The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-21
THE SENATOR TOLD MRS. BESSIE
PAXTON ABOUT It's PRO-
VISIONS.
ATTORNEYS DOUBT THE TALE.
THE OPPOSING LAWYERS UNITE
AGAINST THE REPUTED NEW
DOCUMENT.

4
died. The reason why Mrs. Bessie Paxton
refused to be interviewed was made ap-
parent yesterday, when it was learned that
while she had no will in her possession,
and never saw one made by Senator Fair,
he had told her few days before his death
| that he had made such an instrument.
A few evenings before his death Senator
| Fair called upon Colonel Warfield of the
| California Hotel. In the presence of
Colonel Warfeld. Mrs. Warfeld, Mrs. Pax
ton, and a fourth person whose name has
not been disclosed, the late millionaire
began to discuss the disposition he intend.
ed to make of his vast estate.
He told the four persons that
he had just made an entirely
new will. He said that it was
somewhat similar to the will in the posses
| sion of Attorneys Pierson and Mitchell as
| it provided for trust for the major part of
| the estateIwhich he intended to leave to his
| children. He also said that he had made
| Oh ange in some of the executors, and that
the new one he had selected was man
well known in business circles Senator
| Fair intimated that the reason he wanted
| to create trust was that he had taken
pride in having been successful enough to
| amass q great fortune, and that he did not
| want it destroyed by being badly cut UP
and possibly squandered He wanted ut to
| remain intact even after his death and
| hoped that it might be increased in size by
| time so that the Fair estate would be
| known as one OF the greatest in the world
What else he told is not known. Mrs.
Paxton still refuses to talk and Colonel
Warfeld cannot be located in San Diego
| 1t is not known whether Mrs. Paxton is
in W no II
but it is believed she neither saw the will
nor knows of its whereabouts.
The reason why the will has not been
produced is unknown. 1t is thought that
the holder OF it rs waiting for an offer of
| large reward from the person who will be
most benefited by the terms of the will.
In fact before Mrs. Craven's name was
| mentioned as the custodian of the latest
| will it was supposed that the mysterious
custodian was person who had taken the
| will outside of the jurisdiction of the State
so as to secure an immense reward for
document which Charles Fair and his sis
| tiers would be exceedingly anxious to
secure. The alleged reticence of the mys-
| ferrous custodian on the ground of desire
| to avoid disagreeable notoriety was be-
| lieved to have been but a play to secure an
| increased reward, but when the names of
Mrs. Craven and Mrs. Haskins were made
public these theories collapsed
Now all attention is being paid 20 Mrs.
Bessie Paxton, whose knowledge of the
supposed missing will is believed to be
sufficient to furnish clews that will lead to
its recovery. When Attorney Lloyd sprung
| the new will in court last Monday gossips
began to study out the possible identity of
| the woman to whom Senator Fair had given
a will bequeathing millions away. As the
| Senator was known to be great admirer of
! Mrs. Bessie Paxton, it was rumored that
| she was the custodian who did not want
her name made public. She denied that
she had any will and that she had seen
any, but she refused to be interviewed.
The reason for this refusal is now appar-
| ent, as any questioning at all would COM
pei Mrs. Paxton to disclose her knowledge
OF the existence OF a later will than those
| in evidence.
The attorneys on both sides of the case
do not believe there is any later will in ex-
istence than those offered in court, though
they admit the possibility of such a docu-
ment having been made by the erratic will
maker. In fact, the attorneys for the
heirs are fully satisfied with Mrs. Cravens
will. The attorneys for the executors are
satisfied with the Pierson & Mitchell will.
Ii another Will exists its provisions are un-
| Known, and probably none of the attorneys
would be very anxious to find document,
! the contents OF which are unknown to
them. In fact, they are afraid of the re-
puted new will and will make no endeayor
| to secure it unless they can learn more
| about it.
But Mrs. Paxton will not make state
| ment to any one. She and the other three
persons who were told of the will by Sena-
tor Fair are clients OF Attorney Frank M.
| Stone, who has advised and almost ordered
them all not to talk to any one whatever
Frank M. Stone said: ~ have advised
| Colonel Warfield, his wife and Mrs. Paxton
to make no statement either for publica-
l orr tn a. ha !,
tors. All l can tell you is that Mrs. Pax
ton is not the custodian of any will. Nor
has she seen any will. Of course, Senator
Fair was so well acquainted with them
that he may have talked with them on
many occasions In the past during their
acquaintance as to what he thought might
be the best way to dispose of his property
but so far as showing them a will or giving
| them one great mistake has been made
George A. Knight spoke as cheerily as
winner OF LOO to l shot. He said: II am
| confident that there is no other will in ex-
lstence made later than the one we filed.
We are satisfied OF that and also that it is
a genuine one. We will introduce some
proofs of its genuineness that will surprise
some people. We know of all the Wills re-
Gently made by Fair. Goodfellow has one
dated October Ia, 1893, Pierson & Mitchell
had the one made on September 81, 1894
and our will is the last and third will SEN
ator Fair made in the last year of his life.
OF course it will be the plan of the exec
utors' attorneys to cast all the Sights they
can on our will and spread reports of other
wills SO as to make people believe a will
made as ours was is too trifing to be
regarded as genuine"
Carrot McEnerney is also well satisfied
that no other will is lurking about, waiting
for a chance to come to the surface. He
said: "Our will is the last genuine will
made by Senator Fair. The newly found
will may cause a multitude of criminal
acts. To carry it through the courts
means forgery, perjury and bribery. The
forgery has been committed The other
crimes are to follow"
Van r. Paterson may spring a little sem
sation of his own soon. He was appointed
by the court as attorney for the minor
children, who became legatees under the
wills. He believes the best interests of
Mrs. Oelrichs' baby rest in the executors
will. The mother favors the Craven will
The baby, through its guardian, will favor
the other.
Mr.. Paterson said: There is no doubt
| that the more favorable will to the in