The San Francisco call., 1907-01-27
Mrs. Leon Samuels Says
She Is Person Referred
To in Letter of Taylor
LIGHT THROWN ON
MARIN COUNTY FEUD
Incident Mentioned by the
Sheriff Has Developed
Into Remarkable Story

Shades of the little unfortunate
woman whose diamonds were taken by
Jim-the same that now decorate the
fingers of one of his family"
These are the words used by Sheriff
Taylor of Marin County in a letter
referring to James Cochrane of San
Rafael. which have been made the
basis of criminal libel suit against
their author Since the publication of
the letter much mystery has attached
to the identity of "the little unfortu-
nate woman" but yesterday It devel-
oped that she is none other than Mrs
Leon Samuels. wife of the well known
San Francisco attorney Mrs. Samuels
was formerly Mrs Edgar Gefershofer.
but secured a divorce some time after
Geiershofer had been accused Of en-
bezzlement
1t was with reluctance that Mrs
Samuels consented to talk of the Coch-
ranes and the reference to herself in
Taylors letter. Finally she admitted
that She was the little unfortunate
woman and then recalling all the in
cidents of the transaction referred to,
she told remarkable story.
DEPRIVED OF HER JEWELS
"Lilxe hawks swooping down ON prey.
these two brothers. Jim and Mike
Cochrane, pOunced upon me when my
husband. Edgar Geiershofer. was ar
rested five years ago In Marin County
said. 'sThey possessed themselves of all
my Jewels and took from my husband
his watch and other vaIuabIes; they
led me to the bank and took what lit
tie money had left there. Finally.
after getting my, husband out of the
County JAN, they whisked him away to
place they Kept Ele An Ignorance of,
and while he was some Jim subjected
me to the persecution of his attentions.
Because he had been my husbands
legal adviser he took advantage of that
relation Ind insuIted me.
Il do not like to talk of this affair"
she continued. for. as Mrs Leon Sam
uels. 1 am trying to forget the unhappy
past and the sorrows of five years ago.
when my husband was accused OF
criminal act. We were divorced short
Iy after. and do not care to remem-
ber.p
DEFENDED BY CoCHRANE
Edgar Geiershofer left New York sud
denly with his wife about six years ago.
leaving behind trail of suspicion. He
was accused of embezzling the sum of
$4,000. Mr.. and Mrs. Geiershofer went
to Japan, where they lived only
short time. and then returned to Cali
fornia, taking UP quiet home at Goep-
perts, near San Rafael. A detective
arrested Geiershofer there and placed
him in the county jail The authori-
ties here had not been provided with
the proper papers from New York. and
Geiershofer was released next day on a
writ of habeas corpus. James Coch-
rane argued for the defendant before
Judge .Angellotti. 1t was subsequently
demonstrated that Geiershofer was not
subject to criminal proceedings, but to
civil.
But, according to the young woman
whose Jewels are gone. it gave two Of
the Cochrane brothers an opportunity
for remarkable operations.
She declares that on the night of the
arrest Michael and James cochrane
drove up to her home. and that James
rendered his legal services.
First" he is said to have declared. |
'.you must let US take all your vaIu-
ables. to prevent Eastern claimants
from securing them"
ASKS FOR HER GOWNS
'F was frightened and bewiIdered."
said Mrs samuels, and I willingly gave
up my Jewels, amounting in value to
about $1,000. They assured me they
would be returned % me as soon as the
trouble was over, and that the only
reason for taking them away was to
prevent the Eastern creditors from get
ting them. When I had handed every
ring and every jewel I had, Jim Coch-
rane suggested that they might take
some OF my gowns. He asked me II.
had any money. and 1 told him 1 had a
little IN the bank. We went to the
bank together. and. after drawing out
$3.50, gave that TO him. too Then we
had some property worth about $500;