The San Francisco call., 1896-08-27
SAW BOTH DEEDS
AND CONTRACTS,
Two Witnesses Testify
Strongly for Mrs.
Craven.
COUNSEL OF SULLIVAN.
The Ex:Judge Cautioned the Fair
Litigant Against Marriage
by Agreement.
KNEW HIS CLIENTS INTENT.
A Former Landlady of the School
Principal Contributes Valuable
Evidence.
KNEW HIS CLIENTS INTENT.

y
positions OF ex-Jadge J. f. Sullivan and
Mrs. Sarah B. Johnson were taken in the
offices of Delmas & Shortridge yesterday,
but the sworn statements of these two wit
nesses developed some of the most i'm
portant testimony yet brought to light in
the various ramifcations OF the great Fair
will litigation.
Ex-Judge Sullivan testified to the fact
that Mrs. Craven, as early as 1892, had
consulted him as to the character and
effect of a contract marriage; that she had
informed him OF her contemplated mar
riage by contract to Senator James G..
Fair. and that she had exhibited a paper
to him which he understood to be a con-
tract of marriage between herself and
Senator FAIR. He was not, however, pre-
pared to make oath, he said, as to whether
this contract bore the signatures of the
parties or not. he refused 10 state either
that it was signed or that it was not.
Mrs. johnson not only testified that she
had seen the Fair Craven contract Of mar
riage, but that she had seen the respective
signatures attached TO the document She
also testified TO private visits of the Sena-
tor to Mrs. Craven while the latter was az
the Colonial House. q boarding and lodg-
ing house conducted by tho witness at the
corner of Pine and Jones streets.
Mrs. Craven, she said, had made a con-
fdant of her and had told her OF her
secret marriage to the millionaire. and had
also shown her the deeds to the properties
on Pine and Sansome streets and on Mis-
sion and Eleventh streets. Mrs. Craven
had also told her OF how she had induced
the Senator to leave $50, 600 for the benefit
OF the school-teachers.
Altogether it was day of congratula-
ton for Mrs. Craven and the cross-exam-
ination of the witnesses by the attorney
representing the opposing side failed 10
mar the value Of the testimony given IN
the slightest degree.
These deposiIions were taken in the
case Of James s. Angus ct al. VS.. Nettie R.
Craven et al, in the suit brought by the
special administrators to quiet title TO the
property covered by the deeds recently re-
corded by Mrs. Craven's attorneys, and
by which Senator Fair conveyed TO that
lady the property on the corner of San
some and Pine streets and that on Mission
and Eleventh streets.
D. NJ. DeImas OF Delmas & Shortridge
represented Mrs. Craven and William
Pierson of Pierson & Mitchell appeared on
behalf of the special administrators.
EI-Judge Sullivan in response 70 ques-
tions asked by Mr.. Delmas stated that he
is As years of age and resident OF San
Francisco since December, 1861; that he is
8 lawyer by profession; has been practic-
ing since June 10, 1874, and that he was
admitted to the bar in January of that
year. He added that he was elected a Su-
perior Judge in Septem Der, 1879, taking
Office on the first Monday in January,
1880. and that he held that Office during
portions of three terms, until August,
1889, when he resigned and resumed the
practice of his profession. He further
SO tad ba in nd fc
now the senior member OF the firm Of Sui
livan & Sullivan.
The examination was then continued as
follows:
do you know the defendant, Nettie B.
Craven?"
Il do"
How long have you known herr"
''Since 1873, l think it is. 1 know il
was during my term as member of the |
Board OF Education of this City that |
met her. l was then introduced TO her, or |
she was introduced to me- by letter OF |
Introduction from William P. DANGER |
field. at that time a District Judge sitting |
in this County,
After you had resigned from the bench 1
in 1889 did you at any time act profes- !
Eionally as the legal adviser or attorney /
for Mrs. CraYenH
Il didP'
Commencing in what year, if you re-
p
Il think in 1890 It was either in the
latter part of 1889 or along in the year |
1890. l think IL was in 1890, in connection |
with the guardianship OF her daughter"
Witness then told of the different cases /
in which he acted as the legal representa-
tive of Mrs. Craven, and the further ex,
animation elected the following:
DO you remember, Judge, while you |
were thus acting as the legal adviser and /
~r-en ft-oxr - fEar -A.
consulted you in any way about eontem /
plated marriage with Senator James 6. |
Fair2a'
81 remember that she did"
"WilI you please state the whole of the
as you recall them"
Mrs. Craven said to me on one occa-
sion, the date of which l cannot remem-
Der, but 1 think il was in 1892, that Sena-
.or Fair desired her to enter into mar
-iage contract with him. She wished to
zhoW from me II contract marriages were
7aIid. I told her that that was q matter
hat had engaged some very serious
hought among the members of the bar
md scme divided judgments among the
uem bers OF the bench IN this State; that,
IS 1 considered, of the two decisions which /
lad been made in the Sharon case, the
econd or later one on appeal from the
rider denying a new trial was
t variance with the first. l told her
hat contract marriages we're osnger-
JUS things and uncertain and diff
.ult 10 establish, and l advised her
gainst entering into any such relation
hip, and she wanted 10 know if any par
icriler form was requisite IN an agree
nent or contract of marriage. told her
.othing further than to show that each
,arty deliberately took the other to be his
nd her spouse; that no set form OF
was requisite for that, inso-
ar IS the agreement should be part of
he marriage; any form that would show
hat each party took the other for the
usband or wife would be sufficient. My
collection of the matter Is not confined
o a particular date. Ny recollection IS
hat Mrs. Craven spoke 10 me on several
ccasioas, twice or three times, and some
T these matters may have been stated
I one time or at another during
hese conferences. / would say fur
her, in this connection. that my
collection of particular dates and
ecurrences at this time is affected by the
act that I was then, unfortunately Tor
yself. uDduly active in political matters,
naying, perhaps, more attention 10 those
hings than 1 was TO my business. So for
hat reason cannot reccllect dates par