Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-10
BERNARD'S STORY.
DELFINA'S SON ON THE WITNESS
STAND.
Yesterdays Evidence in the Noted
VIII Contest-Bernard Cohn Says He
Read the Marriage Contract.

Bernard Cohn was the most important
witness in the big will contest yesterday
He is the 19.year-old son of the late b
Cohn and the contestant, and wa:
named after his father. The young
man was called to the witness stand
about 3 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
after the cross-examination of the con.
testant was concluded by Mr.. White
and a number of witnesses had been
sworn to testify as to what they knew
about the relations of the pair.
Bernard said he could remember his
father when they lived in the house
fronting on the Plaza, which property
was decided by Cohn to the contestant.
He always called the deceased papa, and
supposed his father and mother were
married. He was sent to school by his
father, who afterwards placed him in
Woodbury's business college, and when
he finished there talked OF sending him
to college.
The deceased asked witness what col
lege he would like to go to. He said he
preferred Santa Clara college, but he
did not 60 there. Witness remembered
the removal of the family to Sainsevain
street and also the moving to the Buena
Vista street house. When asked how
much time his father spent at home
witness said he was at the house very
frequently. In fact most of the time.
He was there at breakfast and supper
and often for dinner.
Mike Stack worked for his father at
the Plaza house, and also at Buena Vista
street. He did all kinds of work, being
directed by witness mother, father and
grandmother. Witness also testified
about the marriage contract.
Bernard said he sometimes opened
letters which came to the house ad-
dressed to B. Cohn, thinking they were
for him, and one occasion his father re-
proved him in the presence of S. Nicol-
lett, saying he must be careful about
opening letters, as they might contain
something private which he would not
like to have him see.
Witness stated he went to his fathers
store at Los Angeles and Commercial
streets on several occasions. He eaw
Julius Cohn there but never saw Caspar.
Julius and Caspar are sons of the
deceased by his wife who died some
years ago. Julius always treated him
in gentlemanly manner.
Bernard stated he was told by some
one that his father and mother were not
married. He went to his mother with
the information he received, and she
said they were married, and showed
him paper, which he read. 1t was a
marriage contract, written on sheet of
legal cap. The witness could not re-
member the phraseology, but stated
that the substance Of the con
tract was that Cohn was the
father of the children and took
Delfina for his wife. The document was
signed by B. Cohn and Delfna Varelas
and witnessed by j. A. Domingo. He
was positive that the contract stated
that his mother and father were hus-
band and wife. The children were
named In the contract. Witness saw
the contract early in 1887, and after he
read it his mother placed it in q bureau
drawer in his fathers room. He never
saw it after that time.
Mr.. White conducted the cross ex-
animation of the witness, going straight
to the question of the relationship of
the deceased and the contestant, by
asking when witness first doubted that
his father and mother were married.
Bernard repeated that it was early in
1887, and in response to further ques-
tions stated he did not know where he
received the information.
Mr.. White asked if Mike Stack had
not told him.
Witness said that since counsel men
toned the name he thought Mike Stack
did ask him whether he had been to the
wedding on Sansevain street. That was
why he first thought of the matter. He
swore that he never heard anything
about their relations before. He didn't
know where his father stayed when he
was away from the house and he could
not state positively how much of his
time he spent there.
He told Mr.. White, in response to
that gentlemsn's questions, that he
first visited his fathers store at Com
mercial and Los Angeles streets when
very young, and passed the establish
ment every day on his way to and from
school,. He saw Julius Cohn there, but
didn't know at that time that he was
related to the deceased, neither did he
know that his father had a house next
the cathedral, though he found it out
since.
When the examination of the witness
was concluded court adjourned until
this morning.
Christmas gifts at Mullen. Bluett & Co.'s.