The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-27
RELATIONS WITH MRS. LEMON
Latest Developments in the
Famous Will Case.
WILLIAM CHRIST PASSES AWAY.
1t Is Said That He Died of Natural
CauSeS-Arrested for Shooting
His Brother.

OAKLAND. The Lemon will case came
up yesterday before Judge Ogden and was
interesting only because the Trumpet
Medium" herself, Mrs. Mary Smith, was
all day on the stand. If the audience ex.
pected to see something startling in the
shape of spiritual seance it was disap-
pointed. The pleasant faced medium gave
her testimony in quiet way, telling very
simple story of her life and her acquain-
lance with Mrs. Lemon.
Mrs. Smith said she had been a medium
ever since she was or 9 years Of age, and
that all her brothers, sisters. her father
and mother were mediums ic, bu. that she
seemed always the most developed in that
direction.
She was married to her present husband
at the age of 16 years, at which time he
was 49, She first met Mrs. Lemon In Gin
cinnati in 1872. and they became sucn fast
friends that in short time they were like
mother and daughter. called each other
such and continued TO do so up tOathestime
of the death of Mrs. Lemon last February
Mrs. Smith said she had never in any
way advised Mrs. Lemon regarding the
disposition of her properly.
just after the noon recess Mrs. Smith
was called from the stand TEN porarily to
allow Augustine b. Smiley, an Alameda
undertaken, to testify. Smiley stated be
had attended a seance given by Mrs.
Smith. at which were four of his friends.
They paid So and he tied the med um.
The trumpet iested on the floor six feet from
Mrs. Smith and he heard voices from it, appar.
emily. lie said some one might have come In
the room while thew were there, but be did not
hear any such hing. THIS ended Mr.. Smiley's
testimony, and Mrs. Smith again TOOK the
stand 10 undergo tedious but 5 arching cross
examination at the hands of Judge Camrb H.
She said she never heard Mrs Lemon speak of
any other husband than DR.. Valentine Mott
There was an apparent discrepancy Ia the tes-
tlmoDy of Mrs. Smith given Yesterday and that
10 mn her aeposiIion taken ID Alameda before JUS
tice lnnes soon after Mrs. Lemons death. Wit
ness explained the matter, however, by saying
that she did not personally know any OF The
dead husbands OF Mrs. Lemon.
Witness said she never knew what the spir-
its said through her, because she was not con.
sciOus, and she never knew that Peter Mitchell
gave advice 10 Mrs. Lemon at her seances.
ASKED ABOUT Mrs. Lemons age she said she did
not know and that she had heard Mrs Lemons
own mother state that she did not know the
ages of several OF her own children, including
that OF Mrs. Lemon.
The witness was present at The deathbed of
Mrs. l. mon, had waited on her, but had never
heard Mrs. Lemon say TO her, "My God, Mary,
you have given me the wrong medicine" Wit
ness said al the time of the death OF Mrs.
Lemon she hau sent for The doctor, also tele-
graDhed for Mr.. Smith, her husband but had
u,
Mrs. Smith SAID she had not told Mrs Neal not
to touch Mrs. Lemon.
Mrs. smith said that this was the longest time
she was ever with Mrs. Lemon and that four
days after death she saw the body of deceased
cremated according TO orders In the dead
woman's Will.
AT the hour of adjournment Judge Campbell
announced that he was not yet through with
the cross-eXamlnation OF Mrs. Smith.
No Gates Seventh.
The Council IN committee of the whole last
night disposed OF the gate ordinance by refer
ring The matter 10 The Council TO be Indefinitely
postponed. The Council chamber was filled,
The lobby being largely represented by south
of-Seventh-slreet property owners. Among The
railroad men present were Attorney Baker, w.
q. Curtis, Superintendent Wilder and others,
but, contrary to expectations, Mr.. Towne Was
not on hand.
Mr. Cults was the first speaker. He spoke
against gates, arguing that they were useless
as life-savers, ana besides they would be
great expense 10 the company. The speaker
was In favor OF bells or fagmen, and said he
would place two OF the latter at Seventh and
Broadway If necessary.
Mr.. Baker said the railroad company was
willing to join with the Council In any reason
able method for saving lie, but that there
would have o be sixty-eight gales at a cost Of
$500 each; that even with this outlay he didn't
think there would be any more wing Of life.
Mr.. Baker then read from a list he had made
of the number of accidents occurring in Two
years previous 70 the time thaC car gates were
put on and i'd that cut of forty-iye accidents
only a SUI II per cent ere struck by an engine;
mat the greater number had been caused by
Jumping OF and on trains.
Councilman Dalton tn n got the floor and re-
futed the statement OF Mr.. Baker He said
that the record Of the Coroners office showed
that from February, 1891, to August, 1893,
there were fOrtyseven persons injured. and
that forty-one of those were struck by engines.
The Councilman said that 1t was surely time
somel hing WAS done. The railroad company
had been heedessly running their trai us
through the heart of the city for years regard
less of life and limb. and IL was time something
was done for the people.
Messrs. Wager, Solst, Boswell and others
spoke for the south OF Seventh, while Chief
Engineer Lawton aud Miles Doody of he Fire
Department also opposed the gates.
Ex Mayor Glascock and Taieusin Evans
spoke against the gates. The latter said there
were two remedies One was TO remove the ears
to First street. which sugge stion was literally an.
plauded, and TO have the westbound local,
which was the real man-kiler, stop on the east
side of Broadway
Councilman Dalton seemed to be the only
gate advocate on the floor, and he stated
that the San Francisco gates worked all RICH;
that he believed the people below Seventh
street had been imposed upon and were used
by The railroad to further its ends. They were
being made TO believe that the gates would be
detrimental to them. That impI essi0n Is ell
couraged by The railroad company. Why, l
know prominent railroad man who wrote a
dispatch in a saloon on Twelfth street, run by
railroad man, who carried It 10 the telegraph
office and had II sent to the Oh onicle calling
ioi q maoN'uC tlHB VI pcOplb DelOW seventh
street 10 protest against The gales"
Dalton then moved that the ordinance be re-
ferred to The Council without recommends iop,
Councilman Barnard said lie was satisfied the
present ordinance would moi meet tue neces-
sary requirements.
Councilman Barstow said be was opposed to
the gates alter what he had heard and H.,
moved TO amend the motion by postponing in
definitely.
Barnard seconded his motion and the amend
ment was carried without dissent.
Christ L. Dead.
William Christ died at an early hour yester-
day morning. DIR. Kutchein, the attending
phys clan. gives certificate OF death end as
signs complication OF pneumonia ana delirium
iremens as the cause, but Coroner Evers Is not
fully satisfied and will hold an inQuesl this
afternoon late.
Christ was young saoon-keeper at the corner
OF Fifteenth street and Broadway. He was
formerly a bartender there, but his mpIoyer
dled ana he bought the place. Thanksgiving
morning Christ and two companions boarded
The car on which +. Ii. field was erlpman
out near The California and Nevada Railroad
crossing lhey were under the infiu nee OF
liquor at the time. They were very abusive in
Their language toward Mr. Field upon reaching
me power-house, because he refused 10 run his
lii H..