The morning call., 1893-05-23
MURPHY'S MONEY.
Wealthy Heirs Wrangling
Over Millions.
PRIVATE LETTERS READ.
Revelations of Ancient Grudges
Between Kinsfolk.
THE TWO SISTERS IN COURT.
Story of a Prominent Family Told
Without Regard for Scandal
or Consequences.
THE TWO SISTERS IN COURT.

The sad spectacle of a family divided
against itself and allowing Its history to
become public property delighted the Cos
sips yesterday when the contest for Mrs.
Annie L. Murphy's money was begun in
Judge Henshaw's court in Oakland.
A family of seven. fighting with most
approved legal talent. The story told in
letters with deepest mourning borders,
and recriminations passing in review that
Justice may be done, or rather that mil
lionaire's estate be dealt out according to
legal notions.
Letters written years ago, between sis
ters, now bringing shame to the writers.
Everything forgotten in struggle for
few thousand dollars. more or less. to the
surviving brothers and sisters. This is
the result of failure to agree over the will
of Mrs. Daniel I. Murphy, widow of the
San Francisco dry-goodS merchant. who
died in 1885.
He left his widow an annuity of $4,000.
but she threatened 10 contest his will and
a compromise was effected, giving her
about $500, 600 in property and money.
When his eldest daughter married Sir
Charles Wolseley he gave her $4,000 for
bridal trousseau and a dot" of $3.50, coo.
The ''dot' was a success in capturing a
title, though rumnr has it the fortune
slipped through Wolseley's hands over
gaming tables. and Lady Wolseley found
herself in need of help from home. She
asked for $500, claiming that much was
Que her. An accountant and attorneys de-
clared she had no claim on her mother.
Il was needed to keep the lady's pearls
out of pawn in London.
Mrs. Murphy asked what had become of
the fortune. and Lady Wolseley replied
she did not know.
'Sir Charles must know" was the cold
reply. You ought to 90 back TO him and
ask him. 1t must have been gambled or
given away"
Lady Wolseley was indignant and said dis
agreeable things about her plebeian Ameri-
can mother and sisters-that they wanted
to do her cut of her Money" Mrs. Muir
ply cried on the street over this. The
next meeting was in the Queens drawing
room. where Lady Woseley refused TO be
friendly with her mother.
After Mrs. Murphv's death a will was
produced by Victor Fl. Metcaif which gave
everything to the Misses Frances, Isabella
and Helen Murphy, and nothing to Lady
Woseley. Dan, Sam and Eugene Kelly
Murphy.
Eugene decided to have nothing to do
with it. and is not litigant. Undue in
fuence is alleged against the three sisters,
who. it is claimed, have eXpatriated them
selves by long residence abroad
w. ". Foote represents the sisters,
while CARRIER, Boalt 81 Bishop, with
Charles Wheeler doing the talking, have
charge of the case for The other heirs.
When the proceedings opened in Judge
Hens haw's court yesterday afternoon At
torney' Wheeler read tho deposition of
Mary Helen Murphy taken in the Office of
CARRIER, Boalt & Bishop on May Is last.
During the reading Miss Murphy sat at
the end Of a long row of tables. listening
irtently with eyes cast down. She wore a
handsomely made walking costume, which
might be a seml-mUarning dress, with
violet and white lace front showing he
tween the folds of the jacket. a wide
brinfmed hat with ample black ostrich
feathers was fixed demurey upon her
head, and from il depended veil of light
texture tucked carefully underneath de-
lermined chin. After the proceedings be-
gan her two sisters entered the courtroom
and took seats beside her. They were at
tired similarly, only there was no color re-
lieving the sonlber black.
Miss Murphy has resided 10 the Palace
Hotel since October. 1891. But she was in
New York for some time, and returned on
the 9th of May
did you know prior to your mothers
death that she had made will ?" was
asked in the deposition.
mo, SIR" was the prompt reply.
Had you ever heard anything of ii ?''
Never"
Had she ever made any statement that
led Won to infer that she had made will ?'
no"
n"Never made any declarations of any
kind ?"
NO"
She first heard by letter from Mr.. Met
calf after her mothers death that a will
had been made. She declared she could
not remember that search had been
made in tin box for the will now adj
milted to probate. Her mother had never
spoken to her in regard to how she in
tended TO leave the property. She saw the
documents which have been admitted to
probate as the last will of Mrs. Murphy
when Mr.. Metcalf was with her in London.
How did they come into Mr.. Metcalf's
possession at that time? 2"
'He brought one over from America
with him, which my mother had sent him.. +"
sand how about the other?"
'The other came out of the tin box in
our presence. 1t was with all my mothers
business letters in big envelope, as far as
can remember"
did you ever hear your mother saw that
she had not made last will and tesla
mentY
"Yes"
"When?"
after her accident"
I'm what month";"
he ulgnt or the following day in De-
cember, 1889, | think it was. She said
after the accident that the first thing she
thought of was she had not made a will.
She said she was going to make will. and
never mentioned it again."
Did you at any time in your conversa-
tons with your motberrefe in discourag
Ing terms to your brother, Daniel T.. or
Lady Wolseley, or your brother Samuel? '
''Never."
ibid You entertain any hard feelings of
any kind against your brother Samuel ?'
"None at all. We were very friendly
until he broke 1t of"
Ever against your brother Daniel?"
Never. never had anything against
him personally. l may have disapproyed
of the way he treated my mother. She
tod me that she ought to have more than
the settlement that was made. but she
wanted to save public scandal. and she
was also very anxious to have nv brother
continued on In the firm of Murphy. Grant
& Co"
''She said she made a compromise for
peace?"
Yes. l agreed with my mother in what
she told me that the boys had treated her
badly"
Attorney Wheeler asked the court to or
der the defense 10 produce the following
letter from Mrs. Hestere concerning the
making of Mrs. Murphy's will. 1t was
produced by Foote. but Wheeler did not
use 1t in evidence.
OTTAWA, Canada March 81, 1892.
Corner Ceboufg and Stewart Streets.
My Dear Nellie: Your letter OF NJ rch 25 lust
received. and | at once sit down TO reply, trust.
ing what say may be some comfort OF use to
Fou.