The San Francisco call., 1906-10-21
By ConstanceL

Az FHILE his father. England's
ss.;:'' ;s: .s.::.. ;ss,ss:. ;' .; .sssass %ssss
heads, Douglas Adams Acton
came back 70. San Diego 70 face trial
and take a dose of three years at san
Quentin. What puzzles those who have
known this lazy, indolent, handsome
ne'eF-do-WeiI Is. why. when fairly safe
en- foreign soil with only the ocean
between him and security in Canada
or the Orient. did he elect 20 return
and put his head in the moose? 1t
seems 10 have been the redeeming act
or q reckless career, 10 mark the up
war6 rather than the downward turn.
II seems to prove that blood viii tell.
this fact that Acton. secure refugee.
could not endure to be fugitive
sneaking around back ways to evade
what he knew was the course of jus
tiee- he had courageously faced the
Boer war dogs He could not run
from the bloodhounds OF the law.
Actions had not been a pretty story.
From one piece OF reckiessness TO an
other he had drifted away from all the
tendencies Of a weIl-bred young Eng
Iishman. until at last, disgusting his
noble birth under the simple name OF
Arthur Acton, this son Of Sir John
Adams Acton and of Lady Mary Ham
ilton Of the famous Douglas Hamilton
family Of the isle OF Arran, a man
united by his education for earning
r.s- .--.- v..-ore~eir,a liz fo.,-d q 1f.-off
hood as a bartender in the city of
San Diego He soon gave up that
means OF support. but one day with a
friend. ". T. Caldwell, revisited the
scene of his career as a ''mixologist."'
Probably he felt deeply chagrined 10
realize the distance that lay between
his father and the fathers sons pro-
fession. The bartender chsned him
and finally hurled an insult at him
All the forgotten pride OF the renegade
aristocrat surged up IN fury, and seiz-
ing a bottle he struck his tormenter
down Caldwell fed from the scene,
and Acton IN alarm bent over his vic
tim but could get no sign of life. Be
Iieving himself a murderer he rushed
from the place. But it is alleged that
to make possible his escape he took
$50 from the bar till With Caldwell
he sought safety in Mexico stunned
by the thought that blood was on his
hands.
But shortly after they reached for
eign soil the two fugidves learned
through the papers that the Britisher's
victim was very much alive and was
clsmorizg TO the police for the arrest
Of Acton and his companion on
charge OF srand larceny. accusing them
OF robbing his TIL OF $50. There was
a strong temptation 10 keep beyond
the clutches OF the law, for Acton evi-
dently had no hope Of being given
his liberty by tbs eouT.- lie talked
the matter over long with Caldwell.
End nnally believing that he could con-
tinue 70 conceal his identity and that
no one would connect criminal Arthur
Acton with renegade Douglas Adams
acton. ano that his father and mother
would not know OF his disgrace, re-
turned 20 San Diego. surrendered him
self to the authorities end with his
friend was tried in court On the
stand Acton completely vindicated
Caldwell. declaring that he kneY his
friend hae not taken the money from
the TIL. although he would not state
how he knew such 20 be the fact. His
bearing throughout the trial was SO
dignifsd and EentlemanIy that the
whole courtroom was in sympathy with
him. while his loyalty and honorable
yineicstion OF his friend reused warm
admiration. But the young scion Of
British nobility and ex-ofAcs- Of the
EnEIish arly. waila he met with ad-