The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-23
She WANTS A SHARE
A COlOrsd Woman Says She Is Davis
Sister.
FAMOUS WILL CASE AGAIN
People From Far and Near Put in
Claims for a Portion OF the
Coveted Millions 90 The
Latest Claimant.

Butte. June s2.-Thomas jefferson
ship. Iowa, arrived In the city to-day
and his presence suggests something
new In the Davis will case. Thomas
Jefferson has been known as'thc only
direct heir of the late Judge A. j,
Davis, whose son he IL. hut there have
also been reports that he settled his
claim very early In the contest. which
he denies. He came from Iowa this
time and Is stopping at the McDermott.
To a Standard reporter he said there
was nothing particularly new In the
case so far as he Is concerned, but he
had reason TO believe that there would
soon he something new from other
sources. lie learned that the new Calf
fornia claimants are working up an
alleged case and had a san Francisco
attorney In Butte for several wesks re-
Gently looking up matters pertaining
10 the ease,
AS will be remembered, one OF the
California claimants is Mrs. smell.
who says she was at one time the vile
of The late A. J. Davis. but that he de-
serted her In Iowa and came West She
did not hear from him again. and be-
lieving him dead. she married again
and went TO California, where he found
her years ago. and then disappeared
again. She is now "A widow and wants
her share In the estate. IL has been
reported, and upon what seems to be
credltable authority. that the Callfor-
MIA widow and her children are about
to pool issues with Erwin Davis OF New
York. the brother OF Judge Davis, VINO
was overlooked In the recent settlement
Of the Root, Cummings and Sheffield
contestants Thomas Jefferson has
heard this rumor. and 1t is probable.
had something 10 do with bringing
him TO Butte this time. This morning
hte called at the First National bank
TO see A. J. Davis, but found that gen.
tleman busy. lie made a date. how
ever, to meet him and several other
gentlemen at the hotel this evening,
but failed tn keep his appointments,
a. j. Davis does not know what
particular business brought the Salt
Creek claimant to Butte. II Is thought
that he still has expectations or hopes
Of getting something out Of the estate.
Erwin Davis and Mrs. Smell have re-
Gently commenced some proceedings
against the estate In the New York
and Massachusetts, courts. but the cx-
act nature of IL In not known To the
Butte end OF tho case Aside from send
ing detectives and attorneys to this
city. who have worked very secretly
on the case. the new claimants have
not yet made their appearance In the
courts here.
Additional claimants are still spring
Ing up. The very latest Is a colorei
woman named Davis. from Virginia.
who has written an amusing and re-
markable letter to A. J. Davis. She got
the idea somewhere that Judge Davis
was a colored man. and she claimed
him an her long lost brother. She said
she met a man from Montana who told
her that there was a most marked re-
semblance between her and the late
Judge Davis. that the latter was col
ored man. but that he never associated
with colored people and did not want
TO pass as a colorcd man because his
skin was not very black. The Montana
man told the Virginia woman she was
undoubtedly the judges sister and ad.
vlsed her to consult a lawyer and put
In her claim. She evidently followed the
advice. for a very short time after
that Banker Larabie. OF Deer Lodge
received a letter from New York law
yer asking FOR Information about the
Davis estate and about the unclaimed
millions left behind by the rich colored
man. The lawyer said he had a sure
case. and intimated that II he could
make II stick that he would be willing
TO divide with somebody. He then pro.
ceedcd to tell the story about the Nir.
ginia colorcd woman who had proof
positive that Judge Davis was heI
| brother
The lawyer also said he had con-
versation with a man from Montana
who had known the judge intimately,
| and he was convinced that the colored
woman had a good claim. The New
York man said he would come Ia
Butte. but he must have fallen by the
wayside. as he did not show up In this
! city.
The associated press some months
ago also announced that the attorneys
| for Erwin Davis and others had start.
| ed for Moptana. but they also failed Il
show up. The papers several times
during the past six or eight months
announced that Mrs, SMELLS attorneys
were about 10 begin a contest. but
nothing has yet come uf IT, \. J. Dd.
| Wis says he believes Mrs. Smell once
was married TO a man named Davis
and that he deserted her. but the sim.
llarlty " names is all there Is to hrr
alleged claim 10 the late Judgr Davis
| Mr. Davis Is kept entertained and
amused by the new claimants con,
| stantly appearing. but aside from that
49, 49, q a III.