The morning call., 1893-08-30
OVER IN OAKLAND.
Perry Johnson's Startling
Discovery.
PIO FILES A NEW CONTEST.
The Minor Son of Count VaIensin
Wants Slice of His Fathers
Estate-A Big Note.
10 FILES A NEW CONTEST.

Monday night and quietly suspended him
self by the neck until life was extinct.
Some time after his body was found by
Perry Johnson, his brother-in-law.
Perry johnson is wharinger in the
employ of the Southern Pacific Company
at the Oakland mole. He has the night
watch, and his duties keep him al his post
until about o'clock in the morning.
He resides in a pretty little cottage at
264 East Fifteenth street. There is a
trellised fence around the little yard at the
back of the house. The lattice work is
covered with ivy, which effeciualy shuts
out view from the street. This spot has
been favorite bower with Mr.. johnson
and his family, and when the hot summer
sun made life unbearable they sit beneath
the Ivy covered Irellis indoors. 1t is
doubtful, however, whether they Will seek
so often this shady nook in the future.
Yesterday morning when Wharfnger
johnson returned home from his work at
the Oakland mole he walked through the
house 10 the rear door. Mrs. johnson Is
lot In California at the present lime. but
JOlfnsOn's eyes inadvertently sought the
UNCOVERED nook where they had spent so
many happy hours together.
As he did so the color left his face and
his limbs began to tremble heneath him.
]
meath the green canopy, with a rope
around its neck, and its knees bent be-
meath il. was the body of man.
johnson is not an extremely young man,
but the sight unnerved him. He knew
not whether the man was dead, but even
to save his life he could not bring him
self TO touch the body. So he ran to the
house of neighbor, NJ. j. Stewart at 309
East Twelfth street, and told him what he
had seen.
Together they returned to Johnson's
residence and found the BODY to be that
OF Johnson's Orother-in-law. Wesley Dag
gett. Their lingering hope that lie might
still be alive was dispeIled when the body
was examined.
Lie had fled hours before. The body
was cold and stiff. Stewart cut the rope
which had strangled the unfortunate sui
eide and laid the body on the ground.
One end of the rope was tightly knotted
around the neck. the other fastened TO the
third rung of ladder. the top of which
rested on the side of barn. The head
had fallen on the breast and the knees
rested on the ground. The rope held the
body In q semi-erect position.
The Coroner was notified and the body
removed to the Morgue. An inquest was
held Immediately. There We're but two
with Perry johnson and NJ. J. Stew
art. whose testimony was as above. The
jury brought in a verdict that death re-
suited from hanging.
The deceased was his own worst enemy.
He was we'll connected. but the flowing
bowl had wrought his ruin. When his
body was found IL was clothed in a seedy
black suit, and greasy black felt hat
lay by his side. He was bu. 45 years old,
but his ir0n-gray hair and blOated face
gave him the appearance of a man of at
least go years OF age.
he was never known to do anything to
hen Gift him self and Synn1d offan
Ously disappear for weeks at a time.
When he returned he would have the ap-
pearance OF one demented. II is thought
that liquor overthrow his reason, and that
while in fit of temporary insanity he took
his own lille. For two years he had not
done a stroke of work. but it was not
noticed that before his death he appeared
In any way downcast or respondent.
About four days ago he tried to get
money from some of his friends. but did
not succetd.
The body will be inferred in Mountain
View Cemetery to-day.
YRS. George Grant. the wife of Capital
ist Grant of East Oakland. was also a 81 s.
ter OF the deceased
Pho Flies New Contest
Pho Valensin. the minor son of the late
Count GiuliO ValensiD, commenced another
contest TO the will of his father in the
Superior Court yesterday. The little
Count. through his mother and guardian,
Mrs. Alice Valensin, comm enced contest
once before.
The late Count Giulio beuueathed one
round American dollar to his minor son,
but the latter wants more.
Pho charges his father first with being
crazy, and filed papers setting forth many
acts which would seem TO be those of one
demenled. He told how one day he or
dered banquet spread at certain hotel
in Italy, and then locking the door refused
to allow any one to partake thereof. Then
he went on to tell of various
acts of cruelty perpetrated by the
Count upon his mother. The papers
were all right, but Pio's attorneys
made one fatal error. They failed to have
into court 10 defend the will. Judge W.
Z. Greene of the Superior bench of this
county aud Ii. II. Pitcher of Lvermore
are the executors, and they simply stayed
out of court and said nothing.
Consequently the sensational contest
was dead, for the mere filing of a contest
means absolutely nothing unless citation
is issued.
Count Pho, or more properly speaking
Count Pio's mother, for she is engineering
the contest, does not mean to be outwitted
by any legal technicality, and the attor-
neys IN the case have filed new contest,
and a citation has been issued to Judge
Greene and I'll. II. Pitcher to appear in
court on December IL and show cause, if
any they have, why the probating of the
will should not be revoked.
Crimmins May Yet Live.
John c. Crmmins. the East Oakland
man who ran into revolver in the hands
of his wife last Sunday. is in no worse con-
diti0n to-day than he was when shot, and
the chances of his recovery now seem very
good.
Mrs. Crimmins stoutly maintains her
first statement that she fired the shot in
self-defense. and the statement of Grim
Minis that he was standing six feet from
her when fired upon seems rather i'm
probable. as his clothing was powder
burned. He further stated that he was in
standing position, but this also seems i'm
probable. as the course of the ball shows
that he was In a STOPPING position.
The divorce case of Madge C.. Crimmins
VS.. j. c. Crimmins came up for hearing in
Judge Ellsworth's court yesterday fore
noon. but neither plaintiff nor defendant
appeared
On application Of Attorney Aldrich, F.
f. Thomas was appointed receiver of the
property, and the payment of $50 for conn
sci fees was ordered.
Exhibited at Fourth and Townsend,
The directors of the Alameda County