The herald., 1894-10-12
PICKING FLAWS IN TESTIMONY.
Gen. Mansfield Endures Another
Siege of Cross Examination.
Col. l. E. Messmore's Vigorous Stand
fer Mrs. Pratt's Sanity.
The Lawyers Tilt with Each Other and
with the Witnesaes-Neighbors
Of General Manifold
Testify.

which lasted all the morning.
On the part OF the contestants. John
9. Chapman presented an amended con-
test, showing that they expected to
show that Mrs. Pratt never signed
the will now before the court; that she
did make will April 2S, 1885. contain
ng IA pages OF matter, while the present
one is not so long; that pages from the
will in court have bsen removed, il is
DO the original. and additions and alter
atoms made, which have changed it's
tenor.
In the course OF General Mansfeld's
REORGANIZATION he was asked if he
had not said in deposition made by
him that Mrs. Pratt was cheRtsd in the
purchase OF piece of property she
made all by herself Upon the produc-
tion of the deposition he admitted that
he 40 deposed.
"Did you ever have any intimation
that your wife and Mrs. Gross were to
inherit SOC, 900 and 100000. respective.
ly, before Mrs. Pratt's death?' asked
Mr.. Hsnlon.
II believe | heard my vile say once
che was to get $50,000 and afterwards
that Mre. Cross would get $4,000 1
do not know who told me about Mrs.
Cross"
Ibid you not say in your deposition
given last May that you had never
heard Mrs. Gross was to receive 500, 900
from Mrs. Pratt?"
81 did so swear, sir, but I think those
answers have been corrected"
"When she gave you this envelope it
contained the codicil as we'll as the will,
did it?"
1.-THE package she gave me was
opened here. and know nothing more
OF it,"
Gould this codicil have been addad
after this will had been opened here ?"
why, no air."
swell, then, what do you mean by
saying she talked to you about making
a codicil year afterit had actually been
made?'
II have explained all that several
times to this jury and l will continue to
if you 30 desire it,"
''In your testimony in the matter of
the appointment OF guardian for Mrs.
Pratt, did you not swear that Mrs. Pratt
spoke to you year after her sons
death about making a codicil to that
will?"
81 did,"
"At the time that envelope was opened
in Judge Claik's court and prior TO that
time you never knew of that codicil, did
your"
mo, sir. don't see how could. She
had never told me OF having made ore"
"Did you know that Mrs. Pratt, prior
to her sons death, kept that will in
cafe deposit company in San Fran
cisco? ?"
mo, sir, did not"
ibid you not go to that deposit after
her sons death and take therefrom q
number of her private papers
II did not"
ibid you not state in your deposition
that you did,"
Eyes, sir; but subsequently correct
ed that statement"
Counsel for General Mansfield etreuu-
oualy opposed the questions of Mr..
Hanlon, but the court overruled Colonel
Wells objection, after Mr.. Hanlon had
stated that he was prepared to show
by this testimony that General Mans
field had admitted that he had gone TO
the safety deposit vault for certsin of
Mrs. Pratts papers, and he, at that
time, took possession of this very will,
which he now swears Mrs. Prats handed
to him.
Resuming, Mr.. Hanlon INTERCEPTED
General Mansfield 90 to the manner in
which he opened the box, and his sub.
sequent statements made to the short
hand reporter, to all of which he gave
affirmative answers.
"On April %, 1894, the next day, did
you not correct your testimony relating
to your statements in reference to the
ssfe deposit company?
ST did,"
"General. how did that will get down
to Los Angeles? ?"
II don't know"
"Did Mrs. Pratt ever tell you she
brought il DOWN."
"She did not"
Didn't you state in your depo sition
that Mrs. Pratt or Mrs. Gross brought
the will down, and that you remem-
bsred st the time che talked to you
abo- the codicil that the paper che
held in her hand you supposed was her
will?
"Yes, sir; 80 stated"
"How many conversations have you
had with Mrs. Goodspeed about the will
when she said her mother had made an
Photographic will ?"
''Only one, air."
''Didn't you use the word Photographic
In the presence of Dan Sullivan, your.
self and Mrs. Goodspeed, and in your
Officer"
II did not"
'Did you not ask Mrs. Goodspeed on
that occasion if che had a will, and
upon her saying no, you said you had
one you got from her directly after
Charley's death?"
mo, SIR"
Are you not aware that you and
your wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Gross, as CO.
conspirators, are defendants in q suit
brought by Mrs. Goodspesd for an ac-
counting of her mothers estst0?"
Objected to and ruled out by the
court.
Mr.. Hanlon then produced the amend.
ed and supplemental complaint in the
above case, and offered them in evil
dence, but the objection was sustained.
Mr.. Monroe thereupon offered all the
tnterrogatories and answers put to Cen
eral Mansfield by Mr.. Hanlon as exhib.
its In the case.
Miss Kate Morford was called as
witness, and testified that her family
lived near General Mansfeld's home.
and that they were very neighborly.
She knew Mrs. Pratt well, and thought
she was perfectly sane until a stroke OF
paralyais in 1898
Miss Harriet Eveline Moriord testi-
he'd that she knew Mrs. Pratt both in
Los Angeles and San Francisco. She
WAS quite intimately acquainted with
Mre. Pratt uaaipu ba. lo;I.. -, r..