The herald., 1896-07-14
] A BUSINESS LITTLE MAID
A Handsome Reward for
Services Demanded
4 COMPANIONS 1HAAkLESS DUTY
attorney Dole Is On Trial for
Forging a Check
IS 1T MISTAKEN IDENTITY?
The Sslvini Coupe Are Disputing Over
Possession Of Ring
tn Law As Applied to the Several Aew
o. School Districts
Handsome Gordon Setter Comss Into Court
end Helps to D cid: Case-onder
the PIay-New suit'-den-
eral Court News
IS 1T MISTAKEN IDENTITY!
The Salvini Coupe Are Disputing over
Possession Of Ring
tn Law As Applied to the Several Hew
. School Districts
An interesting suit occupied the atten-

An interesting suit occupied the atten-
ton of Judge Mckinley, in department
eix Yesterday, and the story untoioed
dicates. altogether apart from the merits
of the individual case, the wide held ex-
istine for the abilities of young women
enioving semi confidential relations
with wealthy old ladies.
Mrs. M. Louise Jones is white-halred
old lady over 10 years of age. In 1898
she suffered a stroke of paralysis aho
since that time has been incapable ot
attending to business details with that
vigor and accuracy tnat was hei WIN
previous to her afiliction
In order to have the assistance that
the feeble state of her health demanded
Mrs. Jones engaged young woman
named Mary Edna Osborne as maid, ana
retained her in her service lor hl'e
months at a wage of $50 month and
her board. The old lady alleges that slle
had confidence in the fidelity OF her per
sonal attendant until about the 9th Oh
last February, but on that date start
ling denouement took place. Mary Edna
presented to her mistress the foiloWlhs
most interesting document: 49,
SEPT. 26, '95.
$4,000
On demand 1 promise to pay Mary
Edna Osborne or order, ten thousand
dollars, value received, with interest At
five per cent.
NJ LOUISE JONES.
Thursday, Sep. 26, '95."
This doubtless was d very gratifying
document to Mary Edna, but, un1oriu-
nately for her, her mistress not Only was
distressed by its presentation Dut apso-
lutely denied ever having given any
such note or promise TO pay.
The maid lost her job and Mrs. Jones
brought suit to have the court declare
the note null and void.
Albert NJ. Stevens, Esq, represented
the interests of Mrs. Jones and j. Bros
eeau, Esq, those of the defendant maid.
The popularity of the case lies in the
fact that Mrs. Jones does not aOsoluteiy
deny her signature. or accuse her eX-
maid of having committed forSery she
does claim, however, that she has no
knowledge of having signed the instru-
ment, and that the language of the note
preceding the signature is in the hand
writing of Mary Edna, her maid. that
was. She claims that the writing was
dlled in on a paper containing her sig
nature, written thereon by herself. or
that she appended her name to the in
strument when incapable of understand
mig what she was doing.
Mary Edna assigned the note to one
John C. Bewley, but, as plaintiff alleges,
it was without consideration and he
holds it simply in trust for the girl, as
her agent.
Roswell Jones testified yesterday that
his mother was forced absolutely to rely
upon others in business affairs, and that
particularly with regard to figures, she
was and is utterly incompetent. Her
property, witness claimed, is held in
trust and she has no interest in it be
yond receiving the income for her life.
Mr.. Jones would not deny thai his mother
had any other property but said that #
SO he wasn't aware of it.
Miss Mary Edna Osborne, who is quite
refined looking and hammered little
lady of 21 years. told very interesting
story regarding her possession of the
note.
For six years she had been nurse maid
in the employ of q Santa Barbara family
and at the solicitations of Mrs. Jones en-
tered her employ as maid and compan-
ion. Some time later she left and went
to her home in Nevada, but Mrs. Jones
was anxious 10 have her return and told
her II she would do so she would give
her $50 month and do handsomely for
her besides. knowing that the old lad,r
had wealth, and believing furthermore
that she was woman of her word Miss
Osborne returned to Mrs. Jones a Pasa
dena. A day or two after her return the
old lady told her that she liked business
methods, and upon that she told her
that beside the salary she intended re-
membering her in her will The little
maid, albeit soft voiced and refined in
manner, here showed most practical
brain. She told Mrs Jones she had to
support herself and her mother and she
didn't want to be mentioned in her will
Wills are uncertain documents and she
wanted something to keep and to hold
herself. She said she had left good
position and wanted something tangible
0bove mere wages.
Mrs. Jones was exhausted with talking
mat day and-the matter went over. bur
day or two later the subject was again
taken up. Mrs. Jones said she wouId
give her note but she didn't know the
language of such documents Finally
Miss Osborne found blank CODY in a
memorandum book, and at Mrs Jones'
request copied the body of the instru-
ment. Mrs. Jones then sat down and
fixed her signature and dated back to
September 2Gth, saying that she wanted
it to date from the day of my return
as it would mark the day pleasantly.
"She also told me-" said witness. mot
to tell of the matter to anyone and par
ticularly to refrain from saying any
thing to her SON. She said She nava,.
told him of business matters. She as
signed no reason for her reticence save
that the telling would provoke a storm
Il remained on until January 1G, 1896
On the Friday before Mrs. Jones and
uToNe 10 lne nome on twenty second
street. of Roswell Jones We vrnre
boarding al the Richelieu on Grand ave-
nue.. Upon our arrival she sent mo into
the house TO see if either her son or his
wife desired to join her in the carria 90
and take drive Neither one dil but
when returned to the carriage I sug-
gested that she go inside the house her
self. She did so and I waited for her N
the hall. Her son said to me:
when you come again YOU can go to
the back door,
Witness eyes filed as she repeated the
insulting remark, and then resumed:
4 told him / would take very good
care never to come to his house again
He then said; If you give me any of
your - impudence I'll kick you out of
the house"
Witness buried her face in her hand
'kerchief and had little cry out before
ooDoming her narrative. From that