The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-15

granddaughter of old Luis Peralta, the
original holder of all the lands of the
great Peralta grant, was In court and
undergoing examination as TO her COM
potency.
When the parents of Carmen Peralta
died she was left with little piece of land
on San Leandro Creek, comprising few
acres only, but the little girl and her prop
erty were put in charge of J. P. Walker,
thrifty citizen OF that locality. AS the
years passed the neighbOrhoOd grew, and
with the growth of the country came the
enhancement in value of the girls prop
erty.
Carmen grew into pretty Spanish maid,
but she suffered from babvhood serious
trouble in her articulation. She could
only talk understandingIy TO those best
acquainted with her. Her defective speech
is said to come from some cerebral trouble,
but she is fairly bright mentally.
1t was in October, $780, that Mr.. Walker
was appointed her guardian. and when
she became IS years of age in August,
1892, he made a final accounting. when it
was shown he had on hand cash amount
ing to 5000. and the property itself was
worth enough more 10 make the girls
estate worth at least SIS, 900.
Knowing the girls condition Mr.. Walker
was 10th to turn the money and property
over to her, and he was ordered to come
into court and explain his reasons for so
acting. He filed an answer to the COM
plant, in which he stated that he was
ready to do so when the court ordered him
so to do. He knew that his trust expired
The hearing before Judge Greene was
in answer to the order fled.
When Carmen Peralta came into court
she came as Carmen Peralta Schwartz.
having married in Clayton, Contra Costa
County. in May last. and she bore in her
arms wee baby. fer husband, Young
ish looking MAI, sat near her and divided
the time with her in nursing the infant
When Mrs. Schwartz took the stand she
could no understand anything said TO her
by the Judge or attorneys, nor could she
do more than humble inarticulate sounds.
She is pretty woman with soft, musical
voice, but her words were only tumble.
Some grl friend of hers. who had known
her before, was called to interpret, and by
motions and peculiar babY-iatk words
see med tn make her partially understand.
Judge Greene stated, after the girl left
the stand, that she seemed bright enough
mentally, but that still, in his opinion, she
ought TO have some one to look out for her
property, which is bringing in a rental of
over 500 per year. He said she should
have been, or even now, should be sent to
some institution where her education,
which had been neglected could be- COM
peted in such way that she could take
care of her affairs. The court said she
would probably prove capable enough IL
given the opportunity.
The whole matter was held in allegiance
by the court by consent of all parties until
September IL next.
Startling Array of Insane Cases.
Four women were before the Insane
Commissioners yesterday to be examined
as to their sanity.
Two of these persons were sisters.
Catherine and Mary J. COlehan, who live
at Livermore. They were arrested on the
charge of their brother, Daniel Colehan,
and another sister. Lizzie, who is teacher
in the public schools. All the family are
unusually intelligent. but the brother
states that the elder sister received fall
from buggy a few years ago, since which
time she was not right, and recently the
younger sister joined with her in her
yagaTles.
he stated that his sisters were afraid of
burglars and locked the doors early in the
evening, preventing himself and his
younger sister from entering the house,
and that Mary had often driven Lizzie
from the house.
Mary said in her own behalf that she
was not insane. but that this charge was
a scheme of her brothers to get her prop
erty. She said her mother was dead and
that her father when dying made state
ment to Father Powers. She intimated
that this statement was to the effect that
Daniel was not her brother at all. but that
when babe be was put in the cradle of
mol w Ia
babe, she said, her father got from a
neighbOr. The poor girl also insisted that
the sister Lizzie was not her sister at all.
but baby changed in the cradle as was
the brother.
Mary also stated that her brother had
told her she must come to Oakland and
swear that he was at home when the An
gels stage was robbed, or he would have
to go TO San Quentin.
The strange feature OF the case is that
one sister corrObOrateS the other In all the
wild stories told By either.
Drs. Blood and Mehrmann agreed that
the sisters were insane, and Judge Ogden
so advised them. He asked them if they
wanted jury TO examine into their case,
and they answered very promptly thar
tiev did.
They asked that the following persons
be called as witnesses: EX-SuperinteDd-
ent OF Schools p. NJ. Fisher. n. d. butcher.
George Beck, Samuel Sellers, DR.. Benger
and John Mitchell.
On the part of the brother Father Pow
ers and Gus Taylor, the Town Marshal
of LivermOre, were also summoned to aD-
pear. The examination will be continued
this morning at II 80 o'clock.
Miss Blanche Mercier. daughter of G.
ID. MERCER, the barber. who is insane from
OVerstudy on theosophical topics. was yes
terday committed to Agnews.
Miss Mary Benjamin, who is peculiar
on religious subjects, was before the CON-
missloners, but was discharged, as she
Was not deemed dangerous 10 be at large.
To-day Claude Anthony, farmer from
the lower end Of the county, will be ex-
amined for insanity. He has been wan.
derng about and acting very strangely of
late.
ROsborough's Point.
The point taken by School Director Ros-
borough in the ease Of the Remillard Brick
Company against the city for paw for
work done on the Harrison School.
in which Rosborough stated that the Board
of Education and not the Board of Public
Works was the proper party to make con.
tracts for school work, seems to have had
considerable effect in the case.
Yesterday Judge Greene called all the
partfes into his chambers for consultation
On the matter, and the result was that the
inry was excused until September 8, and
The whole matter put off until that time.
Strikers Badly OFF.
The A. r. =. men recently engaged in
s,riks are in a bad way. Appeals for fooC
md monev contributions have been made
hg President Roberts and Secretary
R,sbon. who ask that donations OF any
Hind he sent to 667 Wood street and 103