The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-03
LUIGI DAMA'S WILL.
More Evidence to Show His Sig.
nature Was Forged.

During the trial of the Luigi Dana will
contest yesterday before Judge Coffey,
dispositions in reference to the handwriting
of the deceased were lead. This testimony
was intr; duced in support of the contest
ants allegation that the will Of Dana as ad-
mitted to probate is forgery.
Jennie Forbes of Boston, teacher de-
posed that she knew Dana thirty-two years
and that he had been her music-teacher
He married her sister, and she saw his
handwriting many times, having received
many letters from him. Deponent did not
believe the writing of the will, as judged by
photographers copy, to be Dama's. but it
was very good representation. In her
opinion the signature was not that of Luigi
Dana.
This testimony was corroborated by the
deposition OF Frank Fl. Randall, her brother.
q do not think" he deposed, the writing
in the alleged will was done by Dana. 1t is
too well done in comparison with the letters
received from him, aud do not think it is
his signature"
Benjamin Randall of Boston also stated in
deposition that he first knew Dana in 1875,
when he became music teacher for some
Of the Opponents sisters. He did not think
the alleged will was in the handwriting of
DANA 1t is studied resemblance, but not
the same.
Tie next Undergraduates answered by the
a Safe Deposit box in Boston belonging to
the deceased and the testimony ON this
point was that the contents of the box in
1887 were $1,000 in Government bonds-tour
OF $1,000 and two OF 500; also some articles
Of jewelry which had been given t. Dama's
deceased wife by her former husband. In
1885 there were nine Government bonds in
the box. bnt Dana was not the owner of
that property in 1887.
The pertinency of these statements was
hn 10 in,
1887, and III its provisions the bonds were
bequeathed 10 Mrs. Sarah Barker Smith,
and it was stated in the will that the bonds
were in the Safe Deposit box. Randall
further deDosed that he sold in May, 1885,
$4,000 worth of bonds. leaving $1,000 and
those were in the box in 1887, and not ST., QUO
worth. rs the testator devised In the alleged
will OF 1887. Deponent sold them in Dama's
presence and under his direction. The
check was made out in Dama's name and it
was with that money that certain property
on jackson street in this city was pur-
chased.
+. A. Warehouse being called testified as
follows: Il have been here since 1865, and
have been connected with the firm of Water
house 4 Lester, which firm is composed OF
my brother Columbus Warehouse. l was
acquainted with Luigi Dana and first met
him In 1885,. took lessons in vocal music
from him. lie was very careful man in his
habits; sometimes he seemed to be very lib
that his was the only true method of teach
ing vocal music and all other systems were
wrong. was familiar with his handwrit-
ing
Shown the alleged will Of the deceased,
the witness said it was not, in his opinion,
written by Luigi Dana. He had seen Dana
sign his name several times. and he be-
ieved the signature to the VIII was for
gerry. When cross-examined Mr.. Water
house remained firm in his declaration that
the writing tho will is mt hat nf rho
deceased. He had been the administrator
OF the estate of Dama'S deceased wife, but
denied that he had had quarrel with Dana
over the compensation lie was to receive.
Frederick .. Young testified that he was
an expert in and a teacher of handwriting.
He said that for month he had been eu-
gagged in making comparisons between ad-
mittediy genuine specimens of Damas
handwriting and Photographic copies of the
alleged will. He was explaining his rea-
sons for thinking that the handwriting of
the alleged will is not that of the deceased
when the court adjourned.