The morning call., 1894-10-15
is WILSON DEAD?
The Revival of a Once
Famous Case.
BUT DEATH MAY ABATE 1T.
The Speeches of Non-Partisans
Arouse the City.
NEW CHURCH FOR OAKLAND.
Democrats, Hopeful of Winning the
County, Are Importing Their
"1eavy Ordnance"


arisen in the very ancient suit or series OF
suits known as the case of Jessie Wilson
vs. W. /. Wilson, Priscilla Burtch and
score of others. Welles Whittmore and
Frederick E. Whitney are the attorneys
for the plaintiff and Henry Miller repre-
sents the defendants. Tie latter wants
the case dismissed on the ground that the
original parties are dead, but the first
named gentlemen. while conceding the
non-existence Of Mrs. Jessie Wilson, think
that they have positive proof that her
husband, W. l. Wilson, still lives. The
various attorneys VIII appear before Su-
psTior Judge Ellsworth this morning.
when it will be established whether Will
son yet brsathes the breath of life or has
passed into the obscurity of the grave.
The case Is a peculiar one and when
brought was the sensation of the day.
Wilson was a gruff old sea captain and
one of the best known men IN Oakland.
and but few OF his acquaintances knew OF
the domestic side Of his life until on No.
vembeI 10. 1886, his aged wife filed COM
plaint in a suit Tor support and part OF Inc
property. The allegations in this com
plaint were of a very serious nature. She
charged her husband with extreme cru
city. in that he had often beaten her and
called her names, and in 1884, when she
was 50 years Of age, she alleged he re-
fused TO support her and compelled her TO
take refuge in public institution, known
as the Sheltering Home, for several
months.
Then to crown the wife's sorrow he took
her home and compelled her TO live there
together with one Priscilla Burtch, W tn
whom she alleges her hus band was unduiy
Intimate, and who was known around town as
"Mrs. Wilson,"
This complaint started the action which has
dragged along fer all these years. There have
been croSs-complaiGts. amended complaints,
answers, notices, demurrers and dfldaqlts un-
Ill file 4l90, by which number the case is Of
fciaiy designated, STANDS nearly twelve inches
in height. 1t has been in court countless times.
but has been continued on as many excuses.
Mrs. Jessie Wilson died in this city on June
10, 1889, and then her attorneys, Whlttmore &
Whitney as the executors of her estate became
tDe plaintiffs in the action. II took whole
pile OF paper and great quantity OF Ink TO do
Ibis much but The action was In noWlse has
tened toward conclusion.
1t is related by Judge Gibson. Mr.. Whit
more'S law partner, that Captain Wilson was
brought uD on an order OF examination just be-
fore his wfes death because ne had failed TO
pay her an allowance ordered by the court. He
was searched and some 100000 was found
upon his person. large IOrtion OF this was
retained Tor the benefit OF The wife.
On the I'd of the current month Henry Miller
made an affidavit that Captain Wilson had died
in Santa Rosa on December 20. 1891. ana then
made motion for dismissal the ground
that the action is abated by the death OF Tie
Welies Whttmore opposed the motion He
claimed that lie thought he could bring positive
proof that Captain Wilson is alive, and asked
for further time Thus IL is that the ancient
case will be IN court again to-day. If Captain
Wilson is dead il has run its course. But If
Whiitmore can prove that he lives there will
probably follow a bitter struggle for tile
property.
DenouDcing the Bosses.
The vigorous manner in which the Nom
Partisans OF amrda County opened their
campaign in Hamilton Hall on Saturday night
has rather taken the old party people, and more
particularly The Republicans, by surprise.
The speeches OF DalioD, Ward, Aldrch and
Tompkns are the talk OF the town. and the
bosses, who were so scalhingly arTaigned for
their deeds and methods, are now rubbing their
eyes and asking themselves what strength this
new factor in county politics Will show at the
coming election.
"It is just as Mr.. Ward said in his speeeh,n
said citizen yesterday. cit is not hurrah
that Will win in his election. The people are
fully aroused and will carefully scan their
tickets away from the prying eyes of bosses in
the sacred precloclS OF the yoting booth, and
1t Is only the names of the best men that will
nave the cross placed after them. The Nom
PartisanS have put up Gnimpeachable men
and the people are only too willing TO give
them chance after long years of railroad aud
boss rule, which means the same thing, for the
men who manipulated the Republican party
In Alameda County are as certainly In the pay
OF be railroad company as is L. i. Huntington.
~ oters are not being made by hurraD, red
fire and brass bands Ill show you an IN
stance: ln the meeting at the Oakland Thea
ter last week at which j. Z. Daily spoke, there
was no enthusiasm at all, and there were hun
oIeds oil empty seats in the hall. Printers ink
had been used without stint TO boom the meet
ing, and II was advertised that 100 uniformed
alliance boys would be on hand. Less tnan
lily OF these young men in pretty uniforms
were on hand, and they made all the noise DOS.
sible, and plenty of money was put out in sky
rockets. red fire and music, but the Republicans
did not tail in. They would not enthuse. The
meeting was a f ost, and the Republican papers
aid not have much 10 say about il.
The frozen truth is just as MIR. Ward said.
The voters are thinking, and on November
the present county officials and the railroad
and It's hlIellngS VIII be turned down and out
of sight"
New Congregational Church.
In spite OF hard times the people of the Sec
ono Congregational Church have begun the
erection OF a fine church on the large lot at he
corner oil Market ana Eighteenth streets. The
lot Is ITO feet on the ffSL-named street by 100
on the last named, and the building will cover
almost every loot OF the area.
The edhce Will be built OF wood finished in
light colors. and the exterior will be devoid of
any great beauty. The large windows, however,
VIII all be of exquisite finish and workmanship,
ana through ihe pafIl-colored glass viii
straggle III upon the interior that dim reli-
g0us light" OF which Milton sang.
Ihe plans call for an auditorium 61x4S feet
IN size ana with seating capacity Tor 300
people. By opening the folding doors which
lead into the chapel. however. seats can be
ptofiutu loF al doultlOnaI ZOO should the
necessity arise. Among the other rooms are a
ladies' parl0r, library, kitchen, classrooms,
pastors study aud dIessing-rooms.
1he building OF the church was made posi-
bic only by the generosity OF The members, not
only oi It's own congregation, but of those of
other churches in The city and in Berkeley.
Serious Stabbing ARRAY
The calm OF an unusually quiet Sabbath was
disturbed last night by very serious stabbing
affray, which may possibly result In the death
OF the victim. Daniel Campbell 18 wears ~
age and a butcher by occupation on bis way
home dropped into the saloon on the corner Of
Twenty second and AdelIne streets which is
frequented by the members of the notorious
Sporting Life gang.
Some of Its choicest young men were drink
ing at The bar when young Campbell called for
a drink. Several OF them wanted to know II he
wouldn't treat "de gang" He refused and
ever ready for a row, they made an Insulting o.
remark and Campbell came back at them with
a rejoinder which was equally vulgar and in
sultIng. The war OF words was kept up until
Campbell left the place.
The gang followed him TO the sidewalk
There were some words, and somebody ran the
length of q knife into Canpbell's stomach and
slashed him across the hands. THIN everybody
ran away. Campbell was conveyed to The
residenc of Rev. DIR. Akerly, ex-rector of ST.
Johns. From there be was taken by Officer
Mckee in the patrol wagon 10 the Receiving
Hospital. where his gaping wounds were
dressed by DIR. johnson. Campbell does not
know his assailants.
Hopeful Democrats.
For the first time in many years the Demo.
Gratis have hopes of capturing Alameda County,
that oId-iime citaaei OF Republican strength.
To that end they are making most vigorous
campaigu, and have enlisted the aid of many Of
the '.big guns OF their party. Tonight they
L.