The San Francisco call., 1896-04-21
on either side of it. 1t was unmarked, but


"Why did you remove the palms and
other decorations which were put here in
Augusta" inquired the visitor of Thomas
A. Crook, the curator.
t'There never were any palms or decora-
tions here" he replied.
This curator alleged that the nurses who
had attended the dying man said that Mr..
Somers never mentioned the name of any
one during the whole time he was in the
| hospital; not once did he refer in any
manner TO Miss Violet Gratz Brown, the
lady said to be his fiancee. He did not die
tate any message, left no farewell, said
no good-by.
The contestants of the will say that $780,
coo in gilt-edged bonds and cash which
Mr.. Somers had with him when he sailed
have disappeared and are unaccounted for.
| The World says:
| Richie does not put in any evidence. He
resigned as executor before the will was offered
for probate. He is said to be still living abroad
principally i'll London where he maintains
| an establishment in good style.
| ". J. Richie, executor of the will, ar
rived in San Francisco several DAYS ago
and left the City last Sunday evening for
New York. On leaving be gave directions
to have his mail forwarded to the Lotus
| Club, New York. Before his departure he
was asked if he had seen the Worlds story
and replied in the affirmative. Then he
| related some incidents of Mr.. Somers' last
| hours. He said:
"When taken to the hospital from the
| steamer Somers did not know that he was
going to die. After medical examination
ut the hospital the doctor came to me and
said, You had better inform your friend
that he cannot live but few hours longer
and let him arrange his affairs
'sThen / saw Somers and asked him how
he wanted to dispose of his effects. He
said, Il want everything to go to the little
girl" and you see to il, Ritchie.' l sug-
gested that couldn't do it in that off
hand way, and that lawyer should be
called in and the thing put in writing
That's right said Somers.
well, how about the package in the
bank?' (meaning Somers' securities and
bonds).
Yes; that goes to her.
M'sWhen l was about to leave the room to
get lawyer Somers said: Hold on,
Richie, do you mean that it is all up
with me?' l replied: That's what the
and then replied: All right
when the will was presented to Mr..
Somers it was read over to him distinctly,
and he said several times during the read
ing, That's right He was perfectly con-
scious and clear in his mind. When the
reading was finished he was propped up in
bed and, while very weak, he signed with
| firm hand.
''I wanted" continued Mr.. Ritchie, ''to
probate the will in England, because
know there is law in that country, but
Somers' attorneys in New York kept on
advising me by cable to send the will
there for probate. Finally cabed asking
them to send me $475 expenses which l
had incurred and 1 would resign the trust,
and so l resigned. My deposition in the
contest has been taken. The contestants
proceeded on the belief that l knsw Miss
Brown, but never saw her, and that is
very clearly set forth in my deposition.
Mr.. Richie was asked as to the value of
the bonds and securities which Mr.. Somers
LETT. He said:
81 estimate them at about $35, 900. There
were some Erie bonds and others that had
deprecated since Somers purchased them.
Perhaps when he went to Japan shortly
after selling Current Literature and Short
Stories his bonds, etc., were worth 500, 900,
| but on some the interest had defaulted
and the value diminished. 1t was Somers'
! idea to recuperate financially before he
| married. l know that he did not intend
that any of his money should go to his
relatives. He distinctly said that he did
not want them to have any of his prop
| erty he owed then, pofhipo
Mr.. Ritchie says the bonds and securi-
ties which Mr.. Somers left are in New
York, but that the attorneys of Miss
Brown in the probate proceedings have
only introduced the life-insurance policy
| Game of Basketball.