The morning call., 1894-03-21

lay claim TO q portion OF the estate of
Charles Meyer on the ground that their
mother let Meyer have money with which
TO carry on his business, and that the es-
tate is community property.
Then there is another claim on the part
OF the children of a first wife. who died
many years ago, ana VINO appear to be
disinherited by the will.
Meyer married three times. The first
W lfe died years ago, before he came to
this oast. She bore him two children
Frank A. Meyer, for many years and until
recently the leader of the orchestra at the
Wigwam, and Mrs. Bertha Tischbein of
this citv. In St. Louis Never married his
second wifi e, Mrs. Mary Koechy, a widow
with two sons. Albert and Louis. These
sons as they grew older adopted their
stepfather's name. By his second wife
Meyer had one child, son named Ed
ward. now about Is years of age aud
drummer in the Wigwam orchestra.
After coming 10 this coast Meyer pros
pered. The family appeared TO be happy
one. The business Of the Wigwam
brought in many thrifty dimes. The chill
dren were educated as musicians and took
places in the orchestra.
When Adelaide Brandon, an English
actress, appeared at the Wigwam Meyer
became infatuated with her. BE neglected
HiS Wlio 10 Ody dlttuliOu 10 tue actress.
! Meyers children declare that his wife
| bore his action without reproach at first
and did not show that she was offended at
his attention to Miss Brandon.
Finally, however. there came separa-
tioD, though not one legally constituted
by a court of law. Meyer lived with Miss
Brandon as his wife and signed a contract
marriage with her In San Jose.
Adelaide Brandon was an English
woman. She had been married in Eng
land. Whether her English husband was
dead or whether she had separated from
him does not appear to be known. Her
real name was Edith South. She left two
children in England. a boy named Robin,
now about IL years OF age, and daughter
named Edith.
Just what the guardians of these chill
dren pro pose to do has not been learned,
but when Edith South or Adelaide Bran
don became the Dlgamous vile of Charles
Meyer she had some property in the way
Of Jewelry, and probably some money.
the iewelry. worth perhaps several hum
dred dollars, found its way to the pawn
shop. Ii is now, or the most Of it, in
Hyman,s pswnshop on Fourth street
Frank Meyer and his sister, Mrs. Tiseh-
bein. say that their father aud the second
wife pawned the jewelry after the death
of Adelaide Brandon, and that the widow.
who now claims the Meyer estate under
the will, has sent word to the pawnbroker
that he may sell the jeWelry as she will
not redeem it.
Adelaide Brandon, whom Charles Never
had recognized through the form of
written contract as his wife, although he
bad wife living in this city from whom
he was not judicially separated, died last
September. Even In death she as recog.
DiZed as his wife. for upon her tombstone
in his plat at Cypress Lawn Cemetery
Meyer lad chiseled the words Adelaide
Brandon Meyer"
After the death of the contract sctress
wife Meyer became recon cIled To his other
wife, largely. 1t Is claimed, through the ef-
forts of his daughter, Mrs. Tisehbein.
Meyer left Will in which eyerything
was given TO Mrs. Mary Meyer, the widow
now surviving him, and herein arises ali
the trouble.
The attorneys who have been selected To
act for the children Of Adelaide Brandon
are not known to Mrs. Tischbein or Frank
Meyer. Carroll Cook has been act
lag in behalf OF Frank Meyer mad
his sister, and Jacob Rauer has
been the counsel for the widow Never,
Carroll Cook states that he doss
lot know that the children of the first wife
will bring suit TO break the will. He wonId
not act for them in such cause as he drew
the will himself. Both Frank Never and
Mrs Tiscb0ein. lie asserts, have CLAIMS
against their fathers estate for money ad
vanced, and he has acted in their behalf ON
these claims.
OF the contract wife Mr.. Cook would saw
little. lie was aware that she had been
buried as Adelaide Brandon Never. ard
that her tombstone had borne that name.
The contract marriage and the recognition
OF the dead actress as his wife might have
been erratic actions on the part of Never.
Jacob Rauer, attorney for the widow.
Mary Meyer, declared that, despite the
contract, Adelaide Brandon had never
been tho wife of Charles Meyer. and that
the dead woman could only be regarded as
having been his mistress. When he signed
the marriage contract Meyer, Thought Mr..
Rauer, musthave been on a heavy spree.
The laws of California recognize con
tract marriage. and that OF Never with
Miss Brandon would be a m marriage. though
Digamous one, as he was not divorced
from the woman who is now recognized as
his widow.
There are or were important papers be-
longing to Adelaide Brandon, which
Charles Never had in his possession. They
should have been turned over to the Pub
lie Administrator. 1t is said that they
were Eot, and the attorney for Frank
Mauar