The herald., 1893-01-30
MAJ vrnyo Iunlan niIlnuTrn
MALhEn } lHDlAH DRUdI1lEh,
She Will Inherit His Arizona
Millions.
A Dead Millionaire Who Was Once
Chief of the Pimas.
A Story OF Contest for a Large Estate
Witch Has Developed Sew
eral Very Interesting
Features.

John d. Walker was formerly well
known in Los Angeles, and it is said
that some of his relatives now reside
here. The following story anent his es-
tate is told in dispatch to the San
Francisco Chronicle OF Thursday, from
Phoenix, Ariz.:
One of the most interesting cases that
has ever been in litigation in the west is
now before the supreme court of this
territory. 1t is the contest for the for
tune OF John D. Walker, perhaps the
first white man who ever lived in the
country, and the truth, as it has been
developed in the last few months, reads
like fairy tale, or moreproperly speak
ing. yellow-back novel.
J. d. Walker came to this country in
1854 and took up his residence among
the Pima Indians, on the Gila river.
he assumed their dress and customs,
and was finally admitted as q member
OF the tribe. He continued to grow in
favor with them until he shared all
the secrets of their medicine men, and
later was made their war chief. The
Indians are very superstitious respect
Ing mlnes, and never reveal the locality
or one to white man, but in this in
stance, through the medicine men,
Walker learned the locality of the famous
"Vekal. which is Pima word meaning
"rnother Of silver" When the white
yeople came into the country he began
working the property, and at the time
of his death had taken out several
millions.
Walker came originally from Illinois,
and he left two brothers there who
came out to help him spend the money
as soon as they heard Of his good for
tune. 1t seems, however, that they had
kicked him out at home, and he did not
take kindly to them when they put in
an appearance in Arizona. Finally
their quarrel became 30 bitter that he
ordered them away. They still re-
mained in the country expecting death
to give them what he refused to part
with.
When Walker departed from Illinois
he left sweetheart, to whom he vowed
eternal fealty. 1t seems that he did not
acquire fortune enough, else he was not
always prompt in writing to her, for che
soon married young physician in her
native town. After living with him 20
years and giving birth to several chill
dren, all of. whom died, her husband
left her widow.
When Walker achieved his great for
tune he remembered the sweatheart of
his younger days, and by writing to the
postmaster of the little town, learned
that she was still alive. He then ad-
dressed letters to her, renewing the pro-
posal of his youth and asking her to
naongf hox Ia
be M. red. About this time Walkers
brothers discovered the course he
was taking, and seeing the
Vekal millions slipping through
their fingers, they charged him
with insanity and took him to a
private madhouse in California, where
he was confined for some time. He
finally escaped, and, coming back to
Arizona, met the widow at Tucson and
they were married. His brothers found
him again and took him back to Cali
fornia, where, owing to his many eccen-
tricities, it was no difficult matter to
have him pronounced insane, and he
was confined in the asylum until he
died short time after.
Then the long fight for the Vekal
and other property, amounting to about
$4,000, 900 began between the brothers
and widow. She succeeded in getting
appointed Administrative. The case
was tried and resulted in her favor. It
was then taken to the supreme court,
where it is now pending.
In the meantime Judge Israel and
other white men in this city discovered
daughter of Walkers on the Indian
reservation. She had been brought up
by the Pimas, skilled in the art of
basket and ola making, and blissfally
ignorant of the fact that she was one Of
the richest heiresses on the Pacific
coast. The matter was explained to the
chief and he forced her to attend
school, where she is learning the Ian
guage and habits of the English. Ae
she was only 18 years of age the matter
was kept quiet until the probate court
appointed a guardian and formal suit
was brought for the possession OF the
property.
There is no doubt of her being the
daughter of Walker. The older Pimas,
the chief among them, say that her
mother and Walker were married &C.
cording to the rites of the tribe and
lived together many years, during
which time the child was born. Her
father gave her the name Juana, and
she has always borne it. The establish.
ment Of her connection with the 'front.'
iersman is all that is necessary to make
her the owner of the fortune, and it will
undoubtedly be done.