The San Francisco call., 1909-05-09
PROMOTER AND
AFFINITY FLEE
CITY TOGETHER
Arley Townsend Makes Quick
Departure When Wife
Sues Soul Mate
Mrs. Margaret IL. Ferguson
Made Defendant in Action
for $4,000 Damages

/ AOA UAV9VVV
Arley Townsend. who two months
ago was lodged in Jail on charges Of
fraud preferred by various women he
had made partners in his alleged realty
business. this morning is flying toward
Seattle, accompanied by an affinity.
Mrs. Margaret II. Ferguson, who was
Miss Tierney. and the daughter OF
well known San Rafael family.
The promoter OF various ventures
was FASTENED in his journeying by a
suit for damages filed yesterday by his
wife. Mrs. Minnie Townsend. who. from
/ her residence at the Hotel Irwin. de-
troyed all her husbands hopes of hap
piness by bringing action against his
soulmate. Mrs. Ferguson. for $4,000.
which is the value Mrs. Townsend sets
upon her husband In the complaint
it is charged that Mrs Ferguson en-
ticed Townsend from his wife. and in
place of the stolen spouse Mrs Town
/ send wants the money.
EVENTS HAPPEN FAST
Events piled up yesterday in Town
sends life and left him weak and
gasping with the effort 10 keep track
of them. First after days OF threats,
came the suit for damages against
Mrs Ferguson. and Townsend, as well
as his companion. were staggered BY
the blow. They had not expected just
such action. and their first thought
was OF flight. Both of them left on
the SEQ train for Seattle last night.
Mrs. Ferguson meeting Townsend at
{ Oakland. whittier she mad hed in the
+ afternoon in an effort to escape no
4 toriety and cover up the fact that she
was taking the same train upon which
I Townsend was speeding away from his
troubles.
/ 1t seems. however. that the promoter
is but taking his troubles with him.
! Mrs. Townsend evinced little desire
yesterday to forgive her spouse, even
upon his reformation, and declares that
\ she will prosecute the suit against
Mrs Ferguson to the end. She showed
yesterday. as. indeed, she stated to
/ Townsend. that what she now desires
is money in lieu of her husband
After the suit was filed yesterday
\ Townsend paid a visit to his wife at
the Hotel Irwin, Fourth and Mission
streets. He was piloted there by
Judge Beck. an old friend of the pair,
4 confidential attorney for Mrs. Town
send and friend also Of Mrs Fergu-
/ son. Beck hoped TO reconcile the cou-
pie and Townsend was left to have a
heart to heart talk with his wife. The
promoter promised to better his ways
in the future, and asked if he would
7 be taken back if he reformed Mrs
/ ToWnsend's parting words. as her hus-
! band left, may be aiken as character
/ istic of the manner in which she re-
ceived her husbands whole discourse.
STRANGERS HEREAFTER
4 never want to see you again" she
said. we win be strangers to each
other hereafter
/ Townsend left the hotel depressed in
spirits, went Immediately to the Win
I chester hotel on Third street, gath
cred up his belongings and started for
/ Seattle, taking his affinity along
Yes, every thing my wife alleges in
( the complaint she fled today asking
/ damages of Mrs Ferguson is true"
+ Townsend admitted last night She
! has the drop on me. that's all 7 made
a fool OF myself. and now I'm reaping
I the harvest.
II married the finest little woman in
\ the world. and got to chasing arouno
! with other women. the kind ought
! to have kept strictly away from. 1t
serves me right" Townsend continued
mournfully. ~and I am getting all I
deserve for having treated my fine little
/ wife so.''
/ Mrs. Townsend is some 20 years Older
! than her husband. who himself is past
/ the middle twenties-
Mrs. Ferguson. Townsend declared
/ last night. lived with him at Haight
and Waller streets. as his wife alleged
Recently she has been living at f14
i Collingwod street. Townsend said. but
/ left there this afternoon. to go to Oak
I land. where she was to meet him.
/ In the complaint FOR damages fled
yesterday, Mrs. Townsend charges Mrs
{ vr-ffh ha1 etpr
/ band away
] The complaint states that the pIaintin
I married Arley Townsend in San Jose
November 16. 1905, and that up to and
including September Is. 1908. they lived
happily together, Townsend supporting
her.
I AFFINITY ENTERS on SCENE
/ While they were thus living in happy
fashion Margaret Fl. Ferguson. con
4 trivfng and intending to injure them"
and TO deprive Mrs. Townsend OF the
comfort and society and assistance OF
her husband, maliciously enticed him
away from his wife" il is alleged. and
/ 20 separate residence in San Fran
cisco, and has ever since detained him. 3
Costello & Costello are the attorneys
+ for Mrs Townsend.
1 Judge Beck stated yesterday very
positively that he wished 1t understood
( that he was acting only as a friend OF
! the parties concerned in the three cor
nered squabble and was not In any way
interested in it otherwise
/ Mrs. Townsend on her part says she
will push her SUIT. Then she will COM
mence an action for divorce She
wishes revenge before Hberating her
husband.
Townsend until two months ago
maintained Offices in the Humboldt
Bank building and advertised for part
ners and women stenographers. FL
nally he was arrested in San Jose In
March and charged with having taken
many of the women he hired into busi-
ness with him on a partnership basis
and then heecing them OF their money.
Miss Alice Talbot of 663 Aileen street.
Oakland swore to the complaint upon
which he was jailed Some time before
this Townsend had been arrested in
Oakland on the complaint OF r. j.
Freeman of Liese avenue. Fruitvale.
Who charged him with having obtained