The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-09
Richard Dey, Governor Budd,
Charles Fair, George Knight
and R. Fl. Lloyd Declare
Them Genuine.
MRS. NETTIE r. CRAVEN is
STILL ILL.
Hearing in the Celebrated Case inWhich
Millions Are Involved to Be Re-
sumed Before Judge Slack
This Morning.

James J. Cooney. the one-time notary
public who took the acknowledgment of
James G. Fair to the deeds of two pieces
of property in favor of Mrs. Nettie R.
Craven, was yesterday served with sub
pena calling him into court that he may
tell all about it.
The matter is to be heard before Judge
Slack at IL o'clock this morning.
Mrs. Craven will not be in court as she
is very i'll and under the constant attend
ance of physicians who forbid her leaving
her bed. One of these will be present to
make statement to the court. If George
Knight still insists on adjourning rather
than breaking in upon the testimony of
Mrs. Craven by some other witness them
the other side, which comes forward in the
same matter with an independent pro-
ceeding, will take the stage so that there
will not likely be postponement.
There are, however, several other wit
nesses who have been summoned in the
same matter and who are enjoying very
good health and could occupy the time
quite profitably, no doubt if they are per-
mitted to do so. There is. for instance,
George R. Williams, who knows much
about Mrs. Craven's affairs, having been
her attorney. There is also Mr.. Roberts.
who has a lot of information about tele-
grams that passed between himself and
Mrs. Craven in cipher.
Then, on the other hand there is Rich
ard Y. Dey. who has contract in writing
entered into by the heirs under the will
by which they bind themselves to paw to
Mrs. Craven $500, 900 if she will forfeit her
claims to all the property decided to her by
Mr.. Fair. 1t would be an interesting
story that he might tell.
Then there is James J. Cooney. as re-
- H. n tail -
of the acknowledgment before him-how
it was made by Mr.. Fair in person.
Mr.. Coonev does not hesitate to saw so
to questions out of court and to say that
he will be willing to tell all about 1t in
court He declares that he remem bers
the circumstances of the taking of the
Acknowledgement very well. 1t was all
a very ordinary and commonplace matter
and had not the slightest tincture of any,
thing irregular or even unusual about if.
he says.
James G. Fair in his own person
brought the deeds to me that might GER
tify to the signatures" said Mr. Coonav
and there could be no shadow of doubt
about it-Mr Fair made the acknowledp-
ment to me in person
MY Office was in the Lick House block.
and 1t was most natural, because conyen-
lent, that Mr.. Fair should come to me. 1
made no note OF the transaction other
than the usual entry, as IN other cases.
was only interested in the signatures. and
these, upon the presentation of Mr.. Fair,
certified to as genuine. | made no note.
that l remem Der, as to whether the deeds
were In INK or in pencil. as it did not affect
their legality in any way"
The testimony of the attorneys for
Charles l.. Fair, who have been summoned
by the attorneys for Mrs. Craven, will be
most lntQrp x-iarx Of fhair
utterances on the subject of the pencil
WILL 1t VIII not De forgotten that those
VINO are now IN opposition to the pencil
Will were the parties who first brought il
forward and swore to Its genuineness.
On the 18th day of March, 1895, the three
children OF James g. Fair filed a petition
Tor the probate OF the pencil will dated
september "A, 1894 alleging that the docu-
ment was wholly in the handwriting OF
their father. In their petition they said
That said deceased left q last will and tesla
ment, made, executed and dated on the oath
day OF September, 1894, which was entirely
written, dated and signed by the hand of the
said James G. Fair himself. and which will has
lately come into the possession of your pc
titioners, and they now deliver it to this hon
orable court, which has jurisdiction over the
estate OF said deceased.
Their prayer to this petition was rs fol-
lows:
therefore your petitioners pray that said
viii may be admitted to probate as the last
will and testament of said James G. Fair
The petition was signed IN person by
the children of James G. FAIR and their
many attorneys. as follows:
c. L. Fair, Theresa Alice Oerichs, Virginia
Fair, Knight q Heggerty, attorneys for G. I.
Fair; Lloyd d Woods, attorneys for T. A. Del
rlchs and Virginia Fair; CARRIER, Boalt &
Bishop and Wilson & Wilson of counsel for c,
L. Fair, Theresa Oelrichs and Virginia Fair
Touching the genuineness of this docu-
ment, which they asked the court to adj.
nit to probate as the last will and Tesla
ment of James G. Fair, deceased, there
were several interviews in the press with
the gentlemen who are now attacking the
instrument. In one of these Reuben III.
Lloyd is reported as saying:
The three children have joined in petition