The herald., 1894-09-27

continued to reside in the family home.
| know Mrs. Gross; have known her
ever since | came to San Francisco. L
also saw Mrs. Pratt at Mrs. Manshel1's,
in this city, three yesrs ago. Had very
little conversation with her then. She
was quiet and said little. l think she
said nothing unless some one spoke to
her. never was here but once before.
The family OF Charles Pratt never lived
in Fruitvale until November. 1882.
was with them from the time of their
marriage constantly. They never made
trip here prior to that of 1884,"
Mrs. Alice F. Lsthrop of Fruitvale,
sister OF Mrs. Charles Pratt. deceased,
and daughter of Mrs. Webb, testified
that che was positive that Charles
Pratt and his wife were in New YORK
in 1881.
Deputy County Clerk A, W. Seaver
testified that when he first saw the will
of Mrs. Pratt, in evidence, the brass
fasteniDgs were not on it. 1t was then
fastened by string and the sheets were
not gummed. There we're no perfora-
tions OH it when the witness saw 1t.
He did not know whether the whole
number OF pages az originally filed are
there now or not. Mr.. Seaver stated
that the will was out OF the court house
on an order from the court, and was
taken to Mr.. Schumacher's to be photo
graphed.
Mrs. Wakefield. who spoke with great
animation, testified: ''At present re-
side at my sisters. 100 Hill street. |
haven't resided here for two years prior
to that time all my life. Have been &C.
quaintsd with the Mansields. Was
once the wife of Charles Mansfield. Was
very intimate with the family previous
to my divorce. Was married IL years.
| Used to live on Fifteenth street. Lived
| there five years from April of 1886. Was
| intimately acquainted with Mrs. Annie
| A. Pratt. Met her first at her homo in
San Francisco in 1878. Saw her often.
After her son's death she lived with Mrs.
Mansfield. She used to visit me at San
Pedro. Saw her very frequently at Mrs.
Mansfisld's. She visited me after her
son Charles' death. She was there
often with Mrs. Mansfield. met her
at Mrs. Manafeld's subsequent to
Charles death, but never before. | was
at her home in San Francisco when her
son died. Staid there while alter.
often conversed with her; WAS we'll ac-
quainted with her. Our relations were
very confidential at times. After
Charles death | was never allowed to
be alone with her at Mansfield's. Was
with her more than once. After Charles
Pratt's death l noticed a very great
change in her. His death was very sud-
den and was a great shock to her, and
from that time on ] think her mind gave
way. She became eccentric and irri-
table and took up with things no one
else would notice. She was q remark
] nj n hril Mt q
death; had had great opportunity to
educate herself. After. che would
want to 90 on the beach and pick up
shells and sea moss; would want to fill
the house full of birds and attend auc-
tions.
The Mansfield family were anxious to
have Mre. Pratt make will. Mrs.
Mansfield said che was anxious to have
Mre. Pratt make will and to be remem-
bered in it. l eaw a document after
wards that she said was q will, in the
safe deposit on California street in San
Francisco. That Was after Charles
Pratt's death, and the last time was in
San Francisco. She told me afterwards
that / was remembered in it. Mrs.
Mansfield many times said | was re-.
membercd in the sum of $4,000. so were
Charles and Russell. Mrs. Pratt told
me herself afterwards that she loved us
dearly and had remem bered us each in
the sum of s500O."
''Alluding to the conversation lad with
Mrs. Pratt at the safe deposit, che
took the papers out OF the box and se-
lecting one said: Poor Charley, this
will never do him any good This was
after Charles Pratt's death, but 1 do
not know how long afterwards. 1t was
ia H. -
death. / think my last visit to San
Francisco prior to my leaving Charles
Mansfield, was in 1885. l recollect an
occasion when Mrs. Pratt alluded to
Charles F. Hanlon as being her attor-
ney. l remember Mrs. Pratt having
spoken OF a will made in 1894. She
said she had simply done so to please
her people. She said Mr.. Hanlon had
drawn the will. l cannot repeat the
exact language; the substance was that
he had drawn her will and he was her
attorney. She said but little except to
tell me how much she had lett us all.
She told me she had left me $4,000. 1t
WAS either in her house or on the street
I don't know which. She never spoke
to me of any other will, or having made
one. At different times she spoke OF
having left ma $4,000. Don't know posi-
lively that she ever spoke to me of the
matter in Los Angeles. This was q
family matter, and l heard it spoken Of
freely by them. l was seldom in Mrs.
| Msns6eld's company anywhere, that she
did not have something to say about
Mrs. Goodspeed. l never heard Mrs.
Pratt say anything about what she had
left the others. except that she had left
the boys the same amount she had
| to me.
''After Charles Pratt's death do not
know who was her attorney. | under
stood she intrusted everything to Judge
0. @. Pratt. Mrs. Pratt. Mr.. Cros g.,
Mrs. Gross, Mrs. Mnnsfield, Chsrl es
Mansfield and myself were at the table
at Laurel place, San Francisco, after
| Charles Pratt's death, / should say a
| month, or at leaet within the following
year, when q conversation occurred
about Mrs. Goodopeed, in which Mrs.
Pratt took part, but the witness was
not allowed TO testify for some moments
on account OF numerous objections.
Mrs. Pratt left Laurel place on that
occasion to go to see her daughter, Mrs.
| Goodspeed. She left the table in tears.
This conversation was prior to Mira.
Pratt's visit TO me at San Pedro in the
summer OF 1885. She came home after
| spending the day with her daughter,