The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27
YESLER'S ESTATE.
Missing Will of a Multi
Millionaire.
suspicious OF FOUL PLAY
The Mysteries of Kangaroo Court.
Two Doctors Held in Heavy
Bonds.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

SEATTLE, Jan. 26.-When Henry L. Yes
Ter, pioneer Of 1852 proprietor of the first
mandatory ever started in the State,
muti-miIionaire and the father of Seattle.
died on December 16 last at the age of 50
years, every one thought that his property
would be divided among his many relations
and large portion would go to the city.
When search was made for the will, how
ever, none was found. The 20-year-old
widow. married but year, was i'll In bed
most of the time, and general air of mys-
terry surrounded the place.
j. d. Lowman, who was supposed to be
nephew of Yesler. but who is said to be
no relation, and therefore not an heir-at-
law. went into consultation with the law
yers. When Mrs. Tesler applied to have
the estate administered q few weeks ago he
appeared by his attorneys and protested
To day the entire community was startled
by the arrest of Mrs. Yesler and Drs. Jor-
dan and Van Bureu, intimate friends of
her ard of her late husband, charged with
conspiracy and with destroying will.
DR.. Jordan is a city Alderman. is sup
posed to be millionaire himself and occu-
pies high position in the city. DR.. Van
Buren, is his partner. The doctors were
O'Clock this morning ON warrant sworn to
by private detective the day before In a
Justices Court, but Of which nothing was
known publicly. They were hustled imme-
diately to the County Jail and put in the
tanks. Mrs. Yesler was placed under ar
rest at . O'Clock in her bedroom while still
In bed.
The constable and the detectives notified
Mrs. Yesler that she would only be de-
tanned in custody in her own house. Her
attorney, x-United States District Attor-
ney w. Ii. White, arrived in a few mo-
ments and insisted on bail being fixed.
This was done Immediately in the nominal
sum OF $1,000. and the attorney then insisted
On all the officers leaving the house.
While tie doctors were in Jail DR.. Van
Buren, was picked on by a kangaroo"
court and fined SO. He is an extremely
correct young man and goes much into So
ciety.
The prosecution alleges that Yesler made
a will before his death, leaving his widow a
large amount Of money. but nothing like
what her share of the four-mlllon estate
would be if there were no will; that the
other bequests included 100000 to the city
and large amount to J. L. LowmaD, the
remainder being distributed among the
relatives; that Mrs. Yesler and the two doe
tors were aware OF the existence of the will,
the latter having for two years lived in the
house, and that they conspired together 10
obtain possession of it, which they did
two days before the old gentleman died and
destroyed it Immediately upon his death.
The attorneys claim that they Will be able
TO produce a witness to the will, who is at
present out OF the State, and whose Identity
is mystery to all outsiders. For the re-
mainder of the evidence they seem to rely
upon a detective.
The defense claims that the arrest Is
bluff made by the prosecution, thinking that
by so doing they might cast slur upon
Mrs Yesler and prevent her getting the
appointment of an administrator. After
ney White claims that the man who ar
rested the widow was drunk. He demands
an immediate hearing, which will be held
tomorrow at 2 o'clock.
After some eight hours confinement the
doctors were released to-day on 5000 bonds
each, the amount being small because of
their large holdings here.
Tomorrow the city will file a petition in
the Superior Court praying for TIE probate
of the alleged will. This means that the
city will make common cause with LOwman,
and certainly this course would not be
taken unless good evidence be Forthcoming.