The morning call., 1894-07-29
MILLER'S WRONGS.
Why He Is Suing His
Wife'S Estate.
THE ROMANCE OF A LIFE.
Story of Woman Found Dying
in a WretChed Hovel.
THE ROMANCE OF A LIFE.
HoARDED ALL FOR A DAUGHTER
The Previous History of Christine
Hansen, Whose Husband Wants
His Community Property.

A peculiar story is connected with suit
fled with .he County Clerk yesterday.
wherein Lawrence Miller sues George Won
Staden, executor of the will of the late
Christine Miller, or Hansen. to recover
S56. 600, alleged to be due him by the de-
ceased.
It was on the 9th day of last December
that a woman named Christine Hansen
died in The Receiving Hospital of heart
disease. She had been discovered the day
before lying in howell at 115 Oregon street.
in the city. in dreadful state of wretch ed
ness and squalor. Ragged and filthy as
she was, the woman was removed from
her bed of rags and taken by police OH
Ger to the Receiving Hospital, as she was
in an unconscious condition when found.
The next day Christine Hansen died.
and it was not until her person was
searched that the whole truth came out.
A handbook was found upon her, show
Ing that she had no less SUR than
S7275 80. in deposit with the German
Savings and Loan Society. A will was
also found, by which the wretched woman
beQueathed all she had 10 her daughter.
Laura Campbell, OF Judsonyille, Contra
Costa County.
INQUIRIES were made, and it was dis
covered that for years this woman had
heen content to iDhabit this wretched
Oregnn-street den, living in poverty and
filth ana denying herself almost common
sustena ce, in order that she might leave
her beloved daughter little money.
Who she was exactly or whence she
came no one knew, until now. BY the
fling of a complaint in the clerks office
Yesterday the chain of circumstances sur
rounding Christine Hansen's life is made
complete, and Laura Campbell will not
enjoy the snug little sum bequeathed her
by miserly mother without struggle for
it iu the courts.
Laurence Miller. the plaintiff. described
as being of Montana since 1874, and hav-
ing for twenty years never set foot in Cali
fornia until April of the present year.
states that in the year 1860 he espOuSed
the deceased woman, Christine Miller or
Hansen, under her proper name OF Fred
erika Coccius. The marriage took place
at Mok olumne Hill. The two emained
legally man and wife until the latter's
death in 1893 There was issue of the
marriage: William Hermann Miller, born
1861. and Charles Perices Miller, born 1864.
In the year 1866 Mrs. Miller came 10
California with her Youngest chi q, Char
lev. The father retained his eldest boy,
William. and removed from where they
were residing (Austin, New 10 the State
of Montana, where he now lives. The
complaint states that while the couple
were living together they had some $4,000
saved up. community property.
Now, when Mrs. Miller went to Cali
fornia Lawrence Miller sold out his Dusi-
ness in Austin, New. and gave of the pro-
ceeds $1,000 to his wife. The understand
ing was that she was to deposit the $1,000
ana $1,000 in a lump sum in some San
Francisco savings bank on her arrival
here. Besides. shortly after her departure
Lawrence Miller sent his wife bar Of
silver worth about $500, with instructions
to deposit it with the rest. This, the COM
plaint, states. was done, and the $1,000 and
the bar of silver were deposited with the
German Bank.
All went well for some years until 1878,
when Miller received a communication
from the Ladies' Protective and Relief
Society to the effect that bis youngest SOD,
Charley, was sin bad hands" and that he
had better come TO the city and look mat
ttrs up. Miller took this advice, cane to
this city and began a diligent search for
his wife and child.
1t was not until eight months afterward
that he found them. Then he found that
his wife was living with man named
Hans Hansen. sometimes known as
Handsome Charley" and had taken his
name. The boy Charley, then 9 years OF
age, was living with them. and there was
a twO-moDths -old baby. girl. who is
now the Laura Campbell to whom the
mother bequeathed her all.
The complaint is incomplete in so far
as it does not state what became of Char
ley, nor what understanding was arrived
at between husband and wife. All that is
stated is that Miller returned to Mnntana,
and it is to be presumed that he took Char
ley with him.
A few mouths ago Miller heard of his
wlfe's death. and on coming to this city
he found that the abGve-m en- toned will
existed and that George Won Sladen bad
obtained letters of administration over the
estate. He also found that his wife's de-
posit of S7275 50 had been wrongfully
made by her in her own name ana not in
trust for her husband and herself as COM
munity property.
Miller endeavored to explain matters
and put in claim for $4,000 against the
estate. The claim was rejected, however,
by the executor and the present lawsuit is
The result.