial Of the Estes divorce case
was concluded before Judge Kerrigan
yesterday afternoon, then submitted
without argument. The principal wit
ness in behalf of the defendant Myrtle
Scott Estes, was her aunt, Mrs. Ne
vada G. Baker, wife of Z. Dexter Ba-
ker. ranch owner and investor. Mrs.
Baker said that her niece was gentle,
kind and loving to DR.. Estes. and that
the latter was capable, brilliant and
gentlemanly when not under the in
fiuence of morphine.
She told Of the vicissitudes of the
young couple. and said that the doctor
seldom, if ever, provided for his wife.
They had to leave their trunks at the
st. Nicholas Hotel in lieu of pay for
their beard. Mrs. Baker said that she
loaned Estes $50 with which TO buy
office furniture and SIS to get his
clothes out of pawn. She declared that
at times Myrtle was almost starved
and so thin that it was pitiful to see
her.
Mrs. Wadsworth, daughter Of Mrs.
Atkinson, manager of the sanitarium
on Sutter street, said that Estes was
addicted to morphine and asked for a
dose when he was brought there for
treatment. She said the doctors mother
would not pay for his treatment and
the wife could not afford it, Mrs. Ba-
ker's story was corroborated by NJ. A
French, grandfather of the chorus girl
and Alex Vayssie, clerk OF the Gray
stone Edward Weller, clerk Of the ST.
Nicholas, and Mr.. and Mrs. George s.
Stevenson, proprietors of the rooming
house at 625 Hyde street, were called
to testify to facts in support of the
contention that Estes had lived with
his wife within the last year.
Mrs. Estes Sr. was called IN rebuttal,
and declared that on the dates named
her son was always at home with her.
She admitted that she did not like her
sons wife. The letter calling her a
''fiend" was admitted in evidence.
Linda F. Kirchof, whose husband, r.
2. Kirchof, is a bookkeeper with a
salary of 800 month and an income
of $1,000 a year from property, yester-
day sued him for 500 a month separate
maintenance. They were married in
1876, and he is said to have deserted
her five years ago.
Judge Sloss granted a divorce to Lii
lie Roe Luke from John Luke, a
plumber whom she married in 1856. He
was cruel. and one OF his abuses was
to strike her with q hot soldering iron.
The wife was allowed $50 month ALI
mony and the custody Of four chill
dren.
Others divorced were: By Judge Heb
bard-Thomas NJ. Seavey from Cath
crime Seavey, cruelty; Francis A. Nc
Laughlin from Sarah A. Mclaughlin,
desertion; Edward Downs from Emma
Downs, desertion; Clara T. Wilmarth
from Charles Y. Wilmarth, desertion.
BY Judge Seawell-To William A
Walkerly from Frances Walkerly, de-
sertion; James E. Dawes from Frances
Dawes, desertion. BY Judge Hunt
To Elizabeth Hill from Edward c.
Hill, neglect; John c. Webster from
Cynthia F. Webster, desertion- By
Judge Kerrigan-To Henry c. Plaus
from Cornelie Plaus, infidelity.
Suit for divorce was filed by Thomas
Jenkins against Christiana Jenkins,
whom he married in England In 1877.
She deserted him six years ago. George
Oberly asks for a legal separation from
his wife Augusta on the ground of
her cruelty, and Ferdinando Rossi, q
restaurant man, wants a divorce from
his wife Maria because she struck him
and does not attend to her household
duties.