Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-08

Judge Clark took up the Cohn case
yesterday pursuant to adjournment Fri
day afternoon. Donna Del6na, who il
contestiug for share in the Cohn estate
on the ground that she was legally mar.
ried to the deceased, resumed the wit
ness stand and completed her story al
noon. Her testimony was in connection
with bills and receipts for rsupplies, most
of (which were addressed "Mrs. B. Cohn. .
She testified at length regarding the
payment OF money for goods bought TO
the home.
When the afternoon session opened
Mr.. White, Of counsel for the respond.
ents, began his cross-examination of the
contestant, which was still in progress
when court adjourned for the day.
The greater part OF the afternoon was
taken up in questioning the witness re-
garding papers which she signed some
years ago. Mr.. White produced lease
dated in 1858 by which the contestant
rented the premises fronting on the
Plaza to some Cinnamon. The docu.
ment was signed "Delfina Varelas," and
the acknowledgement was taken by T.
4. Rowan, notary public.
Delfna stated she has had business
relations with Mr.. Rowan for some
years--ever since she moved from the
house at the Plaza. He has collected
the rent from tenants OF her property.
Another lease dated May 2S, 1886,
was offered and filed in evidence. This
was also for the Plaza house, the lessee
being Lee julie Yuen. Witness testified
that Mr.. Rowan drew this lease and
that she acknowledged it before him.
This lease was signed ID. Varelas,
widow"
A mortgage on the property which
appears to have been given by the con-
testant to Jose Mascarel on September
5, 1887, was also signed Delfna Varelas
and acknowledged before notary, who
states in his certificate that he knows
her to be femme sole."
In the lease first mentioned it appears
that the intention of the person who
wrote the certificate was to term the con-
testant an unmarried woman, and the
word appears thus: u married, the "n"
evidently not having been written.
The contestant testified that she never
paid any attention to the papers offered
bv MIR. White, as Mr.. Rowan always
prepared them and she simply signed
her name. She would not be positive
about the dates upon which they were
signed.
She further testified that Cohn was
very liberal with her at all times. He
always gave her all she required both
before and after his wife died. Mr..
White then turned his attention to the
bills and receipts introduced by the con-
testant, and asked her to state who paid
them. She replied that she could not
do 30 unless she could see the papers.
She always paid for everything prior to
December, 1885. After that Cohn paid
some bills. She was positive he never
paid bill at Mosgrove's. He did pay
up the account at Mesmer's shoe store
while they were living on Sainsevain
street. Before 1885 she said she in
variably paid cash for everything. She
knew Cohn paid some bills, because he
told her he did. Witness did not know
how many he paid.
Mr.. White asked whether she had
any bills other than those introduced in
evidence by her attorneys. She said
she might possibly have some, and
counsel then asked whether she had
given her attorneys any bills that had
not been introduced. She replied that
they had some receipts. Mr.. White
asked that she produce any bills or
receipts in her name or in the name of
B. Cohn that she may have.
Witness also testified that before 1885
she did not keep an account at any of
the stores. She sometimes gave her
name, calling herself Delfna Varelas.
She never told any of the tradespeople
that che was B. Cohn's wife because she
did not think it necessary to do 80, and
didn't want to tell them. She said she
knew of no reason why she should not
have told them. Counsel wanted to
know whether she did not have an &C.
count at Jacoby Bros. long before 1885.
Witness did not remember having an
account with them.