The San Francisco call., 1909-08-19
FORFEITS GOOD
NAME FOR LOVE
FOR K-CONv|CT
Downfall of Woman Who Was
at One Time Leader in
Oakland Society
Arrest of Male Companion Re-
yeaIs the True Cause of
Wreck of Home

Gordon.
Ny name is Airs. Tompkins," de-
clared the woman firmly.
Did you ever 90 by the name Of
Gordon" asked Burke.
Yes" the fellow replied. Have you
. warrant for my arrest2" he asked
No" replied Burke
Before Gordon could raise any OBJ
lection 10 the arrest, Mrs. Tompkins
begged him to get ready and go quietly
with the police.
Gordon's first explanation Of the
draft which he is accused of having
forged is that he secured the paper
from Watson during a poker game. He
said he was living al 1912 Thirteenth
avenue. Oakland when he passed the
draft
Later Gordon was identified as the
man who passed the draft by Jacobs
and his clerk, Mark Kohn.
When the detectives started from
The house Mrs Tompkins was told that
she was not under arrest, but that Cap
tain Anderson wished 10 have an inter-
view with her. She consented to go,
on condition that she did not have to
travel on the same car with Gordon
and the detectives.
Breaks Into Sobs
At the shall OF justice she was seated
IN the detectives room. where she was
seen by newspaper reporters. She was
reluctant 10 talk, and frequently broke
into sobs
I have my religion to comfort me-
she said. and have done nothing
wrong I have nothing TO say against
my husband. he is an old man."
In addition to that she said:
4 haven't been living with my hus-
band Mr- Tompkins. any more than
just 10 take care Of him, for three
years. Shortly after the release of
Mr- Gordon from prison he came over
10 Oakland and tutored our son. He
had been tutor for the boy at the
prison when Mr.. Tompkins was war
den. Mr. Tompkins took care Of Cor
don for some time. befriended him.
A short time ago my husband assigned
The property, valued at about $50, 600.
10 me After that I left our home in
Fruitvale.
i can blame my husband for this
unhsppiness When we were at the
contact with convicts. I was insulte1
by several OF them, who wrote letters
10 ne which did not read5right- pro
tested 10 my husband. but he did
nothing.
AS for my relations with Mr.. Cor
don-I have lived with him only as a
friend. ] had no one else TO go to.
He showed me full courtesy-he has
been the only friend ] had"
After Gordon had been placed in
detinue and the detention OF the
woman, Captain Anderson sent for the
womsns husband. He came over dur
ing the afternoon and Had an inter-
view with Captain Anderson.
Husband Scorns Wife
4 want nothing to do with her." he
said 10 the captain Of detectives.
DO you desire TO bring a charge
against herr asked Anderson.
No. 1 don't want anything to do
with her I don't want TO see her"
Mrs. TOmpkins was asked If she
wished 20 see her husband, and she
replied that she did not. Il want moth
ing to DO with him."
50 she was excused by Captain An
derson and left the place with Detec-
tive Burke for her own home, where
Burke secured evidence Of handwriting
which may be used against Gordon
Tompkins silently left the hall of jus
1ice
When seen at her apartment. 2I59
Mission street. Mrs. Tompkins said that
she was busy packing" and refused
an interview.
Gordon was placed in detinue at the
city prison. lie said that he was in
nocent Of the charge of forgery and
suiltless OF improper association with
Mrs TOmpkins.
Gordon. who speaks pedantically. ad-
mitted that he was a college graduate.
but would not give the name of the
college. He said that lit is located re-
mote from here"
Gordon said that he had engaged a
lawyer and would make a statement
later.
Was an EmbezzIer
Gordons record and prison picture
We're in the identification bureau of
the department. He was committed to
san Quentin and received there in
January, 1901 under a six year SEN
tence for embezzlement committed in
san Joaquin county. He was released
February q, 1905. the term having
been shortened by good behavior
Mrs Tompkins comes Of well
known Oakland family. Her father
was John A. Altman. one Of the most
prominent stage line men of the Pa
ciflc coast He either committed sui
eide or accidentally walked of the
Oakland wharves one night A brother
Of the woman, George Altman. COM
mitted suicide. Another brother. John
Altman. also committed suicide. Mrs.
TOmpkins is a spiritualist She has
considerable art talent In her youth
she was a very beautiful woman
Her husband. the former warden. is
an elderly man. When he and his
son were driven out OF their Fruftvale
home by the wife and mother they
went 10 the home Of Harry Hinckle
IN Fruitvale avenue. Tompkins is an
insurance broker, but has little or no
money. He was formerly chief OF DO
lice OF Oakland.
Gossip has connected the name of
Mrs. Tompkins and Gordon since the
time the fellow was IN stripes Sew
eral years ago the woman went east
for the ostensible purpose of study
ing art. but ii was believed that she
met there Gordon, then newly released
from prison.
Gordon says that he has been a
book agent since his release. He ad-