The morning call., 1895-01-18
MAY MAKE A CONTEST.
BlackWOOd'S Widow Is to
Break His Will.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DIVORCES.
Considerable Damage to Telephones
by the Storm.
THE REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE.
A House Blown DOWn-Argument in the
Becker Casa Jealous Husband
Strikes His Wife.
THE REPUBLICAN CITY COMMITTEE.

ticulturists of Eden Township, his Will
was filed for probate by George W. Reed,
the attorney who was named executor
therein. The petition for probate showed
that the deceased had accumulated COM
Portable fortune, and his estate was estl-
mated to be worth $4,000. 1t included,
besides some sixty acres Of orchard land
near Haywards, farm in Tehama County,
another in Solano County, and some per-
sonal property.
In his will, after providing for some dis
tribution of personal effects, the testator
directed that one-half the home place near
Haywards should go with the improve
ments to his wife Elizabeth, and the re-
mainder to a daughter, Blanche E. Gray
of Detroit, Mich, and two grandchildren,
w. B. and Victor Owen. A daughter, Mary
F. Sparks of Baxter Springs, Kans., was
given a farm of $40 acres in Tehama County
and 173 acres in the same county went to
Grace Reynolds.
The will was executed on May 81, 1889,
in the presence of E. Nusbaumer and J. @.
Kelley There was codicil dated some
time in 1891, changing some of the minor
beduests, but not affecting the portion of
the wife. Soon after the will was pub
hshed it was rumored among the relatives
that the widow was not entirely satisfied
with her portion. 1t seems that she was
the third wife of Mr.. Blackwood, and while
he had children by his first and his second
wife, there was no issue of the last mar
rage. It appears from a reading of the
will that the testator had possibly antici-
pated some trouble over his estate, for he
expressly declares after the provision made
for his wife that the thirty acres of land
given her sis in lieu of any right which
she may have in law in my estate or in
any part of it."
In another paragraph the testator ex-
plicitly sets forth his financial condition at
the time of his last marriage in the follow
ing language: 81 hereby declare that at
the time of my marriage to my present
wife l. had in money, money obligations
and in land over and above incumbrance
property of the value of $4,000 and my
wife had property of the value of $500"
The land and improvements left to the
widow are estimated to be worth about
$50, 900 at the present time. The report of
the dissatisfaction of Mrs. BlackWood ap-
pears to be well founded, for it is stated by
persons in a position to know that she has
employed attorneys with view of enforc-
ing a claim to a widows portion, or half
of the estate. Unless an amicable arrange
ment is arrived at between the widow and
the other heirs there is likely to be a some
what sensational contest over the estate.
A Divorce Department.
The divorce business in the Alameda
County Superior Courts is increasing to
such an extent as to present strong argu-
ment for the creation of a divorce depart
ment. AT the present time large part of
the testimony in these cases is taken by a
Commissioner, and as that official receives
fees, this is quite coveted position and is
a part of the patronage OF the Superior
Judges. The extent of the divorce bust
ness in Alameda County may be gathered
from the fact that in the year 1894 there
were ia suits for divorce begun, or an av-
erage of about a divorce suit every two
days. The dispatch with which divorces
have been granted in Alameda County has
become prOverbial, and this is said to be
because of the general secrecy with which
the proceedings are conducted before the
Commissioners and the courts.
The County Clerk strenuously enforces
section 1882 of the Political Code, which
provides that the pleadings IN divorce suits
shall not be disclosed to any except the in
terested parties. This provision for
secrecy is believed to encourage divorce
suits for the reason that persons who vio-
late their marriage VOWS believe that in
case of divorce these facts Will be
kept from publicity. 1t is believed that
the threatened disclosures upon the trial
of the Boogar divorce case was one of the
motives which led up to the murder.
separation since the first of January. There
is strong sentiment in favor of abolishing
the provision for secrecy in divorce cases
which is said to afford cover for an I'M
scrupulous class of attorneys, and it is be-
ieved that full publicity would have a
deterrent effect, especially in cases which
come to the Alameda County Courts from
other localities.
A Heavy Fall of Rain.
An all-day downpour of rain impeded
travel and business throughout the city
Not since the winter of 1S89-90 has such
volume of water fallen. All of the waste
gates of Lake Chabot have been open for
the past month. This has sent the water
rushing down the San Leandro Creek
The condition of the territory between
Telegraph and San Pablo avenues from
Twenty-first to Thirty-third streets is
deplorable. Both avenues and the cross
streets connecting them are under water,
the channel of the cable-road being filed
and overlooking most of the distance.
Cellars and stores in that vicinity are being
filled and will damage property. The
streetcar turntable at the foot of Broad
way is under water and makes the engine
In the poWerhouse a great deal of extra
work.
a two-story frame building on the corner
of Eighth and Madison streets was blown
down yesterday afternoon by the heavy
wind. The damage Will not be over $780,
Republican City Committee.
AT recent meeting Of the Republican
City Central Committee, preliminary to
the coming municipal campaign, the
vacancies caused by the disappearance of
John G. Gohrman of the First Ward and
the removal from the city of L. f. Shepard
of the Fifth were filled by the election of
Robert G. Graham in place of the former
and A. W. Bishop of the latter. The sub
lect OF the city convention was informally
discussed and it appeared to be the senti-
ment OF majority of those present that
straight ticket should be placed in the field.
The manner of choosing delegates was con-
sldered, and there was some suggestion
that they be appointed in some such man
ner as that by which the delegates were
selected two years ago, through the County
Central committeeman. No formal action
was taken and the whole matter will come
before meeting to be held in the near
future, at which an effort will be made to
have the whole committee present.
The Cables Were Burned.
About two hundred patrons of the SIM
set Telephone service in Oakland shouted
"Hello! Hellop' several times at the ton
of their voices yesterday forenoon and
then made several EXPLANATIONS that would
not look pretty in print. There was sud
don cr1toff the result of q trolley wire