Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-15
NEVER SOBER.
The Reputation Given to L. Banta'
Deceased.

Deceased.
The contest for the estate OF L. Banta,
deceased, is still in progress before Judge
Clark, of the Superior Court. ABOUT
hundred witnesses have been summoned
to give their testimony in the case, ana
it will probably be carried over until tne
end of next week. According to the
testimony taken yesterday on behalf oil
Mrs. Banta, who desires that a deed oil
trust to her son-in-law. Pierce, be set
aside. the late |. Banta seldom drew
sober breath. Every witness testlhed
that he was nearly always under the IN
fuence of liquor.
Miss Nichols, who was the first wit
ness on the stand in the afternoon, testl-
fed that she was at Mr.. Banta's house
in November. 1887. 1t was about
O'Clock in the evening, and Mrs. Banta
lit the lamp. AS che did so MIR. Banta
told her to pull the window curtains
down, for Pierce might see him and shoot
him.
Mr.. Getchell testified that he had
conversation with Banta about Pierce
in 1887. in which he said Pierce was
scoundrel and he didn't want anything
to do with him.
EN-. Glencross testified that he had
conversation with Banta in Febru.
ary, 1887. Banta had the repu-
talon of being a money-lender,
and witness asked him to lend
him 81 800. Banta told him that he
would lend it, and instructed him to
get the necessary papers ready. Wit
ness had the papers drawn up, and then
went the next morning to see Banta, who
10 a, hnv iotF RI,
lend him the money. Witness remem-
bered that Banta was generally sober IN
the mornings and always drunk in the
afternoon. In 1888 he had seen him in
Los Angeles, and he was SO drunk that
he could hardly walk. Pierce was with
him, and was holding him up. Witness
didn't think Banta was capable of attend
ing to his business when he was drunk.
J. K. Parker, who drove the stage be-
tween Pasadena and Los Angeles in
1884 S5, said that Banta used to send by
him to Los Angeles every day for bot
tie of whisky. Banta was always drunk.
Witness saw him in San Bernardino in
1887 and he was drunk then. He also
saw him near the first OF the year 1SS8in
Los Angeles, and he was under the influ-
ence of liquor then.
III. A. Golf knew Banta at the Crown
Villa Hotel, in Pasadena, in January,
1888, and thought he YVES either under
the influence of liquor or else an imoecile.
He had overheard a conversation be-
tween Pierce and another man in 1888,
in which Pierce said the cold man had
fixed things up" When Pierce saw wit
ness he lowered his voice, and
talked so he could not be heard.
Mrs. E. Keller, the sister OF Mrs. Banta,
said that when she visited her sister
Banta was never really sober. He
cussed his wife and swore at her about
the steak she cooked. She saw him
the day after he decided the estate to
Pierce, and he was drunk then. On one
occasion she had heard Mrs. Pierce say
that she had heard she had been cut
off in Banta's will, and if she had she
would break the will for her father was
drunk all the time.
A. A. Length had worked for Banta in
1887, and had never seen him when he
was sober.
j.. R. Davis had boarded at the Crown
Villa Hotel and had the next room to
Banta, who groaned at night time. Twice
he heard Banta fall out of bed, and he
heard him call on Pierce for assistance.
He had heard that Banta had set fire to
his room once by letting lamp fall.
w. B. Mosher testified that Banta was
always under the influence of liquor.
Witness rode to Pasadena with him
once when he was very drunk.
E. r. Prescott testified had visited his
office frequently and that he was most
always drunk. On one occasion Banta
had asked him to figure up his accounts
for him and he found Banta held notes
and mortgages for $500.
The case was continued until this
morning.