The herald., 1894-10-05

before the death OF my mother. l know
Mrs. Mansfield and Mrs. Cross well-ny
mothers sisters.
/ recollect living on Shotwell street,
San FrRncieco. l got that property from
my father. l saw my mother very often
there and at all the places l lived. Ny
mother was always by my side, day and
night, during sickness. have i've chill
dren.
There was the greatest affection be-
tween my mother and /. treated her
the beat know how. My brother died
In 1885. am the only child. There Is
the greatest affection between my broth
er's children and myself.
Ny mothers mind after Charles death
was very bad. She was very fond oi
him. He was the best OF sons and
brothers. He had fine education and
good breeding. Charles' wife died soon
after my mother died.
What reasons have you for the opin-
ion you have as to your mother mental
condition in conversations you had with
her after Charles death?
She told me what her sisters said about
me; how they ran me down; that l was
O poor housekeeper, extravagRnt and
lazy. I have known Mrs. Cfoea and
Mrs. Mansfield long time. She came
to California on a charity ticket.
The examination of Mrs. Goodspesd
was resumed at the afternoon session
and she was asked il che saw her mother
after August, 1898. and up to the time
she died in February, 1894, in Los An
geles. She replied that she saw her
every day during the six months ahe
was here. Her mental condition, she
said, WAS very poor. Mrs. Pratt did
not know her during the six months.
She WAS OF unsound mind.
Asked ao to what reasons she had for
that opinion. she replied that her moth
er could not recognize anyone, anyone
at all.
With reference to her mental condi-
tion after the death of her son Charles,
Mrs. Goodspeed said that che was in
poor mental condition, and kept getting
worse all the time.
"Whst reasons have you for that
opinion ?"
''She told me that her sisters had
been talking about me; that hated
her. and that l was trying to take her
money from her. She talked very wild
and in an excited manner. She would
get much excited when she came to see
me and told me these tales her sisters
had told her about me. She then
would not talk at ali and look vacantly."
ION one occasion at Mre. Cross's
house, my mother asked me what |
would like for q Christmas present. l
told her small diamond would be nice
for one of nv daughters. Mrs. Cross
said, diamond? A silk umbrella would
be good enough for you. You shall have
none OF Mrs. Pratt's diamonds.'
II told Mrs. Cross then that would
never darken her door again, except in
oickness or death. and | never went
there again. l never received the Christ
mas present."
Being asked what her mother said to
her in 1884, as to what disposition she
had made OF her property, Mis-. Good
speed replied that her mother told her
che had remembered her brother and
her we'll ia the will OF 1884. She told
her in 1883 che had made will in 1881
leaving her brother $3.50, 900 and herself
the same, with presents to her sisters.
On cross examination Mre. Goodspeed
said che did not believe her mother was
in a condition to transact business after
the death OF her son in February, 1885,
until her death.
did you receive q deed from your
motherP" asked Mr.. Campbell, lin
Novem Der, 1857"
Mr.. Hanlon produced the original deed
and it was introduced in ayidence. 1t
decided to Mre. Goodepeed what is
known as the Fairoaks street property,
and is dated November 3. 1885. Mrs.
Goodspeed said che received the deed
from her father.
There was long discussion over the
admission OF a document written by
Judge 0. .. Pratt, giving the details of
this transaction, which the counsel for
contestants finally succeeded in intro
ducng for the purpose of ehowing that
Mrs. Goodspeed did not know about The
details OF the transaction.
An adjournment was then taken for
the day.