The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-10
Toe de Laveaga to Demand a
Fourth of a Half Million
Dollars.
CLAIMS TO BE LEGITIMIZED.
A Long Concealed Will the Basis for
a Novel and Complicated Legal
Contest.

The will of Jose Maria de Laveaga, which
was filed a fortnight ago by A. ]. M. de
Iayeaga. the natural son of the testator,
was admitted to probate yesterday by
Judge Coffey. Though the will only dis
poses of some $500 worth of personal prop
erty, which goes to the son, A. J. M. de
Laveaga, who already has it in possession,
its admission will be used as basis for a
lawsuit which will bring into contest legal
points as important as those involved in
the Blythe case.
By the will in question Mr.. de Laveaga
particularly acknowledged A. J. M. de
Laveaga as his only son. This, however.
is but one portion of the material that will
be employed to prove the legitimation of
the boy. And this legitimation is to be
employed by ]. j. Dwyer, young De
Laveaga's attorney, to gain for Mr.. de
Laveaga share as one al the four remain
ing heirs of Jose Vicente de Laveaga in a
half million dollars left in the latter
estate.
Young A. J. M. de Laveaga, who is bet
ter known as Joe, is now II years Old His
history reads like novel. He was born
at Mazatlan, Mexico, but was brought to
California while little boy by his father
and put in the care of DIR. William Dohr-
mann of 535 Bryant street. His father
acknowledged him openly as his son and
paid Dr. Dohrmann for the board and edu-
cation of his son.
But Mr.. de Laveaga met business re-
verses in 1879. He transferred the Rancho
Las Aguilas, an estate of $4,000 acres in
San Benito County, TO his mother, Dolores
de Laveaga, and went to Colorado, where
he died the next year.
Mr. de Laveaga had a brother, Jose vi
T 81 L.
fond This brother went to Colorado and
took charge of Mr.. de Laveagas effects.
among them being the will com pleting the
legitimation of young Joe. This will, it is
said, was secreted by Vicente, who at the
same time assumed the expense OF his
nephew's education.
When Vicente de Layeaga died in
August, 1894, he left 81 to each of his two
sisters and his brother To "Joe" de
Laveaga he left $4,000. But what was of
more importance, he also left behind the
will of Joe's father, Jose Maria de Laveaga.
which was found among other of Vicente's
papers in safety deposit box by Daniel
Rogers, one of the executors of Vicente's
will.
When Jose Maria s will was made it dis
posed of some $250000. all of which went
to Joe. This property bad all disappeared
But the will gave the boy the legal right to
the name he has borne ali his life. Had
this will been made public by Vicente
when it was discovered, the boy Joe would
have had q right to claim share of sew
eral million dollars worth OF property.
His grandmother, Dolores, died in 1882.
Her estate of over 81 900, 600 was distributed
among her two sons and three daughters.
Then one of the girls died and her estate
of nearly $1,0O0000 was distributed among
the two brothers and two sisters. Joe. not
being legltimized, could claim no share
OF these estates.
Then Vicente died, leaving an estate of
about S1,OO0,O00. A brother, NJ A de La
veaga, 1923 Geary street, and two sisters,
Mrs. J. G. Cebrian, 1901 Octavia street,