The San Francisco call., 1908-04-01
.NASBURGS BREAK
WITH MRS. AUSTIN
Convinced by Proof, the Dupes
of Adventures Have De-
serted Her
Victimized Man, However, Will
Marry the Daughter Of
Accused Woman

Harry Nasburg was awakened to the
true character of Mrs. Fannie M. Aus
tin yesterday and discarded her. The
crippled dupe on whom she has lived
for four years and through whom she
Mrs. Nasburg, recognized her at last as
woman gauging friendship by dollars
and drew away from her.
The belief of the mother and son IN
the woman, first shaken by an account
of her past, her arrest for grand lar
ceny and her shady reputation, pub
lished in The Call, was completely shat
tered yesterday afternoon, when, on
consulting their attorney, william H.
Jordan. they discovered the tales to be
correct. On the advice of Jordan
they agreed to leave the woman
and become reconciled to Claude Mas
burg, another son. who has been push
ing the investigation. The latter, eager
for reconciliation with his mother
land brother, from whom he had be-
come estranged on account OF his ex-
posure OF Mrs. Austin, readily agreed TO
give up his power over his mothers
estate into the keeping of Attorney
Jordan. Having accomplished his pur-
pose, that of destroying Mrs. Austtn's
influence over his relatives, he left the
city last night for his home in Marsh
field. Ore, but before going he declared
his readiness to return and testify
against Mrs. Austin in the criminal
charges which in all probability will be
placed against her before the week is
out.
PLEADS IN VAIN
Mrs. Austin made one last desperate
effort to retain her hold on the cripple
and his wealthy mother. but without
FQc r.fn A1l x,f
and pointed to four years of friendship
In vain.
In the midst of this turmoil of deceit
and double dealing, these wild schemes
and Chadwickian maneuverings there
has blossomed romance, and when
NasbWg left Mrs. Austin last night it
was with the declaration that he would
marry her daughter, Helen. What
part the girl had played in the whole
muddle OF finance and affection is not
known. The general impression is that
she was the unsuspecting medium used
in manipulating the Nasburg thousands
into the pocketbook OF Mrs. Aus tin.
Whatever was her position she became
attached TO Nasburg and at the last
juncture she went to the man she
loved.
The Cornelia hotel, which Mrs. Aus
tin has made her headquarters, was the
scene of a peculiar gathering last
night. Mrs. Austin, fearful, stormy
and hypnotic, was the primal figure.
Helen, her daughter, almost a nervous
wreck from the knowledge of her
mothers past life, was swayed hither
and thither by conflicting emotions.
On the one hand was her mother and
on the other her fiance. Her horror
at the shame into which she has un-
Willingly been plunged was accentu-
ated by her love for Nasburg.
PLAYS ON AFFECTIONS
The mother, seeing her opportunity,
played her last card. She recognized
Nasburg's affection for her daughter,
and knowing Its strength used 1t with
the finesse of an artist. Her game for
fortune had been swept aside; all that
remained was to play for her safety,
and in few words she told the Mas
burgs that she would make no opposi-
tion to the marriage of Helen and
Harry and would trouble them no more
If they could induce Claude Nasburg to
destroy the documentary evidence
against her.
1t was her trump card--and it lost.
The papers were in the safe OF Attor-
ney e. B. Young, and the prosecution
was being pushed. not by Harry Mas
burg. but by Reuben III. Lloyd for the
forgery of the signature of his name.
The woman took the blow without a
word and stamped off to her room, and
the Nasburgs proceeded to pack up
their belongings prior to leaving Mrs.
Austin and the Cornelia hotel.
With the smash of the hopes OF Mrs.
Austin has been made public the details
of the manner in which she worked
her scheme.
When the Nasburg and Austin fami-
lies were living together at 1914 Tele-
graph avenue it was their custom to
hold seances. The trance medium at
those seances was a Mrs. Spencer, who,
In the parlance of her profession, was
known as a "horn" medium.
One spirit travelling incognito under
the name of Sunshine" advised them
all on matters moral. spiritual and
financial. The spirit of Nasburg Sr.,
departed, was once conjured up and
told Mrs Nasburg and his son that