The herald., 1894-10-13
MRS. PRAII'S FRIENDS TESTIFY.
Some of Them on the Witness
Stand.
The Proceedings in the Celebrated
Will Contest Yesterday.
The Petitioners for the Probate of tho
Cont~stca VIII Gstting in Some
Unqualified Opinions in
Their Fav0r.f

tioncrs in the Pratt will contest before
Judge CLARK. which hau taken its place
al ons OF the longent cases on record, in
introducing testimony contradictory OF
the claim By the contestants that Mrs.
Pratt was not OF sound mind when she
executed the will which is the cause Of
the contest.
Some OF the witnesses were from Los
Angeles and number of dispositions
were read, made by residents OF Ssn
Ffanciaco, covering tho period of time
when the contestants claim Mrs. Pratt
was not capable Of transacting business.
Mrs. Rehecca Evans Bubble OF Los
he said this city had been her home
or 80 ysers, except few years she
Ii ed in Arizona. She fret knew Mrs.
Pratt in 1885, and met her afterwsrd
It times until lS90. Mrs. Pratt also
called on her In 1885 shs thought
70. Pratt was certainly not insane,
and che was OF sound mind all the time
she knew her.
Ofville Pratt. grandson OF Mre. Pratt,
one OF the contestants, Was asked few
present from my grandmother, but do
not remember the date. It was cab
met of curiositiss. 1t was about lO feet
nigh and or wide. 1t contained
minerals and shells and Indian curioe,
sea moss and reptiles and bugs she had
gathered from time TO time. Don't re-
member the year she gave it to mo. IL
wAs alter 1886 that got it. Yes, alter
nv fathers DEATH"
Cross-examined by Mr.. White:
"Who told yon she gave it to your"
My mother told me so."
Odd you have any talk with Mrs.
Cross about the cabiRet?"
No, sir. and did not 20 after it. 1t
wss delivered by sxpreaa."
Mrs. Mary K. Forman, vile OF General
Charles Forman: Il reside at 1915
West Pico street. l came here to reside
in 1882. / met Mrp. Pratt at Mrs. Mans.
fisld's in 1884 l simpiy called there
and was introduced to her; met her alter
that. but how often that would be hard
III say. She called Oh me with her sist
cr', and che lunchsd with me twice.
,h,nk every time she was in Los Angeles
] met her, but as nothing occurred to i'm
her visits on my mind L cannot say
w often | mot her. She lunched with
m - CO. Inc last time in October,
1919, at luncheon given to Mrs. Pratt.
Covers were laid for 10 or II ladies. She
was at my houee on that occasion from
TIL O'Clock. She mingled with the
ladies' and saw nothing unusual in her
demesnor remem Der the first luncheon,
hut IL was no.hiag unusual for me to
give a uncneon 20 my older friends, and
there Mae nothing to mako me see diff.
fer"rcs III her behavior"
Mrs. Eorman wGs not cross-quee-
t'n"sd.
Ne. ]. G. Fitzhenry said: 81 am
m4sr.ed reside in Pasadena. / re-
tidod Ia this city from the gear 1878 to
1882 then was married in September
ard went to Arizona. Came back and
moved to Pasadena. Knew Mrs. Pratt.
Net her shortly after coming to Los AM
geiee. Ny Acquaintance with her was
in,imate. | saw her iuet after we came
m from Arizona; just after 1885.
can't exactly remember the date"
On cross-sxamination Mrs. Fitzhenry
could not swear positively an to the date
OF her next meeting Mrs. Pratt. saying
she Was not very good on dates.
On !ed, cot examination the witness
id: Mrs. Pratt visited me for
tprvc or four days i'll the latter part of
Ottober or first OF November, in 1882,
st Arizona, shortly after my marriage.
My vieits to her were frequent, often
laeting an hour or 90, and l always con-
versed with her."
What was the condition OF her mind,
as TO souudneas or unsoupdpess. from
the time yuu met her up 10 1892
Il never thought she was otherwise
than OF sound mind. From her oonver-
cation and her dealings with me in many
little things 1 always thought her mind
sound"
Mrs. Jane Chaplin: II am married !;
reaids on East First street. Have lived
hsrc eince fall OF rs. My home has
always been here since that time. Was
Intimately acquainted with Mrs. Pratt.
Dan't remember the year of our first
acquaintance. Was with her repeated.
ly; often had long and confidential
iuess. etc.. together. Was with her
considerably III 1885. Do not remembe
her havigg any sickness until her last
illnesa. The state OF her mind from
1883 20 1898 was perfectly sound. She
ad bright mind; from her remarks
J Or decisiens all tended to show her pos
csssed of superior mind. After her
s,n death she told me che had nothing
i,lt but her two dear loving sisters. l
taw her few weeks before her death.
Sue knew me and called me By name.
knew of her room. 1t had sunny sa-
pert, and IL was furnished beautifully
for hsr. She called on me frequently.
called on her and TALKED to her for hours
on their yerandah. In the summer of '85
we we're at San Pedro for one week to-
gsther; had adjoining rooms; were to.
gather constantly reading, walking on
thu beach gathering seawsed and shells,
as all the idlers do. belieys. Charles
Mausfeld's residence was quito little
walk from, where we were, 90 it WAS near
the depot"
examined by Mr.. Hsnlon: who
WAS present. Mrs. Chaplin. when she told
you che had nothing left but her two
dear sis,ers?"
'No one but che and l."
"How is your friendship for Mrs.
Mansfield ?''
ut ie very affectionate, eir."
And Mrs. Cross?"
"Just the same, sir. love them both
dearly"
The afternoon was taken up with tho
reading OF Gepositiops from Mrs. M. A.
Pratt, Mrs. CLARA A. Gray, Mrs. Annie
V. Wakeman and others.
Eloctric Bitters.
This remedy is becoming SO we'll known and