The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 21, 1897, Page 9

THE SAN FRANCISC O CALL, THURSDAY, JANUARY . 21, 1897. 9 LILLIAN A, ASRLEY LOSES HER SUIT She Asked for $100,000 on Account of Alleged Betrayal. | E. ]. Baldwin Again Escapesl Financial Punishment by | Decree of Court. Declared to Be the Father of the Fair laintiff’s Child and He “Oughkt | to Support It.” | ton, | one and denied for the purpose of the decision, has not been an unequal one. Crittenden wasattorney for Miss Ashley and Messrs. Lloyd and Wood and Henry E. Highton appeared for Baldwin The story of Miss Ashley’s life is taken up and considered by the court. Sheap- Ppears to have lived quietly from her birth, in 1868, until 1n 1886 she left her native place, Turnbridge, Vt., and went to Bos- Mass., for a visit. Then she met John Osborn, became acquainted with him on the cars without an introduction, had her photograph taken with him, her armi resting on his shboulder; accepted jewelry from him, dined with him and Wwent with him to the theater. Speaking of Osborn and Miss Ashley the court says: Exactly what transpired between them then and after d cannot be determined, because it largelv depends upon statements by thie e the other. O‘bornls\\'eurs aCY W' the plaintiff at several aces o e Miich the plainuift dene FWhat Osborn says in this particular may be dis- missed with the remark thai a creature who | is s0 low in the seale of humanity as to volun- of his own moral teer such testimony obliquity, _incriminating an unfortunate Woman, snd to conseut to_come from Oregon to give it ut a stipend of $5 per day. IS, unless froborated, utierly unworthy of belief. The mony of both parties, ho does show that their relations were of a somewhat free character. Arter discrediting and_passing censure | on Witnesses O'Keefe, Wood and Barnes, | all residents of Bostou, the court con- Judge Slack of the Superior Court yes- | terday banded down a decision declaring at Lillian A. Ashley has no right to re- | damages from E. J. Baldwin on the rge of betra she asked" the court to award her $100,000 worth of Baldwin's | property, all ; that the great wealth of | the proprietor of the Baldwin Hotel and the Santa Anita rancho made him amply able to respond in th demanded. While Judge xave judgment for the defendant he availed himself of the opportunity to severely criticize the de- he had no | to and to point o shameful ich his conduct had subjected him. Touching the circumstances of tke hear- Judge Slack says: amount of ry, was presented. Much of is itself not to be rel s corroboration to be be ver, to separate the rom ¢ and to reach what eved to be a cOrrect co on. The wealth of the defendant and verty of testi- d ff, with the comsegue; tage on the one side and the disadvantage on the other, have been so iraquently pressed upon | the attention of the court duri of the case that the positio may be somewhat equalized by g the decision upon the plai imony nd her written admissions contal in her 1merous letters. far as counsel are con- | cerned neither side can be said to have had an advantage plain were_she yast fant, could not have cured the se a more zeslous whose loyalty to unfortunate client not but excite admiration. The ntest, then, | | thoughts. cludes that there is enough evidence to show that Miss Ashley’s iife was not without blemishes during her stay in Bos- ton, and several of her letters are quoted to show that this conclusion is well founded. These letters were variously ad- dressed—to horsemen and sporting gen- tiemen. i 2 Colonel H. C. Chamblin’s testimony is declared to ‘“‘bear the stamp of truthful- ness,” and he is exonerated from blame or complicity in the matter. 2 Miss Ashley's confession of her relations with Colonel Albert A. Pope of Boston, Mass., was then taken up by the court. and it was found that this was established by her own testimony in open court. Judge Slack was of the opinion that these Telations were voluntary on her part; that he paid her §150 on the occasion of their | n the Albemarle Hotel in Boston, and__that he sub-equently gave ims of money aggregating about obtaining from her a release o1 ull claims against him. He bought her a little home 1n Pasadeua, Cal,, for $2000. His Honor, with a touch of wearine:s, remarked that Miss letters to first meeting 1, notwithstanding the fact that he | devoted about 12,000 words to the decision; | at he quotes from the correspondence in a way to show the general tenor of her At the outset she appears to think well of the proposition of being “adopted in a nice sort of a way” by him; but subsequently she drops into the l.abit of calling nim “Lucky” Baldwin and her missives contain many suggestive pass- | ages that would be likely to give offense to less prudish than even the persons i master of Santa Anito rancho is in the decigion said to be. The court finds that therénever was a genuine proposition for | Baldwin to legaily adopt her, an aduit “are t00 long to be reproduced | woman who was a perfect siranger to him and whose photograph he had never seen. In one letter, aated at Richmond, Va., Miss Ashley tells Baldwin that she took chlotrnl and tried to drown herself. She wrote: I have not been myself at all, because am cared for as a liitle child, not capable of taking care of myseli, and no wonder I drank chioral last April ‘and tried to drown mysell. You would do the same or more, if you were only a girl surrounded by a lot of old “gone-by” society ladies, who lecture you to death by thelr tongues i they ever saw a gen- tleman speak to you. Now a spirited girl like I objects to being always kept down this way, and never have a gentleman friend, so this time I just ran away, and my sole object was to run right to your arms and ask peace and protection. But my money gave out, and I could notgo on without the ducats, 3o have waited for you so patiently as my only hope from being taken back to Bosion. Telegrams will fiy, and I am already found. Oh, if only could tolegraph me the money to come to yoil Iwould be in San Francisco as fast as stéam | could fetch me. Baldwin first called on Miss Ashley at Winchester October 5, 1891, and she ac- | companied him to Boston on bis way home. Ina subsequent letter she asked to be helped to Californis, and added: I wiil give you a pretty little secret of the schoolgirls now in rage, and that is silk under- clothes. All & girl's underwesr, beginning with the siockings up to the petticoat and eor- | set waist, are dainty silk trimmed with silk gobuwed lace: all pretty pale evening snades, blue, pink, yeliow, etc. They are home-made, and [ know just how. Al I lack is the mate: rial to do with. Suppose some nice California gentleman I know (E. J. B.) sent it to me, or the money 0 buy it. Ob, light. * * * With a world | am us ever, Lilly. The defendant never answered letter. Touching the allegation that Baldwin followed Miss Ashley the court says: The letters show the plaintiff’s pursuit of the defendant rather than the converse. The cor- pondence here ceased for a time, for the dent reason that the plaintiff had become namored of Pope. After a short acquaintance Pope wanted her to travel and offered her $200 a month to go to California or Australia. Baldwin’s letters are sparingly quoted by the court. They are not happily phrased, though possibly less suggestive tban the woman’s missives. Continuing the history of the case Judge | Slack says: | On March 2, 1893, the plaintiff, accepting | the defendant’s inviiation, came to San Fran- | cisco, the defendant meeting her and she ac- | companying him to tbe Baldwin Hotel, a hotel | | owned by him, where he registered her as “Mrs. Ashton,” evidently hy an understanding | between them. The plaintiff was at this time | a mature and robust woman 25 years.of age. Seven months before she had submitred her- | ftothe embraces of Pope, for whom she | hen and afterward, to use her own words, | had an undying love. Less than a month had | passed since she left Boston with money given | ner by this man for the purpose of coucealing their guilty relations. How can it be ¢.aimed | in the face of such indisputable proof that she | was an innocent girl unaccustomed to tho | ways of the world, allured 10 her ruiu by the | defendant? What did she expect of the | deiendant when she should meet him, and what did he expect of her In discussing the testimony of Baldwin | relating to the occurrences at the Batdwin | Hotel, the court says: | hat supreme de- of love to you, I this I | Miss As No more disgusting testimony than the ac- count of the aged defendant of what took place on this and other occasions, disclosing & totally depraved nature, could ever have been more unblushingly uttered. The con- duct of the plaintiff was without a mitigating circumstance, bui that of the defendant also deserves the severest condemnation. The de- fendant was &t this time a man nearly 66 years of age. He had been married several times and had grown-up daughters. His then wife, to whom he had been married about nine years, was living with him in a residence a short distance from tlic Baldwin Hotel. His illicit relations during the lnter years of his life with at least half a dozen women, evi- dence of which, in one way or another, crept into the case, he did not attempt to deny. He Das no sense of shame whatever. In 1893 Miss Ashley went to Boston, settled with Pope and returned to Cali- fornia, where she gave birth to a child, of which, in the judgment of the court, E. J. Baldwin is the father. Judge Slack sums up the testimony in this way: In the face of the foregoing evidence, gath- ered fu the inain from the plaintiff herself, is there any doubt what conclusion ought 10 be reached in this case? -Was tnerc any betrayal of confidence necessars to exist in order to make out s cause of action for seduction ? What are the answers'of the plaintiff and what are the arguments upon which she claims to be_entitled to & judgment for damages for seduction? Simply these: That she was chaste for & period of seven months prior to her inter- course with the defendant, and that on who invites a woman to his hotel guarantees her immunity irom evil. How was she supported during those seven months? Who furnished the menns for_her to come to California, and why and at whose instance aid she come here Btall? Let these questions be answered by & perusal of the foregoing. The concluding words of the court are: It is difficult to sey which of the ‘parties is the more to blame—the plaintiff for prosecut- ing this action or the defendant for detend- ingit. Itisfoulon bothsideswithout measure. The detendant must be ireed witnout puuish- ment, not breause he is innocent, but because | the plaintiff is guilty. A final blow, severe but just, must regretfully and with pity be given the unfortunate plaintiff, and she must go forth burdened with the offspring which the defendant, by all the laws of morality but not of mankind, is bound to support. Let judgment be entered for the defendant. Notice of appeal has been given the ap- plication for a new trial, being based on alleged errors occurring at tbe trial, but principally, it is said, because of the ruling by the court which denied Miss Ashley the services of a jury in the case because of her inability to pay the fees of the ju: men. The fee bill of 1895 is not clearl; worded, and it is held by some of th Judges of the Superior Court that a liti- gant is entitled to the services of a jury at the public expense as much as he is enti- | tled to the services of a Judg2 whose sal- by the community at large. | ary is paid The new fee bill does not make any dis- tinetion in regard to the jurors, and Judge Slack’s ruling that the party demanding a jury shall advance the fees therefor, sub- ject to recovering the money from the op- posite side as costs if successful in the suit, 1s based on the provisions of the code in regard to the settlement of co-t Dills in civil cases. This point has never been passed on by the Supreme Court, and the decision in regard to it may play an important partin the future prosecution of ley’s suit agains: Baldwin. ;g WSS TAIFLIES WITH A TRAGEDIAN | from hi: The Thrilling Story of a| Love Episode in Chinatown. Elopement of a Sacramento- Street Belle With an Actor and $g6. 1 How a Stage Hero Found F ver With | Ycung Wife While Her Husband Was Away. The story of how the affections of Chang Tai Hai, alias Lucy alienated from Wong Mee Hee, her hus- band, where once they were centered, will be told before the Grand Jury at its next session. The purpose is to recover to Wong Mee Hee, at least, tie person of the fickle young woman together with the value of $121 belonging to the deserted husband. Itis noteven hoped that the | processes of law will ever be able to secure | 10 Hee in any great degree of their one- | time ardor the affections of Miss Tal. | It 18 feared they have flown forever. But in order to regain as much as may bea requisition must first be secured from the | Hawaiian Government, to the protection | of which Miss Tai fled in company with | Leong Ab Him, elias Ah Chew, a China- | town actor, so long ago as the 23d of last July. Itis supposed that the eloping couple have tired of one another by this timeand that Miss Tai may be willing to return to | her husbind. Atany rate the Hawalian Government will not récognize the demand | of a Police Court Judge for the return of | an indiviaual to the jurisdiction of the | United States, but it will recognize an in- | dictment by a Grand Jury. For this rea- son Barclay Henley, as counsel for Wong | Mee Hee, bring a list of witnesses | before that body next week and have them tell the unhappy tale of the undoing of Hee and Tai. This is the tale: dustrious Chinaman, who works when he bas a job, and when he has no job he | works industriously seeking one. Chang Tai Hai, alias Lucy, alias Miss Tai, is the | wife of Hee, of whom be is or was very | fond. He téok much pride in seeing ber | promenade up and down the streels of | Ghinatown dressed in bright-colored { catins, her hair combed in heavy braids | and shining with oil, while her feet were encased in shoes so small that she halted and hobbled quite like a lady With_all his pride in his young wife Wong Mee Hee was as saving as he was industrious, for he dreamed of a day when they would togeiher take passage in the of a trans-Pacific steamer for the “lowery Kingdom, there to ride in rick- shas and live in louc. with the upper classes. end he had stowed away in a wer in the 8x10 subterranean ceil amento strect that Hee and Tai house bit by bit of silver until within $4 of being a round $100. Last summer Wong Mee Hee had a job | Alameda and every morning he took | arly boat and did not return to his home until evening. Miss Tai was, there- fore, much alone, or would have been Lad she remained at home. Butspe dia not. When she felt lonesome she would put on her whitest siockings and her prettiest | finery, spending much time over her toilet, and waquld then goabroad, promen- ading on Dgpont and Jackson sircets, One dav she Went to tne theater to while away an aiterncon and there Leong Ah Him, alias Ah Chew, who 1san actor, a | tragedian, saw her in one of the boxesand the peace of mind and the prop rty of Wong Hee were doomed. The tragedian looked hard at Miss Tai and her keart beat rapidly. After that e came !0 the theater almost daily, and ) doubt Leong Ah Him, who appeared 6n the bills as Ah Chew, soon secured for her a pass, But that is mere conjecture and bus therefore no place in this story. But this is true that they soon became lovers, and Leong Ah Him, when not re- bearsing or playing his part on the stage in th . alias Miss Tai, were | Wong Mee Hee isan | the side of Miss Tai. was constantiy by She took bim to her home and showed bim the secret drawer and tbe $96. It was enough. Leong Ah Him spoke v and fervently, pa pleasure that would be hers if Miss Tai flew with him and became the bride or mistress of the great actor, Ah Chew. Tuey looked up the sailng dates of vessels. On the evening of the of July Wong Mee Hee came home from Alameda weary day’s labor. Tai did not wel- come him as usual, nor was the bowl of bot rice awaiting him. The 8x10 feit like desolation. Tai did not answer Lim when be called. Then he suddenly recalled some suspicious circumstances, of which | there had been a ibousand, that his un- suspecting industry and patience and de- d not noticed. With his heart in the spring when she sat in the box and the tragedian had allowea his eye to | rest on her pretty face for a distinct in- | - stant, Wong Heé opened the secratdrawer and found it emp! Ah! then there was a great stir in Chinatown. Wong rushed into the street crying the names of all the calendar of crimes. His queune swashed this way and thet iike a loose hawser in a storm, his wooden shoes clattered over the cobbies as he rushed from the side- walk to the street and back sgain, open- ing and slamming shut the doors of the | merchants, yelling ali the while murder | and thief so that no one understoou him, and as only a mad Chinaman will. Wong Mee Hee was counseled to seek a lawyer, and he did. Inguiries were sent on foot to discover the whereabouts of the | couple, and these have been successful. Barclay Henley marched at the head of a | procession of Chinamen who can tell thi story in the waiting-room of the Grand Jury, vesterday, but the investigation of Judge Campbell was taking up so much time at he was advised to come back next Friday. He wishes to have Ah Chew ind of Misy Tai, so that they (Miss Tai and the tragedian) may be ctrought back—they and the $96 and the beaver coat and the bracelet. FPeialtivs of Divorce. Helen Bovee has been granted a m Willlam R. Bo ful peglect, with divorce on the ground of wil a month altmouy. g a picture | ting as rapidly as had that of Tai that | ted for alienating the affections | THEY STARTED 10 | | ~ FIGHT THE WORL Little Paul and Johnnie Peyser Were on the | Warpath. They Abandoned The'r Home Here and Were Captured | in San Rafael | | | 5 I ICons(eh e J hn Maher, Who S!cppfd: Them, Was Himself P aced | Under Arrcst | ‘ T | | | Little Paul and John Peyser of 206 Mc- | Allister street slept in their comfortable | cots last night, carefully guarded by both | s | mamma and papa Peyser. What mm{m little urchins have not made their parents | suffer during the past couple of days| would go to complete volumes written | | about Dante’s “‘Inferno.” Paul is the big one of the two, being just | six years older than Johnny, who is but 8 | years of age, and who is the xreatest ad- | mirer Paul may ever have. | Paul attends the public schools and is | frequently under the ban of demerits. It | | was not that he caréd so much about | this, but that his teacher presented him | with a telltale card on Friduy afternoon | | Next Monday evening a budding asp the Comforts of Home.”” The name of just 20 years of age. Miss Lewis is ver Seminary in 1804. Since a child she has her parents objected, so she 100k up tea how to shoot in the primary department 1896, During the time that she was She is an artist of no mean ability, sings work for some leading Eastern magazine: —and being certain that Wong Mee Hee Was attending to his labors in Alameda— | wants to gain that experience which com MISS JULIET LEWIS. things are promised, will make her debut at the Alcazar as Mrs. Pettibone in “All was born in New Yo_rk City, and came to California when only a chlld. educated in the public sthools and graduated with high honors-from the Van Ness Frances Edgerton and also with Frederick Belasco. the Last she put in her time studying under David Belasco. Since her return she has been studying with Frederick Belasco and bas succeeded in overcoming the vbjections of her parents to her going on the stage. Miss Lewis is petite, has light bair, ana—strange to tell—eyes of a jet black hue. irant for histrionic fame, of whom great the young lady in question is Miss Juliet Lewis, and she will make her presence known in the theatrical world under the pseudonym of Juliet Crosley. She is-the daughter of a Suisun capitalist and is y prominent in local society circles. She She was exyressed a desire to go on the stage, but ching and. instructed the youth!ul idea of the seminary during 1895 and a part of teaching, Miss Lewis studied under Mra, During a few weeks’ visit in In personal appearance well ‘and has done meritorious literary s. She isalso an accomplished linguist. Bhe expresses herself as willing to begin at the bottom of the ladder of faie, and es only by joining a stock company. that he must take to his home—the offi- cial record of his mistenavior. Paul could bear almost anything but this, o he quietly tore up the bit of paste- board and kept his own counsel. 0Oa Sanday he enlisted the attention of little Johuny they could ccnquer could they only get | away from mumma and papa for a little while. They would take away a light | bundle of ciothes to keep them warm dur- ing the winter, and tbey would likewis take with them 'the little parlor rifie paps has in tbe bedroom closet. Well, Johnny listened to Paul. He was convinced bis big brother must be richt ana Monday morning, instend of going to school, the lads went out to fuce the world. They strayed toward the ferry and em- barked on the first boat that would make them believe that they were “pirates of the Spanisi main.” It was the ferry to Tiburon and the two well-drossed, pretty boys, beiaving as they did, like piaytoy cowboys, holding | up the passengers with #n empty rifle— for they had lorgotten {o take cartridges with them—created the impression that they were some spoiled urchins whose parents were on the upper deck. T..ey got off the irain at S8an Rafael and began their same cowbov antivs. ““Where are you going?” asked Constable Johnny Maher. “Throw up your Paul in answer. Msher grabbea the two little runaways and they both began to cry. They soon told their stories and Maher took them to hig home to Test for the nignt. hands!” exclaimed parents forgave them for past errors, But the peculiar phase of this entire affair is that Johnny Maber, Kind-hearted and conscientious, ran himself into an ugly predicament when he reached here. He has been working for some time searching for some $150 worth of jewelry stolen from a Japanese in San Rafael. He | and Jerry Dinan,a local police officer, have been scouring pawr.shops for nearly two eeks in this City. making comparisons they have carried with them a gold chain belonging to the Jap. The latter became anxious about his chain and yesterday swore out a warrant char:ing Maher with embezzlement. Learning of this Maher surrendered lLimself to Chief Crowley yesterday after- noon and was liberated on his own recog- nizance by Judge Wallace. McLeod in Court William McLeod, the ship-calker, who was arresied Tuesday night on the charge of caus- ing his wife's death by choking her at their residence, 216 Cortland avenue, appeared ~in Judge Conlan’s court vesterday morning. The case was continued till January 27, pending | the result of the Coroner’s inquest. Gt gui et L Seized a Brewery. The brewery of Fritz Goerl at San Rafcel was seized yesterday by the United States authori- ties on'a charge of removing a great number of kegs of beer without their being properly stamped. The goods were relessed upon Goerl | giving bonds in the sum of $2501 50. telling him of the worlds | Yesterdoy morning Maher brought the | ds home to tbis City, where weeping | For the sake of | THE STATE MD NATION CLASHIG Rival Quarantine Services Causing Captains Trouble. Passengers From the Umatilla ~ Allowed to Land by Courtesy. Federzl Authoriti s Had Taken Six- teen Japan-se to Angel Is and. The question of precedence between the State and Federal quarantine officers has at last come to a head. For months there has been friction, but Dr. Chalmers in- variably gave way, until now he considers patience has ceased to be a virtue. Last night the Umatilla arrived from Puget Sound ports, and the United States quarantine officers boarded her off Fort | Point. After inspecting her bills of health | tne physician took sixteen Japanese from | the steerage, and, putting them aboard the | quarantine steamer S ernberg, landed them on Angel Island for furtuer inspec- tion. Later on Dr. Chalmers, as the rep- resentative of the State, boarded the steamer, and finding there were no Japan- ese aboard, and that the captain’s report showed that no deaths had occurred dur- ing the voyage, he refused to allow the passengers to land. Then there was a deadlock, Captain Hunter pointed out that a duly accredited United States offi- | cer had removed the Japanese, and that to hoid the other passengers would work | finaily agreed to iay the matter before J. \M. Williamson, M.D., chairman of the | quaraniine committee of the Board of Health, and he and the captain went to | his office. Finally Captain Hunter was granted a certificate, with the following note attached : | The accompanying certificate is granted under protest and as & matter of courtesy o the detained passengers and to the captain of the steamship Umatilla, who agcepied the statement of the Federal Quaradtine Officer that the Federal certificate alone would en- titie him to dock. The netion of the Federal Quarantine Officer in removing the sixteen Jupanese passengers 10 quarantine before they were inspected by the State Quarantine Officer i8 in direct violation of the laws of this State, and will call for a protest irom the Board of Health against such action in the future. The action of the captain of the steamsbip Uma- tilla in permitting the passengers to be re- moved beiore their inspection’ by the | Quarantine Officer is aiso in viol and for that reason-the ves: tained. it will be the intention of the Board of Henlth to resist all such unwarranted assump- tion of authority on the part of the F officials, aud shipmusters who procecd to do hout the State Quarantine Officer’s ce e will be deslt with sccording to the pro- visions of the Politieal Code of the State of California, section 3014. JorN M. WILLIAMSON, M.D., Cheirman Quarantine Committee. As the case stands at present a dendlock is imminent snd shipping will suffer. The next steamer that comes inand has not her full passenger list or the missing accounted for by some other reason than “‘removed by the United States quarantine officer” will not be allowed to dock. Dr. | Chalmers will refuse to give her a ‘bill of healtn and the captain wiil land his pas- sengers at his peril. Then, on the other hand, he has to face ail the powers placed in the hands of a duly accredited officer of the United States quarantine service and tius be placed between iwo fires. The Umatilla got in about6 p. . and it was nearly three hours later before any of the passengers were allowed to land. | “The whole matter simply amounted to | this,” said Dr. Chalmers last night. *The Umatilla arrived from Puget Sound ports about sundown, and the Federal quar- antine - officer boarded her off Fort Point. There were sixteen Japanese aboard, and these he took away with him on the tug. With these people | missing how could I give a clean | bill of health? I refused to do so, | and told the captain his passengers could }no!iand. 1then reported the matter to ion of was de- Wi Dr. Williamson, and he finally decided to pass the vessel. A Japanese was taken off the Victoria steamer on the last trip and I overiooked the matter, but in future masters of vessels will be compelled to comply with the laws of the State of Cali- | fornia.” Masters of vessels are worked up con- siderably over the whole matter. With two sets of authorities to please they are in 2 quandary as to which to obey. When the Monowai arrived from Aunstralia, Dr. Chalmers passed her, but Dr. Rosenau detained the vessel for several hours, and then he passed the steeragze pas-engers 1a | short order. In fact, he was not tea min- utes all told on the steamer. In the case | of the Orizaba, which arrived from Mexico last Sunday. the steerage passengers were detained for nearly ten hours, awaiting the pleasure of the United States quaran- tine officer. As matters stand at present, captains of foreign vessels are between the devil and the deep sea, and steerage passengers have to suffer in consequenc-. The matter was taken up at the meeting of the Board of Health last night, and it was decided to consult the Washinzton authorities in order to prevent further trouble. SalZIF T ST According to the_recent census the pop- ulatien of Greece is 2,418,000 souls, or an increase of 230,000 over the figures o: 1889, NEW TO-DAY RHEUMATISM FOR ORTY-FIVE YEARS W. H. Stapp of Fouts Springs, Cal., tel DR. A. T. SANDEN— Dear 8ir: months. ils of his wonderful cure after many years | of suffering. He says under date of January 18, 1897: 1 have now been wearing your Electric Belt a little more than seven First I eot a No. 5 as an experiment, which was not strong enough for my a hardship. Quarantine Officer Chalmers | case.’ Afterward I got a stronger one. Mine was a very aegravated and long contin- ued case of Rheumatism and nervous debility. I bad been «fflicted with rheumatism for furty-five vears, the last three years of wnich period I suffered greatly from nerv- ous debility. I am now wonderfully improved. My nervous trouble is nearly gone. The parts are'fast assuming their natural size and shape. Action of my heart, which was greatly disturbed, is now nearly normal. Although we are having a very disa- greeable winter, I feel no rheumatic trouble. Iam now nearly 62 yearsof a-e and I consider my improvement almost miraculous. 1 shall not fail to recommend your belt to all sufferers. W. H. STAPP. DR. SANDEN’S ELECTRIC BELT Cures Rheumatism and Debility and tones and invigorates the whole system. If you are suffering from any weakness or rheumatic pain, you will do well to investigate. Call and see the Belt, or send for free book, “Three Classes of Men.”” SANDEN BELECTRIC CO., 632 MARKET ST., OPPOSITE PALACE HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO. Office hours—8 A. M. t0 8:30 P. ). ; Sundays, 10 tol. Los Angeles Office 204 South Broad- way; Portland, Or., 258 Washington street; Denver, Colo., 933 Sixteenth street. NOTE.—Make no mistuke in the number— 3B = Markes street NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS LADIES’ DRESS SKIRTS AT———— MARTLING REDUUTIONS! Buyers are afforded MARVELOUS MONEY-SAVING OPPOR- TUNITIES at our great Sacrifice Clearance Sale as witness the fol« lowing lines of STYLISH AND ELEGANT DRESS SKIRTS that are TO BE CLEARED OUT at JUST HALF FORMER PRICES TO-DAY! LADIES' BLACK SERGE DRESS SKIRTS, lined with percaline, vel binding, former price $5; special price for to-day.. vet $2.50 §3.00 LADIES’ BLACK FIGURED MOHAIR DRESS SKIRTS, lined with per- caline, velvet binding, former price $6; special price for to-day... LADIES’ BLACK BROAD WHALE SERGE DRESS SKIRTS, lined with rastie porcaline, velvet biuding, former price $575; special price for to-day...... X LADIES' BLACK SERGE AND FIGURED MOHAIR DRESS SKIRTS, iin d throughout, velvet binding, former price $10; special price for to-day. $5.00 $7.50 LADIES’ BLACK FIGURED SILK DRESS SKIRTS, full width, lined and velvet bound, former price $15; special price for to-day LADIES’ BLACK BROCADED SATIN DRESS SKIRTS, large figures, 1m‘1j width, bound with velvet, former price $17; special price for to-dRy. Sl i ; $8.50 LAI?IES' E&‘(TRAI hQUALIITYdSHZIK AND SATIN DRESS SKIRTS, ar.e and small figures, lined and velvet bound, former price $20; spe- clal price for to-day % P $10.00 SILK DEPARTMENT! 20 precos BLACK BROCADED GROS-GRAIN SILK, mediu; exra good value for $1 a yard; clearance sale price ...... m desiegns, MURPHY BUILDING, Market Street, Comer of Joneg San Francisco. OO Given Away this year in valuable articles to smokers of ¢ $ g Blackwell’s Cenuine Durham Tobacco You will find one coupon ifi- side each 2-ounce bag, and two coupons inside each 4-ounce bag. Buy abag, read the coupon and sce how to get your share. The Best Smoking Tobacco Made The time to stop disease is before it really gets started. Thenit is easy. Almost all disease starts in the stomach. A little trouble planted'there will spread its branches all over the body. Indigestion drags behind it a lengthening chain of disease. Indigestion makes impure blood, it makes assimila- tion poor, makes the body weak, causessloss of flesh, and makes o hundred openings for disease to enter. Stop indigestion and you stop the rest. Go to the root of the trouble and you soon kill the branches. Keep the digestion in good order and you may laugh in the face of sickness, RIPANS Tabales 96 orguns—{or storbach, liver sud are for the digesti: 5 bowels. They stimulate the appetite, help diges- tion and assimilation of food, keep all the organs healthily active. They cure indigestion—that means biliousness, sour stomach, flatulence, head- ache, bad blood, bad complexion, pimples, erup- tions, constipation and half a hundred other things that arise from the one cause. They cure the cause —the rest is easy. One Tabule isa dose—one gives relief. It should be taken at meal times, at bed time, or whenever a premonition of a need of it is felt. Youwll fecl better, and quickly too.