The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-11
HOW MADISON WON
ONE LEGAL WIFE
Mrs. Sylvia Pollard de Bonnet
Tells Story of Bigamist's
COurtship of Her

In Mrs. Sylvia Pollard de Bonnet
Madison, 1047 Shrader street, San Fran
cisco has the unique honor of having
within it's gates the one legal wife OF
the bigamist. She was married TO him
December %. 1906, and can therefore
claim prior rights over the others. his
only recorded marriage earlier than
that date being to Mrs. Mary Brown of
Springfield. Mass. who died of a broken
heart few days after her wedding.
Mrs. Bonnet's version of Madson's
wooing shows that the merest tribes,
prosaic happenings, untoward events,
may be converted into affairs of mo-
mentous import.
They met at a party. Madison. in the
geniality of his soul, cracked a bon
bon and withdrew a ounces cap.
Whereupon he put the ounces cap on
his head This in itself was incomplete,
merely preliminary, but when few
minutes later he cracked another bon
bon and produced a paper crown the
significance of his maneuverings was
understood as, with a low bow. he Of
fered the crown to Mrs. Bonnet. The
ounces cap he retained for himself
Thus began the wooing.
They did not meet until week later.
and then under circumstances which
would have made the average man turn
up a side street. Mrs. Bonnet was car
rying a paper bag of oranges across the
street. Bearing down upon her was
car. In her hurry to get across the
bag burst and two dozen oranges were
gleefully rolling around.
Sprang then Madison TO the rescue
Oblivious of the comment of the news
boys. the laughter and smiles of the
spectators. he dived around the pave
ment harvesting the elusive members
of the genus citrus aurantium and then.
loaded with them, proceeded to escort
Mrs. Bonnet to her residence
Opportunity favored Madison. The
womanfolk of the household were
at the moment of his appearance sooth-
ing themselves with a cup of tea
Madison was asked if he cared for
tea. He CALAMITY lied and was forth
with equipped with a cup and saucer
and the usual accomplishments. Mad
son progressed wonderfully. He told
one or two good stories, cut up
roguishly for one of So summers and
made himself a member of the family
by quietly slipping away and shortly
returning with suspicious parcel I'M
der his arm.
"A little something" he said. He
unwrapped the paper and brought
forth a bottle of wine. Such kindnessi
Such forethoughtt The wine was put
n
him. the cork popped with true aristo-
cratic and wealthy sound and all was
happiness and smiles.
"A little something more" said the
sleceiver. and from the parcel he drew
out crab.
The crab did the business.
Any one could think of wine, but it
took one of domestic habits and
true appreciation of the feminine de-
70 rarnpD1 her
That was the beginning. but the end
was not for over a year. 1T is true,
said Mrs. Bonnet, that we became
engaged very shortly afterward- There
was another man-and one of the
most prominent men in town. no.
tary public-who had asked me to
marry him. but when he saw Madison
he drew aside.
Having thus eliminated all rivals
Madison. bent to the pursuit with an
earnestness and ardor. which. though
it lasted a year, eventually resulted in
Mrs Bonnet becoming his bride. The
marriage was brief.
About six weeks after the wedding
said Mrs Bonnet. 'he said he was going
to Stockton. and that was the last 1
heard or saw of him until he was
arrested. 1 wish to say that he never
asked me for money and 1 never gave
him any. In fact. while with us he
supported us in splendid style and his
last act was to give me a $40 gold
piece. l suppose these stories about
him are true. but as far as 1 am con-
cerned he was very kind and gentle
manly"
She said that she had no intention
of claiming the right to be his wife,
although she was not going to take any
steps to secure divorce.
Such a Handsome Fellow
NEW YORK. July 1O.-Mrs. Mary
Kirkman. one of the local victims of
John Madison, was found today at Sc
Willow street. Corona. l. l. She re-
vealed the secret of MadsOn's success
as charmer of women,
He was such a handsome fellow"
said Mrs. Kirkman, and Mrs Kirkman
is herself quite comedy
When shown the description of the
man arrested in San Francisco. she
said:
That is the same man. I am sure
He always carried a cane and walked
with a limp. That description fits him
exactly.
Nine years ago 1 was left a COM
Portable home at Little Neck by my
husband, Captain Christian W. Kirk
man. 1 was living there happily until
this man came along First he talked
to me about buying my home Then
he began to tell me that he owned
fine orange grove and ranch in Cali
fornia. He said there was just one
thing he wanted and that was a careful
wife like myself.
After l had married him he induced
me to sacrifice my home The pro-
ceeds. after paying mortgage.
amounted to only $500. Madison bor-
rowed 5000 to buy a ticket to Cali
fornia. saying he wanted to see how
his California property was getting
along. l have never seen him since