The morning call., 1894-01-03
THE SOLE HEIR.
Laura Campbell to Get
Mrs. Miller's Wealth.
THE TWO SONS ARE DEAD.
Both Were Accidentally Killed
in Montana.
MILLER CANNOT BE FOUND.
The Family Drifted to Dissipation
After the Fall of the Wife
and Mother.
lILLER CANNOT BE FOUND.

Laura Campbell. the adopted daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. j. B. Campbell of Judson-
vile and the illegitim ie daughter of Mrs.
Christine Miller. the old mi.er who died
on Oregon street surrounded by filth and a
dearth Of all things hOmeliks about three
weeks ago, will come into possession of
the mothers wealth. At the time of her
death Mrs. Miller left a will bequeathing
all OF her property, amounting to about
$1,000 on deposit in the bank, to her daugh-
ter Laura. George von Staten, q saloon
keeper on Davis street, was named as ex-
ecutor of the will, which contained no
provision for the payment Of uncertifed
debts. OF these after her death there ap-
pears to be quite a number. among which
was one of John Brewer, living at the
corner of Broadway and Kearny street,
for $500 for boarding her two boys by
Miller, her first and only husband. Mrs.
Bockman, the divorced wife of Bottle
Meyer. now living at Union and Dupont
streets, also claims 500 for similar ser
vices.
When the will. was read and it
was found that no provision had
been made whereby these claims could
be paid and, fearing that once the estate
was turned over TO the daughter they
would not receive their money, the credit
ors set themselves about to prevent the
probate of the will.
OF the husband and legitimate children
of the dead woman nothing had been
heard for some years. 1t was supposed
that they were still living at or near Butte
City, Montana. to which place they went
in 1871 after leaving California. A letter
was sent to the Mayor of Butte City ~
Brewer citing the death of the old woman
and the fact of her wealth, and the re-
m0val some years ago to Butte of the hus-
band and sons. with the request that
he make an Investigation as to their
fate. Yesterday reply was received that
will forever settle the question of who is
entitled 10 the property.
The Mayors letter says that twenty
years ago Miller, accompanied by his two
sons, Charles and William, arrived In
Butte. They took up their abode in low
quarter of the city and remained there for
almost year. During that time Charles,
the younger son, while attempting to get
Oh board train missed his footing and
fell underneath the wheels. His body
was horribly mangled, and now lies buried
in the charity burying ground at Butte.
The father after this drank very heavily
and soon became a sot around the low
saloons. William. the elder boy, began a
career of dissipa ton almost as bad as that
of The father, and leading his wild life fell
step by step to life OF petty crimes.
In less than year after the death of
Charles both father and son were red lced
TO poverty. They had no friends to aid
them and were compelled to seek relief in
some other section of the country. They
went to Anaconda and began work in the
silver mines, drinking and carousing their
earnings in the beer and dance halls OF
the place. They had been in Anaconda
about year when Billy one day in q
drunken fit fell down the shaft of a NINE
e II
recognizable flesh and now lies buried in
an unmarked grave somewhere in the hills
that surround the city. The father soon
after left Anaconda for Helena and
nothing has been heard of him since.
Whether he Is dead or alive no one knows.
After Miller's last visit to San Francisco
in 1871, when he found his wife duly in
stalled in a home as the mistress of Hans
Hansen, the sailor, he returned to Mon
tana and entered suit for absolute divorce.
Mrs. Miller presented no defense, and the
divorce was granted, giving the father the
custody of the two boys, who are now
both dead. This leaves nc heirs to the old
miser's hoardings except the child Laura
by Hans Hansen.
The object of Brewer and AIRS. Book
man In trying to resurrect an heir was with
the hope that IL either of the sons could be
found and successful contest Of the pro-
visions of the will made, they might stand
some chance of getting the amounts which
they claim due them. As result of their
efforts and investigations the will will
now be probated, as soon as the law will
permit, by the executor. and the property
turned over to Miss Campbell! after pay
ing the debts and expenses incidental to
the funeral.
Notwithstanding the miser existence led
by Mrs. Miller in her old age, after a
younger life Of luxury and dissipation, she
was buried in a casket that might have
done service for a millionaire. Miss Camp
bell does not inherit the close-fisted dispo-
sition of her mother. and in company with
Mr.. Won Staten, when she was here to
bury her mother. selected the bandsomest
coffin she could find, paying $50 for it.