The San Francisco call., 1896-03-09
Mrs. Goodspeed Just Missed the
Fruits of Much Litiga.
tion.
CAREER OF ROMANCE AND Law
An Early Elopement, a Subsequent
Marriage, a Divorce, Then
Legal Difficulties.


diverse and interesting litigation with
which it was associated.
The story is one threaded with ro-
nance, marital infelicities and court con-
tests, and its conclusion is pathetic. Just
when the final legal obstacles had been
overcome and the woman was on the point
OF entering into possession of the extern
sive property for which she had so long
and. so often asserted her claims stroke
of apoplexy rendered her powerless to
move or speak, and after a lingering,
dumb suffering for nearly thirty hours,
during which she was unconscious, her
mind seemed to clear for a moment and
she recognized her youngest son, whose
arrival at the bedside was almost coinci-
dent with her last breath.
Mrs. Goodspeed was the only daughter
OF the late Judge O. G. Pratt.
Some time in 1866 she eloped with
Raphael Abecco member of minstrel
troupe performing in the old theater on
Montgomery street, between Pine and
California. The pair took passage late in
the afternoon on bark bound for Aus
tralia, but owing to light winds were not
able to get more than twenty miles from
port before they were overhauled next
morning by Judge Pratt, who went in pur-
suit with revenue cutter. At that time
Judge Pratt was presiding over the old
Twelfth District Court. He was a proud
man, soon after resigned. never again
sought public position, but spent much
of his time at his fine rancho "Aguas
Frias," few miles from Chico, Butte
County. His manager then and for many
years subsequently was K. G. Goodspeed.
According TO common report he was an
ardent suitor for Miss Pratt's hand, but
was never favorably welcomed either by
the young woman or her parents.
A short time after this sensational esca-
pade, however, he renewed his suit and Sc
cured the prize, together with handsome
sum of ready money and grant of many
broad acres. After living with Goodspeed
for twenty years she secured divorce and
moved to this City. Her former husband
remains in Butte County looking aster his
property and his children's and their
grandmother's interests in the rancho.
Mrs. Pratt, the mother of deceased, died
in February, 1894, and willed most of her
property to General Mansfield, his wife
and sons and Mrs. Cross, his sister-in-law,
all of whom constituted Los Angeles
household with which Mrs. Pratt spent
the last nine years OF her life.
Mrs. Goodspeed successfully contested
her mothers will and the suit that resulted
is known as the longest jury trial in South
ern California. IJlasted continuously from
September 10, 1894, to December 1 of last
year. The verdict gave to her about half
the estate of about half million dollars
and to the children of her brother, the
late Charles Pratt of Fruitvale, the other
half The property consisted chiefly OF
the Aquas Frias rancho.
But her most remarkable legal fight was
in 1893, during her mothers lifetime,
when she sued to declare her mother in
competent and to have guardian ap-
pointed over her estate. During the trial
the charge of EN- bezzling over 100000 was
made against ex Lieutenant Governor
Mansfield, who up to that time had been
looked upon in Los Angeles as MODEL of
manly and social propriety. The claim
was made that the Mansfie.ds, while keep
ing feeble and incompetent Mrs. Pratt in
back room at their residence, mad appro-
priated monev from her bank account and
what accrued as rent from her estate.
The rents from the Pratt property
which the Pratts received a third, while
the farmers retained the balance. Mrs.
Goodspeed was successful in sustaining
her charges.
The Manshelds, failing to secure letters
of guardianship over Mrs. Pratt, charged
Mrs. Goodspeed with not having enough
business education and acumen to manage
her mothers estate. and an additional
charge of immortality was made, the story
of the elopement nearly thirty years be-
fore being revived for that purpose. But
the Judge decided in Mrs. Goodspeed' s
favor on both charges.
Then another suit was begun by Mrs.
Goodspeed to enjoin the Manstields from
disposing of their property, which had
been so largely increased Dy appropriation
from the Pratt estate. During the suit,
however, the property faded away, and
the defendants were summoned to explain
its whereabouts, but refused. After being
ordered to Jail for contempt General Mans
field made an explanation. About $4,000
or $11 600, forming the lost money, he dis
posed of. he had drawn from the bank,
converted into greenbacks and given to
his wife, who dug q hole in the plaster of
the pantry wall, put the money in and
sealed the hole up. but afterward removed
$4,000, and other expenses of the litigation.
So Mrs. Goodspeed secured none of the
misappropriated money.
When Judge Pratt died In February,
1891-February was considered hoodooed
month by Mrs. Goodspeed, as all OF her
nearest relatives had died in that month
he left one-fourth of his estate in trust, to
be given to Mrs. Goodspeed in seven years.
Only bout two weeks ago Judge Gray OF
that the trust was illegal, and his decision
permitted her to acquire possession lmme-
diately.
In the very week in which she died Mrs.
Goodspeed had made her final settlement
of her mothers estate and had sent to Los
Angeles the final accounts as administra-
trix preparatory to receiving the inheri-
tance.
In February, 1893, she brought suit
in Judge Murphys court against her hus-
band, and was again successful as a legal
contestant, being awarded alimony, coun-
sci fees and the charge OF the younger chill
dren.
Since the divorce, however, Mr.. Good
speed has continued to be her manager, as
was the father-in-law, Judge Pratt, after
his divorce.
Mrs. Goodspeed leaves five children !:
Orville Goodspeed, Mrs. N. E. Stanford,
OF this City, Mrs. r. B. Snowgrass of Port
land, Or, and Charlie Goodspeed and
Naorne Goodspeed, the last being mere
child.
Thrown From His Team.