Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-07

Judge Clark's court room was packed
yesterday with witnesses and Others
interested in the settlement OF the
estate of Miguel Leonis, who died leav-
ing property valued at about half
million.
There are number OF claimants for
the estate, the two principal ones being
Espiritu Chijulla, or Chabolla or Leonis,
as she is variously called, and Nettie
Pryor, an alleged daughter OF Leons.
1t was well on in the afternoon before
the jury could be obtained, and then
it was found necessary to try the case
with ten jurors, which was agreed to by
the counsel for all the claimants.
S. M. White, in behalf OF the claim
ant Espiritu Chijulla, then stated the
case as he intended to establish the facts
to prove, as follows:
That thirty years or more ago the de-
ceased, Leonis, entered into an agree
ment with the woman, Espiritu, and
assumed marriage relations with her.
That according to the customs OF her
people they became man and wife, and
that he had repeatedly acknowledged
her as his wife. And that in every way
save perhaps that of formal written con-
tract or ceremony, the two had lived for
many years together in the marital rela-
ton.
Andrew ID. Russell was the first wit
ness called. He had been at Leonis'
place years ago, and knew him well.
= Had been witness before Judge Brun-
son in 1885, and saw the woman Espiritu
in court. Leonis had then, while testi-
flying in case in progress, referred to
young man as Juan, my wife's son."
at the same time pointing to Espiritu.
Upon cross-examination by one OF the
other attorneys, Russell admitted that
the testimony of Leonis at that time had
been taken through an interpreter, and
that he himself could not understand the
Spanish language.
A motion to strike out the witnesses
testimony regarding the admissions OF
Leonis was thereupon sustained.
5. Y. Z. Mesa was then called.
II knew Leonis during his lifetime.
He lived at Calabasas. His family con-
sisted OF Espiritu and the boy Juan. |
was one time defendant in case be-
fore the Justices court, in which Leonis
was the complaining witness. He then
testified that some cattle which l was
charged with taking were the property
OF his wife. The lady was then outside
the door OF the court room.
"Leonis also spoke of the boy, Juan
Melendez, as his stepson. At another
time | was in the superior court at
case against Leonis for malicious pro-
secution. Leonis again referred to the
cattle as his wife's. He called her Mia
Mujer Espiritu Chabolla."
An effort was made by Mr.. Brousseau
and other OF the attorneys to show that
"Mujer" meant woman not "wife,"
and that Leonis had said he paid her SIS
per month to work for him.
The questions put were, however, OBJ
jected to and ruled out by the court.
Manuel Dominguez testified as fol-
lows: Had often seen Leonis at his
home at .''El Escorpione" ranch.
one time went to borrow money OF him.
He told me he did not have as much as
/ wanted with him, but told me to go to
his wife. Yes, he called her mia
Mujer."
Paul Comorez, Ed. r. Stokes and
Jose Mazet also testified as to Leonis'
relations with Espiritu Chajulla. The
case continues today and will probably
last for week.
THE PARKINS CASE.
The trial of w. F. Parkins for receiv-
ing stolen goods was continued before
Judge Shaw yesterday. One or two wit
nesses were examined for the prosecu-
ton and then the defendant went on the
stand in his own behalf. His testimony
and that OF G. w. Phibbs, w. A.. Bos-
qui and others who followed was to the
effect that he, Parkins, had taken the
goods and paid small deposit on them
in order to entrap and finally convict
the two men, Wilson and Murphy, who
had stolen the stufffrom the boxcar OF the
Southern Pacific company. William M.
Crumb also testified that while he was
confined at the county jail awaiting trial
on a charge of adultery, Murphy had
told him that he intended to send Par
kins up for what he, Parkins, had done.
Murphy said that Parkins had him
sent to San Quentin and now he would
be willing to serve another year, for the
sake OF sending Parkins up too.
The case is to come up again this
morning.
COURT NOTES.
Nichodemus Urquitas came up before
Judge Smith yesterday morning for sem
tence on the charge of burglary. A mo-
ton for a new trial was denied, likewise
a motion for arrest of judgment. Ur-
quitas was then sentenced to one year
in San Quentin. Notice of appeal was
given and Urquitas was admitted to bail
in the sum of $1,000.
In the suit OF Wilson VS.. Baker, which
has been on trial in department three,
Judgment as prayed for was yesterday
granted the plaintiff.
In the matter of the estate of William
Vickery, the German Savings and Loan
society was yesterday given judgment
for .$44 ,075.15 by Judge Van Dyke on a
first mortgage, while the East Side bank
was allowed SIS, ,094.46 on second mort
gage.
Judge Van Dyke also gave judgment
for the plaintiff in the case Of the Ger
man Savings and Loan society vs.. Val
entine, the amount being $14,059.
A decision in the case of M. Kelleher
VS.. @. II. Creclat was yesterday received
from the supreme court and filed in the
clerks Office here. The decision dis
misses the plaintiffs bill of exceptions
on the ground that it was not filed in
time, and sustains the defendant in his
view that copy of findings and final
decree served in writing upon the clerk
of plaintiffs attorney at his Office is no
ticp tn the nlaintiT The case was tried