The San Francisco call., 1910-09-08
OH, so DIFFERENT
in The MORNING
Widow of Millionaire Mining
Man in Prison Cell After
Night Joy Ride

All the philosophy and new thought
that has ever been written into books
failed to mitigate the gray horror of
the prison cell which was occupied for
three hours yesterday by Mrs. Margaret
G. Laing, widow of William Frederick
Laing, a millionaire mining man of
New York and London
Early yesterday afternoon, after a
night and a morning of joy rides. fla
vored at frequent intervals by, the
subtle dry Martini or the effervescent
champagne, Mrs. Laing was handed
over to mundane policeman by E. r.
Potter, a chauffeur of 1919 Turk street,
who charged her with refusal TO pay
his taxicab bill of SIS. She was taken
first TO the park station and shortly
after 1 o'clock was transferred TO the
city prison, from which she was re-
leased on bail just before o'clock
She is gifted with no small amount of
personal beauty and, according TO her
own admission, is engaged to be mar
ried to a New York millionaire, who
owns valuable mining claims in Mex
leo. At the city prison yesterday after
noon, as she puffed cigarette to quiet
her racing nerves. she talked some
what freely concerning herself and her
career
For more than a year past Mrs.
Laing has been conducting fashion
able boarding house at 1881 Bush
street. This she sold out a few months
ago. At the boarding house is staying
T. T. Casejian, an oriental decorator,
whom she persuaded last night to ac-
company her on a Summing tour of
Chinatown.
It was about midnight in tenderloin
dance hall that Mrs. Laing, against the
advice of Casejian, Joined young man
and another woman on an auto ride to
the beach.
When Mrs. Laing came TO her senses
she said it was broad daylight and she
was in the taxicab somewhere in San
Mateo and the chauffeur was trying TO
get her purse. This angered her and a
dispute resulted.
Mrs. Laing next found herself in the
custody of Policeman Hooper In her
purse were found two checks, S110 in
cash, and on her finger an enga cement
ring valued at $500.
Through all the experiences of the
night and morning Mrs Laing clung to
Dorothy, her French poodle dog, which
was given a corner of the cell in the
city prison with its mistress.
Mrs. Laing cofesses TO SO years. Six
years ago she married William Freder-
lex Laing, a wealthy. mining man, and
rope. Just after his return four years
ago and while he was examining min
ing property in Alaska, he died. His
widow receives an annual income from
his estate, which was probated in New
York.
Although reticent as to her career
prier to her marriage, Mrs. Laing de-
clared that she is. the niece of William
Holden, who was lieutenant governor
of California under Governor Haight
from 1867 to 1871.
A sister of her husband married the
eldest son of the late Sir John Spicer
OF England and is now living In Lon
don with her family.
Il have studied philosophy and the
new thought for years., said Mrs
Laing. and yet 1 come down to this
and she gazej at the dinEy bars and
left could close my eyes to this, for
there is no evil unless one be willing to
acknowledge it. There is no mitiga-
tion for this in philosophy or in the
new thought, or if there be, suppose
I'm too weak to find It I've been up
all night and all day, and / don't know
what time ii is now.
Just another cigarette to quiet the
nerves. It helps wonderfully. And
when / get out, about three more
drinks to put me to sleep and then I'll
forget it ALL This is the first time and
it's been a terrible time. SO it'll be the
last"
Half an hour later Casejian deposited
the cash bail and she was released.
He's a good fellow, said Mrs Laing
and ! had no right to shake him for
that other man.