The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-06
Coroner Must Explain Reason for Hiding
Secret of Woman Death from the Police

pointment with Mrs. de la Montanya,
whose attorney he says he was. Be-
fore luncheon the group had short
chat, and then it was professionally
agreed that il nothing interfered they
would all meet again for dinner at Mrs
de la Montanya's apartment 1t was
TO be a farewell evening at the fiat,
as the hostess intended. shortly to close
the place and start on a trip for the
east and Europe.
COUPLES ARRIVE SEPARATELY
whittemore accompanied Mrs. de Ia
Montanya to the house. They We're
seen entering the premises by a woman
living in another apartment Mrs.
Patton and Hanford arrived in a taxi
cab.
About 7:I5 the four sat to dinner.
They were served by Celia Budia, the
hostess maid. The dinner was an in
formal AFFAIR and the conversation was
general Casually Mrs. de la Montanya
mentioned that she had just secured
her final decree of divorce from James
de la Montanva. But divorce court ex-
periences were not generally dis
cussed, although considerable expert
testimony on the engrossing sociologi-
cal question could have been contrib
uted by the diners.
Light wine was. served at the meal,
lightly partaken of, it is asserted.
When the meal was over the party
separated within the narrow confines
OF the apartment. The dining room
and living room of the fat make what
sion suggested rather than effected by
an archway. Mrs. Patton and White
more went into the living room and
seated themselves on a lounge, which
served as a window seat in the east
window. They looked through the
window over the bay, with their backs
partly turned on the hostess and Han
ford. who were in the dining room.
Before the dinner Hanford had mixed
q whisky sour. or Irish sour" as he
called IL, and after the meal Mrs de la
Montanya asked that he concoct an
other round of the same beverage. Ham
ford. ready to comply with any request
that did not throw him too much
in the lime light, took the ingredients
as they presented themselves, and
mixed the liquor and fruit juice. Prob
ably TO get freer motion in stirring the
drink he removed a revolver from his
pocket. Ii was a German derringer, OF
curious pattern. with dangerous mag
azine located in the barrel 1t was in
a leather case. according to Hanford,
and to discharge it it would have to
be taken from the case, the trigger
pulled out and then the trigger drawn.
COUPLES ARE SEPARATED
At that time the party was grouped
with Mrs. Patton and whittemore 4n
the living room, Hanford standing by
the dining table IN the other room and
Mrs de la Montanya sitting on the
dining room lounge near him. The
faces OF the TWO in the other room
We're turned from Hanford and their
hostess.
Impulsively Mrs de la Montanya
reached out for the weapon Hanford
had placed there.
Don't touch that" fanford warned,
and went on with his eoncoction.
Suddenly there was report OF q
revolver Hanford turned He saw
Mrs. de la Montanya sinking out OF
his line Of vision below the table.
Mrs. Patton. from her distant seat,
turned at the sound, which she thought
was the report OF a vagrant firecracker.
Sc saw her friend sinking to the floor.
OF emotional temperament Mrs. Patton
first thought of the artistic value" of
Mrs. de la Montanya's reclination on
the floor. Then she saw that blood
was flowing from a wound near the
woman's temple.
The three guests realized what had
happened to their hostess They were
all dazed by the tragic end of their
evening. Hanford' says that he hast