The morning call., 1891-02-11
BILL MOORE'S ESTATE
A Bitter Legal Strife Ended
After Many Years.
The Heirs Seemed Indomitable, But at
Last, After Repeated Adverses,
Accepted the Inevitable.

The Supreme Court yesterday brought to
O close one Of the most protracted and ha-
RAISING litigatlonS in the history of Califor-
mia by finding in favor of the administrators
in q controversy growing out of the estate
of William IL. Moore.
Having filed her final account for settle
ment in Santa Cruz County, the heirs made
objection to the allowance of certain items
therein, after hearing which the Probate
Judge allowed them. From this order an
appeal was taken, chiefly on account of the
allowance for certain expenditures in the
repair of the Pacific Ocean House, a we'll
known hOstelry in Santa Cruz.
The executriX had obtained mission to
dsburse stated amount in this behalf, but
went beyond the precise directions of the
court in certain particulars. 1t was urged
by the appellants that the court had nc
right to allow for the extra expenditures
but the Supreme Court, in the opinion
handed down by Judge Harrison, held that
merely because she had made repairs with.
outs previous order authorizing them they
should not therefore be disallowed.
THEY WERE PIONEERS OF THE STATE.
The Moores came to California long be-
fore the discovery of gold made mammoI
Shores" said an attorney at the Supreme
Court yesterday. land became well-known
for miles around the district in which they
lived, Santa Cruz County. 1t is said thai
their former home was in the South-at any
rate they had all the Southern proclivties,
for their popularity arose from q never-fail-
ing hospitality, together with a 'devil-may-
care way of talking and acting, which made
them most enjoyable companions.
Mrs kODre lIV liked nv the
children, and, il you will believe it, one
reason was that she always kept on hand a
large barrel of picked pigs feet, comesti-
bic which the youngsters was very fond of.
Bill Moore. as he was called, was their son,
mherlting all the peculiaTlties of his parents
He was perhaps a little wild, but extremely
good hearted, and, withal, well liked. BY a
marriage with his first wife he had several
children, but on her death he was united to
q pretty school-teacher, with large black
eyes and gentle refined manners.
MOORE WAS SLAIN.
notwithstanding the seeming want Of
harmony in the match the couple were very
happy, Bill spending most of his time on the
Moore ranch, near Santa Cruz, the property
still being known by that name.
zone day, however, after Bill had de-
parted to town for some stores the young
wife received the startling intelligence that
her husband had been slain by an assassin
The shock Frustrated her, and for days S he
lay in critical condition, but at last she
was able to attend to the affairs of the de-
ceased, and naturally the question of the
distribution OF the property arose.
LAS has been said, Moore had children by
his first wife, who were his heirs, and they
approached the young widow with propO-
stion by which she was to give up all her
right TO the remaining property on the chill
dten'S surrenderiDg 10 her their title to
certain valuable lands in Santa Cruz County
These terms she accepted, being anxious Il
avoid all litigation and controversy. Sub
sequently her child was born, and she saw
that by her agreement she had barred his
succession.
LITIGATION COMMENCED.
'She Immediately began suit, therefore,
to have the contract set aside, alleging thai
tally unable TO properly transact business
and that she was unaware of any possibility
of her giving birth to child. Thus begaI
the litigation that was to harass her fol
years. Time and again she was awarded
judgment by the courts, only to have the
heirs come forward again with more Legal
proceedings.
''At last however, the matter was finally
settled in her favUr although the boast had
been made that not until every penny il
their possession bad been expended would
the heirs desist, and then a controversy
arose over the administration of the estate.
Here again she was successful, but, q!
above stated, new suit arose out OF the ac-
ton OF the court in allowing the Pacific
Ocean House disbursements. This last de.
cision will probably draw the much-litigated
questions to a close"