Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-29
FATHER BANTa'S MONEY
Son-in-Law Pierce Under Seve,
Cross Fire.

LIZ OPpOpiAE COouECl JOSbCLhd1 lOOh
charge of Mr.. Pierce, and put him
through his facings in close cross
examination, to draw from him some
evidence that would tend to show that he
had used undue influence in the making
of the trust deed. Some excerpts from
his testimony are submitted. He was
speaking of the arrival in Los Angeles OF
Mrs. Banta. He said
81 drove her out to Pasadena. She
told me l must give mortgage for the
money. 1 was afraid she would make
trouble, SO 1 told her l would make a
mortgage when Father Banta came out,
| il he wanted it.
after he had come out, some time
after, he asked for it. She spurred him
up"
Here wrangle took place between
| witness and counsel as to this matter, in
the course of which Pierce confessed he
had not heard Mrs. Banta doing the
squirting business. Continuing, Pierce
said:
"No; they were under no obligation to
give me money.
Eyes; l often heard Mrs. Banta bad
gering father Banta, but not directly
| about that mortgage.
Yes; | am willing to testify that she
badgered him.
she was here some time before the
| mortgage was made.
81 borrowed $75 from Mrs. Banta, l
asked her for it, and promised to pay it
back.
II did not pay it back as l promised.
| went to her, and che said to put in the
mortgage on the land.
Il said that looked like a sharp trick
to get the mortgage.
sit was understood on her part was
to give mortgage.
II and father Banta came to Los An
geles to fix up the mortgage.
81 paid the going rate of interest. l
do not remember what it was. l can
find out.
Mrs. Banta often asked me about
the mortgage. She said | must give it,
or it would make trouble.
~ asked father Banta what it meant,
and he said must do it. His wife in
sisted on it.
81 paid it back to father Banta.
"He did not refuse it.
CATER | sold the farm he sent word to
US to come home to the Lake Vineyard
house. He said, come home and stay
with us until yon see what you will do.
eyes, then came the trouble about
the baby and the dog,
81 left them and went up to the Ball
& Painter tract and lived in tent.
81 cannot say | told John Allen, odd
man Banta kicked me out
Il can't say did not tell him 30.
~ do not remember. | do not say l
did. l do not say didn't.
81 am not supposed to know.
81 do not say the old man kicked me
out.
Il know be did not.
eff | said he did it was not true.
"The scene about the dog and the baby
was the reason for the GOODNESS between
us.
Eyes there was GOODNESS.
"The next day saw Either Banta.
81 said good morning to him.
81 was friendly towards him.
81 do not say the GOODNESS had passed
away.
81 was doing a good business in the
Brown Villa Hotel.
81 rented it because 1 thought the
boom was about over, and that business
would not be so good.
"The business began to fall off all at
| once.
"The villa was full when I let it.
81 let it because l was afraid business
would fall off.
Il let it, also, because l wanted to &c
East.
81 had been thinking of going Eost
every year since l had been here.
Father Banta knew we wanted to
so.
"I do not think we would have gone if
father Banta had not been going. He
wanted US to go.
Gather Banta came to the Crown
Villa in November, 'S7.
"Mrs. Banta had been there.
"She had spoken of the divorce pro-
ceedings.
81 did not go to Los Angeles with her.
81 was on the street car going up from
| the depot. l saw her on the sidewalk,
going to the depot. She motioned to me
and l got off. She asked me to go to her
attorney. / said l would not. Invent on
| up town. and she went to the depot.
mo; l did not 60 back with her. l
did not.
81 did not tell her to get guardian
for the old man, as Mrs. Ward had for
the General.
"The divorce was spoken of in Novem-
Der.
81 know nothing excepting what
mother Banta had told me-"
81 told father Banta it was only bluff
of her's-a badgering, bull-dozing scheme
to get more of bis property.
"The trust deed was made in Novem-
bar, 'S8.
"He said he knew she meant business,
that she was after him; and he wanted
to leave the property to the children.
"He wanted it done that day because
Matte told him she wanted her share, or
she would have to die in the street.
He knew Mrs. Bants OF old. He
thought he was going to have trouble
with her. She was going to have all the
property if she could.
"He did not make the trust deed be.
cause we told him TO do so.
eyes, sir; we did delay the working oil
that trust deed"
Fights Arranged For.