The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-27
HOLCOMB HEARD OF.
His Character for Veracity is
Questioned.
A GIRL AND A DIAMOND RING.
An Old Resident OF Seattle Turns Up In
Los Angeies-Taking Testimony
as to His Reputation.

several old residents OF Seattle were sum-
moned yesterday by Attorney E. T. Blaine to
make dispositions before Boyd J. Tallman, sit
ting as notary public, as to the character OF w.
W. Holcomb for truth and veracity. Among
those who testified were: A A. Denny, John
collins, w. r. Forrest and 7. H. Cam, and the
purport OF their answers to the questions put
were invariably unfattering to the man In ques-
ton.
Holcomb lived in Seattle for long time prior
70 the hre, and was the attorney appointed by
the court to defend James Sullivan and William
howard on the charge of numbering George p
Reynolds. They did not get much benefit from
MS services, as they were hanged Immediately
AFTER the first hearing, on January 1s 1882, by an
exaspersted populace Holcomb had varied
experience, and finally drifted to California,
part OF his experience there leading to the ques-
uon now at issue as 10 his credibility.
lie Is now ut Los Angeles, where his efforts to
obtain 5000 from Dr. shorb have involved law
suit. 1t seems that few years ago an old resi-
Gent and well-known character Of the lower
SOUND named Dan Harris, while on a visit to
Southern California, met a girl living in the
family OF DIR. shorb and married her. The first
years oil their married life were sufficiently un-
happy to provoke q separation, but through the
kindly offices of DIR. shorb's family they were
reunited. Harris, who was fairly well of, re-
tired from business and resided near them. His
WIG uieu ouU MS own nealtn became 50 pre-
carious that he needed constant attention, both
of a professional and friendly character. This
he received at DR.. Shorb's hands and in graft
tude he gave Mrs. Shorb on one occasion $500
and on another 81 900. When ii became evident
that he could not live long he declared his in
tention OF leaving his entire property to that
lady.
DR.. and Mrs. shorb strongly urged him to leave
some of his estate to his relatives, but he was
Ha All ha lad haen
years absent from his home in the East and that
he had received nothing at the hands of his
family and owed them nothing. He finally
yielded, however, and when he died it was
found that he had willed 81, 900 to Mrs. Shorb,
and the remainder to relatives.
During his illness. Harris was frequently
visited by Holcomb, whom he had known in the
Puget sound country, but it is claimed that he
never rendered any service, legal or otherwise,
which would give him claim upon Harris II
IL put in evidence that all Harris papers
including his will were drawn up by an at
torney OF Los Angeles. After Harris death and
the contents OF the will became known Holcomb
put in a claim, so it Ii averred for 5000, pay
ment OF which he demanded OF DIR. Shorb as ad-
minstratsr, or out of the estate in some shape.
DR.. Shorb refused to admit the claim, and 1t Is
further recorded as part OF the plea, that he
threatened to upset the will on the ground of
the testators mental incapacity and of undue
influence by the benefciaries.
The Eastern heirs have brought suit for the
entire property and their chief witness is Hol-
comb 1t is in order to establish his character
as to truthfulness and veracity that the deposit
ton is now being taken, by stipulation, before
Lawyer Tallman. The witnesses yesterday all
agreed that it was entirely Enthusiastically with
out strong corroborative testimony.
1t forms no part Of the records, but 1t IL told
OF Holcomb. with what truth cannot now be as
certained with certainty, as an indication of
his character, that several years ago he was
stopping at a hotel in Olympia He was at
traoted by young woman employed there and
after friendly overtures, 1t Is said, promised to
give her a very fine diamond ring which he
then wore. Next morning he complained in
dignantly to the landlord that his room had
been entered during the night and his ring
stolen. The servants were summoned and Hol-
comb pointing to the ring on the finger of the
girl, who was among the number, ex-
claimed, "That's my ringr' The
girl with tears and protestations, declared that
he had himself placed it on her finger the night
before. He persisted with noisy indignation
that he had been robbed. The landlord made
the girl give up the ring, and discharged her ON
the spot. She surrendered it, and although she
bitterly reproached Holcomb and was over
whelmed with shame and modification, would
not or dared not, allude to the consideration for
which it was generally supposed the gift had
been made.
The testimony Of d. T. Denny and of one or
two others will be taken today and the deposit
ard d 10 los Ann