The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-15

case of Charles 81. TwombIy, the
capitalist, who was for many years the
cashier of the First National Bank of this
city. Judge Spencer of San Jose and w.
r. Davis appeared for the capitalist.
The arguments in the case showed a
most remarkable collection of clrcum-
stances, and, like many others that are
ventilated in the Alameda County courts,
read more like chapters from novels than
from actual history.
Charles II. Twombly was served a few
weeks ago with a petition which had been
filed in the Superior Court asking that the
probate of will upon the estate of his first
wife, who dIeo in 1879, be set aside, and
also the letters of administration, The
petitioner is Mrs. Josephine NJ. Powell,
who claims she is a niece and heir-at-law
and that she was never served with legal
notice OF the proceedings OF 1879, and that
consequently the court never obtained
jurisdiction over her.
In her petition Mrs. Powell states that
the first Mrs. Twombly was a slave and
that she was living on Spofford alley in
early times, whom Twombiy married her.
G. H. Twombly married the lady in
whom there was some colored blood in
1862. Some years later she died, and the
capitalist married sister of Dr. Borchard
OF Oakland. In 1879 he applied for letters
of administration upon his deceased wife
estate, but neglected 10 have the matter
carried through, as he was advised that as
ii was community property and that as
his wife had left him her share of the
property in her will. letters of administra-
ton were unnecessary so long as the will
was admitted to probate, which it was.
Mr.. Twombly defends the character of
his first wife and denies that she was a
resident OF Spofford alley, and says she
i
TO charitable acts.
At this afternoons session of court the
case was submitted on briefs.
II have been pursued and bounded by a
oane of persons for seventeen years "
said Mr.. Txomb bly,. "Only the other day
a leader in the gang came 10 me and de-
manded money as the price of silence.
told the party they could paint me black,
white ard yellow, but so long as there was
a shark OF manhood left In me l would
never yield a dollar to blackmailer. 1t
is true that / married woman with some
dark blood in her veins many years ago.
7 was told by Mr.. Tallant, the banker, that
Itook no chances in marrying the woman,
that he had known her for twenty years
and that she was q good woman. | respect
the memory OF my first wife. My enemies
saw she was a slave. On that point do not
know the fact.
nSince her death q gang of women and
men have been prosecuting me Tor money,
and making threats that it did not yield
up my cash they would blacken my char
acter. 1t was unfortunate that did not
complete the probating OF my first wife s
will during these seventeen years, as they
now make insinuations that robbed the
estate. This whole thing is gigantic con-
spiracy, and propose 10 tight it.
hOnly few days ago my wife was coming
from the lawyer Office, when big colored
man shook his fist in her face and threat
ened her if she testified against them.
az am fighting them now and will spend
all have, if necessary, to show the whole
thing up. | have the honor OF dead
woman to protect and OF wife to pre-
serve"
Several years ago Mr.. Twombly had a
serious trouble TO encounter. He was pur-
sued By Maria Richardson, widow, who
declared that Twombly was the father Oh