The San Francisco call., 1896-11-20
The Romance Of Margaret
Buckmaster and Joseph
Hamel.
Judge Seawell's Court the Scene
of the Disclosure Yesterday
Morning.
How a Man and Woman Resided
Together for Years as Brother
and Sister.

A romance in private life was brought
to light in Judge Seawells court yester-
day. 1t gave another illustration of the
adage that one half of the world does not
know how the other half lives.
The suit was entitled John c. Buck
master, as special administrator of the
estate of Margaret Bnckmaster, deceased,
against Joseph HameL.
Mr.. Ha1nel is solid-looking gentleman
OF about 20 years, his full beard being
touched with gray, and his recital of his
life was like chapter from novel or a
paraphrase on one feature of Thomas
Hardy's Jude, the Obscure"
The suit is to regain possession of GER
tain real estate on Eighteenth street, near
Mission, that was the property of Mar
garet Buekmaster during her life, which
is now claimed by Hamel as his own,
alleging title under a deed OF gift dated
June 23 1891, and filed for record August
49, 1895. The deed sets forth that the only
consideration for the transfer was the re-
gard in which Miss Buckmaster held
Hamel, and that the deed was made on ac-
count of "Iove and affection and for the
better maintenance and support of said
Hamel."
In attacking the Legality of this convey
ance John Buckmaster, brother of the
dead woman, alleges that Hamel by
means of undue influence had prevailed
on her to disinherit her relatives for his
own benefit The complaint also sets
forth that the said Margaret Buckmaser
at the time OF her deaIn was about 81
years of age; at upon that date she was
and for long time prior thereto had been
totally blind; that her mental faculties
became greatly impaired by reason of
cfnl- nlH nd hfyr Of h.
effects of medicines and drugs admins
tered to her during her sickness by Hamel,
and her mental faculties hnd been SO i'm
paired and her mind weakened and her rea-
son affected to such degree as to render
her incapable of prudent management of
her property and affairs.
1t was further alleged that Miss Buck
master and Hamel occupied the same
house for many years; that he was her
only companion; that ne poisoned her
mind against her brother and other rela-
tyes; that he would not allow the brother
to see Miss Buckmaster when she was
sick, and that he had obtained the execu-
tion of the deed by duress and fraud.
The court is asked to annul the deed
and distribute the estate to the heirs-at-
law.
In contrast with this bitter view of the
matter, as couched in all the malignancy
of language possible in legal document,
is the idyllic explanation that is offered by
Hamel.
We had been friends from childhood"
said Hamel, land as the years went by
and it seemed that neither of us was
likely to marry, We agreed that we would
reside together as brother and sister, and
so we did. We occupied the same house,
and bore to each other in honorable affec-
ton the relation of brother and sister, and
no other.
"This course we took because it was for
cn vor,io for H.
cause it was not a matter of concern with
the rest of the world.
'After the beginning of our life as
brother and sister we constantly and
faithfully performed our duties under the
agreement or contract We shared our
earnings and our expenses. Ali our
money We put In a little box and when
either wanted TO use any money all we
had to do was to take it.
"In talking over our affairs we decided
to go before notary public and make our
wills, each to will the other what property
we had. The notary suggested that deed
would be better, as there was often trou BILE
about will, but he thought there could
be no dispute over a deed. Each of us
made deed, 1t being arranged that the
one who survived should have the prop
erty of both"
AS corroborative of this a written agree.
ment, acknowledged before notary and
signed by Miss Buckmaster making her
mark, she saying she could not see well
enough to write, was introduced. In this
Supplem entary document it was set forth
that the survivor should pay the funeral
expenses of the other and assume possess
sion OF all their joint personal property
Ii Miss Buckmaster died first Hamel was
to pay out $500 as she directed.
Hamel said that in pursuance of their
unders tanding the deeds were made out
and signed, and that was why he had
taken possession of the property. He
owned some real estate of similar value in
another part of the City.
Replying to the accusation that he had
excluded the relatives from Miss Buck
masters presence during her sickness
Hamel told of how she changed her mind
in regard TO paying out some money after
her death.
After she had been confined to her bed
Tor long time she sent to Mr. Moss bach.
notary public, and told him to change
her agreement with Hamel in regard to
certain moneys. She said II don't want
you to give that $500 to Buckmaster. He
doesn't treat me right. He doesn't de-.
serve it. Here have been sick in
bed for seventeen months and he hasn't
been to see me. l want YOU to nav
500 TO Father Stokes, $3.50 to Father Bren-
nan, SlO6 to Buckmaster, that brother or
half-brother of mine, and 81 to his son and
81 to his daughter"
Hamel denied that he had endeayored
to exclude Miss Buckmaster's relatives
from her presence, or that he had tried to
prejudice her against them.
The case will be argued Tomorrow bv
Attorneys Campbell and Nowlin.
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