The morning call., 1893-04-13
RYER'S MILLIONS.
Judge Levy Listens to the
Contestants.
Several Witnesses Testify That Chris
topher Was Recognized as
Son by the Doctor.

The contest of Christopher b. Ryer for a
sons share of the S1,500,000 left by mis-
alleged father, Dr. Washington NJ. Ryer.
goes merrily on in Judge Levy's depart
ment of the Superior Court.
Nothing startling was elected in the testi-
mony yesterday, but a throng of spectators
sat in the courtroom throughout each ses-
sion, and listened interestedly to the
wraneles of the attorneys on legal points
and the stories of the contestants wit
nesses.
When the case was called, Attorney Pills
bury suggested to the court that the short
hand reporter furnish each side with
transcript of the testimony, and that the
expense be borne by the estate. Hereupon.
Attorney G. K. B. Hayes Informed the
court that in his opinion the contest ants
attorney exhibited considerable frlgidityi
that IL was absurd to think that an estate
ST, uld pay the bills Of a person simply
claiming 10 be a heir to it.
Attorney Pilsbury's suggestion died
natural death, and then his associate, j. c.
Campbell, moved for an order permitting the
attorneys of the contestants 10 look at the
books OF the deceased doctor.
Attorney Hayes was very pr0tuse in his
objections To such an order. and the court
sustained them. Hayes, after reading the
petition in the case, said that the answer to
il was simply denial that the petitioner is
is son of the deceased DR.. w. Nj. Ryer,
and he therefore contended that as there
was nothing set forth in the petition TO
show that the petitioner was even Tecog-
zed as legitimate child. or ever acknOwl-
edged as sucb, hearsay testimony should be
stricken out.
He moved 10 strike out the testimony of
ii. .. Matthews and Judge Budd on the
ground that 1t did not tend to establish the
claim of the petitioner as the recognized
! son of DR.. Ryer.
This brought about legal wrangle that
occupied the time OF the morning session.
After the attorneys debated the motion
for some time Judge Levy stated that in his
opinion the petition set forth the fact that
petitioner was a son of w. NJ. RyeF, aud
that the petition was proper. He stated
that the question is open to proof that he
was adopted or born in wedlOek. There
fore, as proof was wanted, he denied the
motion TO strike out the testimony.
Hayes excepted, and the court took re-
cess until O'Clock, when Daniel n. Young
was called as a witness. Young is farmer
who has resided in Stockton since 1860. He
was acquainted with DIR. Ryer and knew
the contestant Christopher B. RyeT, since
boyhood. When Attorney Hayes asked
him whose son Chris RYer WAS he answered
"Dr Ryer's." lie had always known the
contestant as the doctors son, and detailed
conversations with the doctor 10 show that
he acknowledged him as such.
DR.. Ryer often asked him about his "son
ChTlS, ana NJ one time was very aXnlouS
about him.
James Quinn, painter and decorator in
Stockton, testified that In 1859 he knew DR..
Ryer Chris Ryer aud the latter's mother.
He said that Chris Ryer was DR.. Ryer's
| son, aud repeated cOuversat lions he had with
! the doctor, to the effect that the latter often
| inquired about him as his boy.
John Gambetta was the next witness. He
/ has been living III S ockt0n for thirty-seven
| years, and testified that he not only knew
| Chris Ryer from bnyhOOd. but enjoyed his
| youth playing with HIM in Washington
| square, at Stockton. He knew DR.. Ryer
| and Chris mother and often saw the doctor
| driving the contestant around town in his
| buggy. He always understood that Chris
| was DR.. RSer's son.
j. F. Ward of Fresno, who at one time
| kept general merchandise store in Tur-
| lock, was the next witness. He knew DIR.
| Ryer well, aud testified to conversations
| with him, going to show that he admitted
| Chris to be his son.
George b. Douglass, hale old pioneer,
knew Chris since babyhood; knew his
| mother and DIR. Ryer intimately.
When Hayes asked him who was the
reputed father of the boy at that time
Douglass answered: why Ryer used to
claim him. He was always known as Chris
| RJer."
Douglass was the last witness, the case
going over until this morning.