Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-13
GOVERNOR ONCE,
H.H. MARKHAM IS
DEEP IN DEBT
Former Executive Is
Penniless
Loses Beautiful Pasadena Home and
All Other Property to Satisfy
Judgments Obtained on
Mining Deal

Broken-hearted and penniless, H. H.
Markham, former governor of Cali
fornia, former president of the Amer
lean Boy and Girl Mining companies,
and one of the best known men in
the west, was yesterday put on the
witness stand in department eight Of
the superior court, while pitiless at
torneys for George Turner questioned
the former governor for debtors Judg-
ment
The scene was so pitiful that several
of the old-time Californians who had
known the governor in the days Of
his triumph and power left the room
with tears in their eyes, as confessions
OF his poverty came from Markham
Judge Wilbur was inclined to be gentle
with him.
Markham's present trouble has grown
out of a recent suit against him by
George Turner, representing the stock
holders of the American Boy Mining
company. In that suit Markham was
held responsible to the stockholders in
the sum of $4,000, which he was un-
able to pay.
Creditors Hound Him
His creditors were remorseless. With
1n the last two months they slowly
but surely took from him what he had.
His beautiful home in Pasadena, the
last spot dear to the old governor that
remained in his possession, was taken
from him. He was driven from the
place he called home and with nothing
left in the world he tried to begin over.
That was month ago and yesterday
he was before Judge Wilbur to answer
questions regarding what property he
had to further satisfy the judgment
against him.
Governor Markham appeared in court
early in the afternoon yesterday. His
black soft hat was pulled low over
his eyes and the frock coat he wore
was neatly pressed, but he wore no
jewelry or adornment.
There was the same air of power,
the same quick answering from the
man who had once been California S
chief executive and who had once held
the political power of the west in the
palm of his hand. That hand trembled
slightly as he rested it on the rail
before seating himself in the court
room. He watched the proceedings of
another case with interest. The story
of little girl who had been buffeted
by fate at an age when she had hardly
learned what evil was seemed to touch
the heart strings of the old man. He
bowed his head from time to time and
watched the court proceedings with
interest.
There were only few in the court
room when Governor Markham's case
was called.
Has No Watch
His coat swung lightly to one side,
displaying his vest To that accident
he probably owed the consideration of
not being asked if he had I. watch on
his person. For a debtor judgment
permits the creditor to take a watch
from mans pocket or a ring from his
finger. Those questions might have
been asked. a cruel fate might have
compelled the court bailiff to dip his
hands into the governors pocket and
take his watch from him, but it was
the one kind act of the examination
that led the former governors coat to
droop slightly and show only too plain
ly that he carried no watch and fur
thermore that he had neither ring nor
personal adornment of any kind.
In broken tones and with a mist of
tears gathering over his eyes Governor
Markham told of the loss of his prop
erty. He stated that in 1880 he had
begun to receive portions of the estate
of his wife's father, that that money
had all been invested in one way or
another and had all gone.
Loses His Home
When he spoke of his home in Pasa-
dena there was a little note of tender
ness in his voice, as if the pages of
history had been opened to him for
just a moment, revealing the most
cherished spot Of his career. The
home, he stated. had been taken to
satisfy the judgment. He had owned
a little ranch of forty acres at River
side. That, he testified, had gone to
sale some weeks ago and the proceeds