The herald., 1895-05-08
Its Provisions Contested by Her
Husband
UNDUE INFLUENCE CLAIMED
A Jury Will Determine If Such Was
the Case
Large Array Of Legal Lights Gathered
in the Superior Court to Dissect
the Document

The contest of Mrs. Bridget Wilson s
will. who died in this city in March,
1893, was taken up before Judge Clark in
department. two Of the superior court yes
terday afternoon. The estate left by Mrs.
Wilson is of great value, exceeding 500,
600, and by the terms Of the will, now
contested by John Wilson, her husband,
he was left but very little Of the prop.
erty. s.it.
Mr.. Wilson claimed that at the time OF
making her testament his wife was not
free of undue influence, but that on the
contrary she relied upon the fraudulent
counsels and representations of one John
McConnachie, a beneficiary under the in
strument, when she executed it. For the
contestant there appeared Senator White.
J. S. Chapman, George j.. Denis and
Charles Monroe. Representing the bene-
ficiaries and executors were Colonel
George H. Smith, Albert M. Steph ems and
Judge Anderson. Mr.. Houx appeared for
the McMahons.
There was no trouble in securing jury
which was composed of George Boehme,
Jesse G. Belieu, D Y. Bangle, John II.
Baker, Samuel Mckee Adams, Il. f.
Badger, William T. Black, J.. Il. McManis,
stadter and William J. Cox.
Mrs. Wilson's will was dated February %
1893. On that day she made her mark to
the instrument by which she devised to
her husband John the sum of $50 per
month during this life time; Mrs. Matilda
Weldon, her sister-in-law. she left 500
per month during life: Rose Mccoy and
Denison $500. Martin Currin was left
the property numbered 104 South Main
street, next door to the Orpheum, and
Mary Currin property on Thirtiteh street
containing six and one-half acres. To
Rev. J. A. Meyer in trust for st. Vim
cents church she devised $1,000 and to
Boyle Heights $500. Messrs. John Nc
Connachie and Frank Sabichi were. lett
$4,000 as trustees to build monument
upon the grave OF Bridget Wilson's late
husband John Larue. A gift of $1,000 was
left individually to John McConnachie.
Testatr. X also left $1,000 to Charlie McMa-
$500 to the needy poor of the same place.
and to MR.. Alicia Mcmahon of Eng land
she bequeathed the residue OF her prop
erty.
The bequest OF 500 per month to her
husband, John Wilson, however, was
qualified by the statement that if he
should marry one Eliza Sanchez, to whom
trouble, it should at once and forever
case.
Two days before Mrs. Wilson's death, on
March IL. 1893. she executed codicil,
IN which she revoked the bequests to
Charlie and AIlica Mcmahon, and devised
to John McConnachie the property on
South Main steet, mum bered 1877, 139 and
1897. To the Rev. j. A. Meyer she left
$4,000. to Father Scanlan OF Pasadena
$4,000; to Josephine Iaddy, Boyle Heights,
$4,000; to J. A. Anderson, $50, ,0O0 and
to Mrs. May Currn, $500.
The questions to be determined bv the
jury are whether the testatrix was
in a fit mental condition to execute the
will or the codicil when she died whether
she was submitted to fraudulent or undue
influence at the time. After the opening
statement by the attorneys for the con-
testant, the case was continued until this
morning at 10 o'clock.