The morning call., 1891-10-22
AT OPEN WAR.
Solomon Heydenfeldt's Progeny
Fighting Over His Estate.
Elizabeth Howard, alias Burke, Accused OF
Fraud-Ruthless Exposure Of the
Family Skeleton

A contest has been commenced on the es-
tate of the late Solomon Heydenfeldt, VINO
died in this city on September ii, 1890, and
whose will appointing Charles Ashton ana
Julius Jacobs executors and leaving the Dulk
of the property, valued at some SZoo,OVo'
to one Elizabeth Howard. alias Burke, was
admitted to probate by Judge Coffey on sep
tember 10, 1890.
After Heydenfeldt's death it was as cer-
tanned that he had a DR.. Jekyll and MI
Hyde sort of family arrangement Two
families being under his immediate care
Two petitions to revoke the probate oil the
| will was filed yesterday. One by Thomas
o., Frederick o.. and Jue. o. Heydeh-
feldt. children by the wife Catherine.
They allege in a lengthy petition that the
will admitted to probate in 1890 is not
valid document on the following grounds +;
that it was obtained by undue influence
that it was not subscribed by decedent'
that it is the result Of a conspiracy. Mere
tricious relations between Elizabeth How
ard and their father are alleged by tne con-
testaDts, who claim that Solomon Heyden-
feldt met Elizabeth in 1873 and entered INTO
certain arrangements with her which con-
tinued to his death.
WELDED GREAT INFLUENCE.
She welded great influence over him ana
caused him to behave like q tyrant at MS
own home, while at hers he was her obedleht
slave. 1t was also charged that the chill
dren which Elizabeth Howard claims are
those of Heydenfeldt are not so IN iact,
but that knowing his fondness for chill
dren she agreed with him to receive large
sum of money for each child she bore him.
1t is alleged that she palmed off children
on him as his progeny, and that by so doing
pbn mi nf
valuable real estate. Sunshine, Thor, Pan,
Elm and Moody Heydenfeldt, alleged to be
the children borne by Elizabeth Howard
are some OF the offspring thus benefited.
Conspiracy to the above ends is alleged oe-
tween Elizabeth Howard, julius JACOBS
is also asserted to have been engaged in the
matter.
THE DAUGHTERS APPLICATION.
The second applicant for revocation OF
the granted probate is Zeila o. Hellings,
daughter by the wife Catherine. She reit-
crates the charges in the application OF her
three brothers, and says concerning EllZa-
beth Howard, alias Burke:
That as means Of accomplishing her said
purpose she assiduOnsy deyO'e herself TO the
task of winning and alternating his affections
from his legitimate wife ana children, and that
to this end she established and maintained
Illicit relations between herself and him ana
lived in continuous adultery with him, Inducing
city ana county Of San Francisco, and 10 SUD-
port and maintain her therein for the purpose OF
carrying on their Illicit intercourse; that
through her seductive influences aud by tne
wIles and arts OF a harlOt the said Elizabeth OBJ
talned complete ascendcncy over the MIND ana
Will OF the said deceased, captivating him and
entirely estranging him from his wife and family,
the natural objects of his affections and bounty.
The last applicant claims that the Will
leaving the bulk of the property to Eliza
beth Howard was written i'll her presence
at her solicitation, dictatiOn and instruction !;
also that Heydenleldt then believed Thor,
Sunshine and tile others, the progeny oil
Miss Howard, to be his vertable Uffsprlngs,
though such paternity is fraudulent and
false, and that after the death of the legitl-
mate wife in 1887 Miss Howard took up her
residence at the family home and installed
herself there as mistress to the great humll-
iation of the family.
sen DISINHERITED.
Other allegations are that the eldest son,
Solomon Heydenfedt, who was practically
disinherited, is receiving SIS from Miss
Howard out of the rents of the estate to as
| sist her In keeping her in her present status
that Miss Howard, for her own ends, ln-
vegled the deceased into an alleged mar
riage contract and that Ashton and Jacobs
aided aud abetted Miss Howard in her
| scheme to possess herself of the property to
| the detriment of the legitimate heirs.
Judge COffey, in the matter OF the appica-
| tion OF Zslla Q. Hellings, has ordered cita-
| tion for Ashton, Jacobs and the devisees
| under the viii to show cause on November
| ID why the order admitting the Will to pro-
| hate should mot be vacated.