The herald., 1895-05-11
John Could Not Gain Admittance
to His Bridget
WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT TO DIE
Was There q Plot to Despoil This
T0iler?
Had Said That All She Had Was
Johns - Well

omall llttle tOWu LoS An6oieo ""S 1859
than fifteen years ago. Everybody knew
everybody and their habits. And thus
every body who can lay claim to being
an old-tmer is called upon to give few
"reminiscences of old Bridget Wilson, who
died after fire. 1t instances how we'll
how in the days that arc gone and passed
the pioneers and semi-pioneers knew each
others business when it is noticed that
every old-timer who has testified so far
in the case admitted being aware that
vAhe old lady whose passing away IS
mourned by the horse-shoer had self
assumed and tact contract to drink up
everything that was reasonably palatable
and strong enough to produce Jag; that
the intermissions between the acts were
SO short as to make the Jag palpable be-
fore the sun went dov n; an | that the
late lamente,l Mrs. wilson ,ver lost an
opportunity. sober or urunA, but gener-
ally the latter, to loudly proclaim that her
husband had been the producer OF their
wealth, and she, for motives OF pru-
dence. the custodian Of their worldly ac-
QUESTIONS.
The first witness yesterday morning
was Mrs. Charles Ducommun of Grand
avenue. This lady had also been ac-
quainted with Mrs Wilson'S incorporate
the Sunday preceding the testatrix's
death. which occurred on the Tuesday
following. In the presence of Mrs. Cur
ran Bridget mentioned that she had made
will the night before by which she left
her husband $50 monthly. Mrs. Waldron
added that she had not forgotten the wit.
ness. Judge Winder would tell her all
about it.
Mrs. Eliza Connolly testified that she
had received the confidence OF the de-
iceased. A few months before her death
lshe told witness how she had been both
cred by lots of people to make will, but
she would not consent She said that no
one owned the property but John Wilson,
and herself. If she died he would get it,
and contrariwise if he died, she would.
August Wolfarth testified that he had
baen acquainted with Mrs. Wilson since
1886 or 1887. He had been tenant OF
the Wilson's at the corner of First and
San Petro streets. under written lease
executed by John Wilson, which he pro-
duced in court. Witness had seen Mrs.
Wilson occasionally up to the time of her
death. She was in the habit OF using in.
toxicants. She was nearly always full
when he saw her, and that was mostly in
the afternoon; but he recollected a
hot summer morning when she was
awfully drunk. Witness saw Wilson two
or three days after the fire in which
Bridget was fatally injured. His head
was bandaged and he was very nervous.
He told the witness that he would rather
stay in the San Pedro street shop than
go down town. His language was odd
and disjointed. He saw him several times
between the time OF the accident and
Mrs. Wilson'S death.
William Maxey, who came here in 1855.
gave evidence as to the length of time
and the quantity of business Wilson
transacted as a horseshoer. Mr.. Maxey
had seen Bridget Wilson in a buggy in
an intoxicated condition on several oc
casions also at the old Santa Monica can
yon, but he had no recollection of having
seen her under the influence OF liquor at
her San Pedro street home. He related a
Circumstance of transfer of certain stock
in the Main street and Agricultural Park
railroad, which, by direction of John
Wilson. was assigned by witness to
Bridget.
Mrs. Nellie Blewett also had known
Mrs. Bridget Wilson pretty well during
her life time. Witness husband had
been a partner in the horseshoeiug busi-
ness with John, and the ladies visited
+. back and forth. Mrs. Blewett called on
Bridget after she was burned, at Mrs.
trying TO get in. and Mrs. Curran told
him that Mrs. Wilson was not to be seen.
Their conversations happened ON the
steps of the Curran residence. Wilson
seemed to feel very bad about being de-
MED, but he retired without words. Mrs.
Curran made no objection to the witness
visiting the sick woman. Mrs. Blewett
had conversation about John with
Bridget who asked her if she had seen
John the night before. The lady
answered that she had seen him get on
the Jar. starting for home, at 9 o'clock on
the previous night. Mrs. Wilson retorted
that that could not be, as John had been
seen drunk on the streets at IL o'clock
that evening. Witness positively denied
that such was the case, and Mrs. Curran
then called her out and advised her that
she had rather she wouldn't talk that
way to Mrs. wilson, as they had told
her John was drunk on the street all
right enough.
While Mrs. Wilson was lying sick her
memory seemed to have become I'm paired,
and she would doze suddenly good deal.
Mrs. Curran was always around her, but
witness never noticed McConnachie.
Bridget told her Of making. aiwill while
she had pneumonia at the Currans' sew
eral months previous to her demise, but
she also said that she had burned it after
she recovered and returned home. She
mentioned at that time that all she had
belonged to John. and that if she died
first he would get it all. AS many of the
other witnesses have done, Mrs. Blewett
testified that Mrs. Wilson was mostly un-
der the influence of liquor in the after
noon.
Frank r. Gibson. cashier of the First
National bank, gave testiomnoy to the ef-
feet that the corner of First and Main
street was worth in 1894 $112 900, and he
placed value of over $4,000 upon the
rest.
E. r. Sydow, after speaking of Bridget's
drinking habits, said that one day the
deceased had told him that John McCon-
nachie was trying to get the property
away from her, but she would not do it,
and if he came again to the house she
would 'sick" the dogs at him.
Jake kuhrts told how he had rescued
Bridget from the wild waves in the s .nta
Monica surf three years ago, when she
had taken too many wet refreshments in
wardly before trusting herself to the brine
Other Witnesses testified to matters
which are corroborative of points already
brought out. P. s. McAneny had seen
Mrs. Wilson brought to Curran's after
the accident. He was there when MT.
Wilson, two or three days before her death.
called to see his wife. Curran told Wilson
that he couldn't see her.
The contest will be resumed next Tues.
day morning.
Harry Tabor Acquitted
n L