The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-14
NO SECRET MADE OF 1T.
Mrs. Ulricka strassman's VIII Said to
BE Forgery.

Mrs. Ulricka Strassman's VIII SAID TO
BE a Forgery.
No secret of The family scandal IS maze
by the Strassmans in their complaint 10 set
aside the probate of the will of their
mother, Ulrieka Strassman, who departed
this life on the 18th of July, 1890. Inc
plaintiffs are Matilda Pilger nee Strass-
NAM, the wife of William Pilger, Eendix
NJ. and Leo P. Strassman. her brothers, and
the defendants are Max Strassman, their
father. Lucy (nee StrassmaDl. wife oil Jo-
seph Pilger, and Hilda Strassman.
Mrs. StrasSman had an estate OF real anu
personal property valued at S40.OOO, ana
particularly lot at 141S LaTkin street, ap-
praised at $500, besides patents on COM
pounds and medicines of the further Yalne
of $4,000. Her will was filed OIL July "a,
1890, and it made no provision for the
plaintiffs in this case and gave everything
to their father. They were about to instl--
tute contest, but he threatened to cut
them off without cent if they did, ana
promised also II they aid not that he would
divide the estate equally among all.
They therefore permitted the VIII 10 De
admitted TO probate and the estate was ad-
mEistered upon. At this time he also REP
resented that the estate was heavily mort
gagged and if they litigated there would be
nothing at all left Since their mother
death the plaintiffs have become possessed
OF the information, they say, that the VIII
is a forgery and that their mother was I'M
conscious 10 hours before its making. lie
testament puTpOrting TO have been made on
July 9. 1890, was really made, they say, TOUR
days after and the cross signed to 1t never
made by her, because physically unable 10
do so and unconscious moreover. men
also ii is claimed that the signature OF
Joseph Pilger as a subscribing witness was
not made until several hours after the
death Indeed it Is charged that the hus-
band signed the cross 10 the Will, because
their mother would not have so signed had
she been able, for she could and always d!d
write her name in full
However, after the distribution of the
estate in June, 1891, Strassman, without
consideration, conveyed tie real estate 10
his daughters, Lucy and HIDE. This Lucy,
it is claimed, is an artful. designing woman,
claiming to possess mediumlstlc qualities,
their father being likewise under such IN
fluences, and a most profound believer III her
abilities in that direction.
He is over so years of age and styles HIM
sell DIR Strassman"; but the practice in
which he INDUCES is OF meretrciOns char
acter, OF which Lucy is aware, and there
fore holds him under power, wherefore he
is an easy prey 10 her machinatlon. 1t was
under pretensiuns Of spiritualistic COM
municatlOnS and directions from her mother
that she induced him to transfer the prop
erty TO her and her sister, because the boys,
if they had il, would squander it.
In furtherance of her scheme the plaintiffs
say this woman has continuously derided,
belitted and slandered them 10 prejudice
him against them, and when BendiX called
at his fathers house to learn whether he
would carry out his promise regarding the
division of the property Lucy Pilger met
him in the hallway. acted boisterously,
called him Il tramp and summoned a police
man to eject him.
II is claimed that there was 5000 of cash,
which has been misappropriated, and
$4,000, jewelTy and personal property,
fraudulently retained. 1t is in conclusion
charged that the house at 916 Post street is
used for Illegal purpose, and the goings on
are greatly 10 the injury of the premises.