The San Francisco call., 1906-05-30
NURSE COMPLAINS THAT
CHAUFFEUR PERSECUTES
Attributes His Conduct to Stirring-U
of Latent Spleen by Earthquake.
HER KINDNESS TO SOLDIERS DISPLEASES HIM
TO SOLDIERS
HER KINDNESS
BY JAMES G. CRAWFORD.

While they dwelt under shingled
roof in the Richmond District the re-
lationship existing between Mrs A o.
p Girard, professional nurse, and the
family headed by Ernest Hubert Fost.
chauffeur. was that of closely woven
friendship. No sooner, however, were
they Jointly jolted out of house and
home and into CAMP by seismic agita-
ton than their feeling toward each
other underwent radical change. The
tent occupied by Ms. Girard was sit
uate within a child's stonethfow of the
tepee tenanted by the Fosts, but ere
they were fairly settled down in their
respective new quarters they, might
as well have been divided by countless
furlongs, so far as their solicitude for
one anothers well being was con-
cerned- Indeed they became SO mu-
tually antagonistic that Mrs. Girard
ca fused Mr.. Fost's arrest on the charge
Of having malieiously disturbed her
peace .
Police Judge Conian. before whom
the accusation was vigorously. pressed
and strenuously opposed yesterday
morning. heard various causes
alleged TO have been at the bottom of
the rupture. Mrs. Girard. who was so
eager TO testify that she answered
questions before they were half ut
tered was at q loss TO attribute Mr..
Fost's treatment Of herself TO any rea-
son other than his possession Of a
naturally mean disposition. which
might have forever lain dormant if
the recent earthquake and its result
ant personal Inconvenience had not
stirred up and exposed so many latent
human traits of an unloVely kind. For
she had done nothing TO provoke from
a gentleman with emphasis on the
terrn) the persecution he had visited
upon her after their mutual deprivay
ton OF q solid roof. She had often
heard that misfortune serves to dis
close a persons true inwardness, and
since the earthquake Mr. Fost's be-
havior had convinced her that there
was foundation for the aphorism.
Would she be so kind as TO enlight-
en- the court by detailing some of the
behavior she had alluded TOP Why,
certainly. In the first place Mr.. Fost
had maligned her character: in the
second place he had suddenly flashed
a light into her tent after she had re-
tired for the night. and in the third
- place he had discharged firearms
close 10 her canvas home when the
camp was wrapped in slumber. He
had done other things TO annoy her,
but those recounted would serve to
show that her complaint was not un-
founded.
What did Mr.. Fost have to say in
response TO these charges Well. he
would not deny that he had told sew
eral persons. policemen and others
that Mrs Girard was indiscreet in al
lowing soldiers TO visit her after night
fall. But he did not Intentionally
fash q lantern into her tent. nor was
IL he, but his son, who disturbed her
by firing q shot while pursuing two
rowdies who had threatened TO raze
the camp.
Then there was the incident of the
wash tubs The laundry of the house
from which the Fosts had been shaker
was for their exclusive use, but They
had generously permitted Mrs Girard
10 use il until her conduct merited
their reproach. Then they forbade
her further utilization of the tubs and
their attitude in that respect was sus-
tained by the owner OF the house, Mrs
Amy Waters Deane.
Corporal Martin. L S A. testified
that he was on guard and saw Mr.
FOst flash the light as Mrs. Girard had
testified, and Mrs Deane endeavored
TO corroborate Mr.. Fost's version OF
that ircident, but had such a poor
memory for dates that she was ex-
cused after she said, 1T was on Sun.
day night, if 1 recoilect right, or or
Monday morning, if I'm not mistak-
en-. Another soldier, w. c. Griffith
saw Fost Junior fire the shot Of which
Mrs. Girard had complained, and wa.
sure il was not fired at her or with
intent TO disturb her.
Mr.. rost. who was attired in cor.
duroy. then informed the court that