The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-03-13
Woman's Attempt to Re
form Thief Disrupts Fam
lily, Leaving Father
Alone With Babes
FLED TO CALIFORNIA
LAST CHRISTMAS EVE
Burglars Love Letters to
Chicago Preachers Mate
Made Public
(special pIspateh to rne caln

Especial Dispatch to The Cain
CHICAGO. March IA story OF
woman's attempt to reform thief, of
a disrupted home. of husband left
alone to care for five little children was
unravelled In Chicago today, following
the confession In San Francisco of
Owen d. Conn, gentleman burglar"
Rev. Nestor X. Clarkson. head OF the
White Cross Midnight Missionary asso-
citation. told the pathetic story OF the
desertion OF his wife, Mrs. Mabel Clark
son, last Christmas eve; ffer fight to
California with the thief and OF HIS re-
fusal to take her back Copies OF inter
cepted letters and an extract from an
epistle Conn had sent the pastor were
made public.
against his wife, with whom he had
pleaded. asking that she scorn the
"Raf1es'' and cling to her home and her
little children, Rev. Mr.. Clarkson ex-
pressed pity for the woman and asked
as to her whereabouts
The audacity of Conn. who passed
nights under the same roof with the
minister, who took his wife away from
home for "a hours on a plea of reli-
gious work, the threatened killing OF
the preacher and the burglars attempt
vealed by the clergyman.
''One day two weeks or so ago she
pleaded with me over the phone to be
allowed to see the children once more"
began the pastor. She would not re-
veal her whereabouts.
Il began 20 notice change in Mabel
two years ago. when she and some
other missionaries were visiting the
county Jail. Later discovered Conn
was the cause
'He lured her away by pretending
he wanted to reform and take up re-
ligious work. and in his letters always
talked of becoming straight. upright
citizen.
Twelve years ago we met-Mabel
and I. She was only 49, She was a
mission worker. We were happy in
our home life and happy in our work.
The babies came. and never was there
better or more devoted mother
than Mabel.
UNLUCKY DAY WHEN CONN CAME
Then Conn came into our lives
That was an unlucky day for me- He
was a clever talker. He had a way
with women.
"The end came last Christmas eve.
Returning home Unexpectedly I found
my wife dressed to go out. In answer
to my question she said she was going
for car ride. Then she laughed
az demand that you remain at home
with your children told her, hoping to
scare her. I will not she said. Turn
ing to Conn she said:
"tShoot that man II he interferes with
u.s. XIII him II he attempts to stop me-
That's the last have seen of Mabel.
The next day baby was taken away.
The child was returned three weeks
later.
Remember. this was on Christmas
eve. The bells were ringing OF what I
supposed to be the gladdest day of the
year. The day on which Christ was
born. My heart was broken. There /
was in the home with the little ones and
my wife gone with a man I knew to be
bad
CONN'S LETTER TO PASTORS WIFE
An excerpt from the letter from
Waupon jail. which evidently was a
reply to one from Mrs. Clarkson, reads:
Il recall message that / received
while IN the Milwaukee jail from some
one who said they would stick by me
through thick and thin, when all others
would desert me.
This has been beacon of hope to
me In times of encouragement, and
much of my hope is centered in its
promises Will it be fulfilled?
"Oh, I hope so. yet I sometimes have
doubts about 1t. Where Is that lock
OF hair? Why. d've got 1t and intend
always to have it. Also the ring, or
what's left of 1t. The photograph would
not have been returned only L have
another like it"
CONN'S LETTER TO HUSBAND
A letter written by Conn to Rev. Mr..
Clarkson, seeking to convince the min
lister that there was nothing wrong in
his associations with Mrs. Clarkson and
answering communication from the
pastor, reads:
REV. N. K. Clarkson. 475e choctaw
avenue, Chicago.
Dear sir-Under the circumstances.
have tried to imagine myself In your
position, as you stated 1t. and I will
answer you accordingly.
Il must admit that you have the right
to be indignant at the seemingly frivol-
ous or sentimental tone of my corre-
spondence with Mrs. G. But. my dear
sir. you are wholly mistaken as to my
intentions regarding her. I know have
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