The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
Witnesses Say They Are Well
Pleased With the Conduct
of the Trust.
THE BLACKLEG EXAMINER "
FULLY ANSWERED.
This Case Would Cover 1t With Con.
fusion if Ii Knew Any Shame.
Only One of Money.

Samuel M. Shortridge was Yesterday
confirmed as executor, without bonds, of
the last will and testament of Mrs. Marion
NJ. Allen, deceased.
The daughters, their husbands, and all
the parties in interest were present in
court at San Rafael at the time and united
in urging Judge Angelotti to admit the
will to probate and to confirm the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Shortridge, without
bonds, as stipulated by the will. And the
court did so, saying at the same time that
it was his pleasure to do So
And this is the case that the Examiner,
day after day. for weeks past has been
making use of in its cowardly attempt to
do harm to the fortune and good name of
Samuel NJ. Shortridge. This is the case
that has made the subject Tor its almost
daily cartoon.
This is the case in which by innuendo and
indirection, the weapons of the coward and
blackmailer in newspaperdom, 1T has
sought to make it appear to the public
that a reputable lawyer and private citl-
zen. against whom no voice had been
raised save its own, had been unfaith
full to trust. This is the case
that has served as one recent text
for that outrageous misuse of its
power by a blackleg press of which
the Examiner is so constantly guilty, and
to which any man, however secure be may
feel himself in his own sense of rectitude
and the trust of good citizens, is still ever
liable merely through giving offense to
some of it's petty hirelings.
Gathered in the little courthouse at San
Rafael yesterday afternoon was, as
stated, every person interested in the will
of Mrs. Allen save one-and this one,
daughter unable to rise from a sick bed,
- rAo,,
all of them testified to the perfect regu-
larity of all the proceedings preliminary
to the probate, and urged the Judge to
carry out the wishes of the deceased, and
appoint Mr.. Shortridge as executor with
out bonds. The whole proceedings con-
sumed less than an hour, there being no
intimation of a contest, the court admit.
ting the will to probate with the executor
as named.
Those present were: Mrs. Ada Romer
Shawhan, daughter of the deceased and
wife of J. M. Shawhan; Mrs. Edythe Ro-
mer Hodges, daughter of the deceased and
wife of Walter NJ. Hodges, the actor, now
with the Katie Putnam company; DR..
Walter r. Shoaff, representing by power
of attorney his wife. Cora Romer Shoaff,
tie third daughter OF Mrs. Allen. Mr..
Shawhan and Dr.. Shoaff were also pres
ent. The only other interested party was
Marion Richards, daugter of DR.. Richards
and granddaughter of Mrs. Allen. She
was represented by Mr.. HUMPHREYS of
The will had been filed previously
with the court of Marin County
and came up yesterday on the
petition for its probate. 1t had been the
wish of Mr.. Shortridge as well as the heirs
that all the persons interested might be
in court in person upon the hearing OF the
petition, and Mrs. Shoaff and DR.. Martin
being taken i'll the case was postponed two
or three times that they might be given
that opportunity. Yesterday, however.
the case went on in spite of the fact that
Mrs. Shoaf was still i'll, she giving power
of attorney 10 her husband to represent
her.
DR.. George II. Martin, a well-known
physician who had Tor several years been
in attendance upon Mrs. Allen and who
was one of the witnesses to the execution
of her will, was in court He was the first
witness called. Quite a number of per-
sons had assembled in the little courtroom
at the time, and listened to the proceed
ings with considerable interest.
DR.. Martin stated that he had attended
Mrs. Allen for some two years previous to
the making of the will He had been
asked again and again by Mr.. Shortridge,
he said, before the execution of the docu-
ment, whether the lady was of sound
mind and competent. Afterward he had
IdkSA ulAl NluS W1luSooI lLlO Zig pIcStnCS
OF the others who were in the room, and
again asked him the same question, to
which DR.. Martin gave the same reply.
Mrs. Allen lay at the point of death, he
said, in her room in the Hotel Langham.
Two of her daughters, their husbands, a
nurse, Miss Eckhardt, Mr.. Shortridge and
the witness were present. The doctor
gave a graphic description of the
scene. He said that Mr.. Shortridge read
the will to Mrs. Allen. who lay in her bed
propped up by pillows. Having con-
cluded, the lawyer asked her distinctly if
what she had heard was her last will and
testament and by nod of the head she
gave assent that 1t was.
The court asked the witness as to the
condition of his mind at the time, and
the witness replied that there was no
doubt that it was perfectly sound. Mr..
Snortridge, he repeated, asked him at
that time very particularly as to this
point. Being assured by him, the law
yer had then asked Mrs. Allen if
he (Mr. Shortridge) should sign