The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-15
Senator Fair Once Kissed Mrs.
Craven Lovingly in Her
Presence.
WAS GOING TO FOOL THEM.
So Said Senator Fair in Regard to
the Lawyers Who Drew the
Earlier Will.


presence took from his pocket two papers
purporting to be deeds for the Sansome
and Mission street properties and handed
them to Mrs. Craven.
The story was that published some
weeks ago in THE CALL, being then the
report of an interview with Mrs. Haskins.
What details were brought out in addition
to that story were mainly the result of the
cross-examination. They all went to
strengthen her story.
For instance, she admitted having seen
Mr.. Fair visit Mrs. Craven many times;
that he evinced great fondness for her,
and that once she saw him kiss her.
Being asked if, when Senator Fair was
making the pencil will, he said anything
about the will that he had made only
three days before, the witness said he did !;
that he declared that he would fool
them,' referring to the lawyers who had
made out the previous will.
Mrs. Haskins is what lawyers term q
good Witness" She answered all ques
tions frankly and promptly, both under
direct and cross-examiuation. She seemed
10 have no reservations, and only declined
to answer when the cross-examiners began
TO entrench upon her own private affairs,
and Mr.. Delmas. distinctly stating that he
was counsel not for Mrs. Haskins, but for
the persons making this inquiry, advised
her not to answer them.
She was on the stand all day, from 10
O'Clock in the morning until in the even
ing, and when 1t was proposed TO adjourn
over for the day, the attorneys showing
signs of WEAKNESS, she created laugh by
declaring that she felt quite well and would
prefer to go on and get through.
0nly a sprinkling of the big array of law
yers interested in the Fair litigation was
present. There was Mr.. Delmss and Judge
de Haven and Lansing Miner, and for a
little while Samuel NJ. Shortridge-all for
the pencil will.
For the opposition there were Carrot
McEnerney, R. B. Mitchell and Charles j.
Heggerty.
Beside Mrs Haskins, an interested lis
tener all day, sat Mrs. Crayen's pretty
daughter, Margaret.
Notary Milton S. Latham administered
the oath to Mrs. HaSkins, and the deposit
ton was taken down by Court Stenog-
rapher George +. Smith as, in response to
questions by Mr.. Delmas, she told it off.
She was asked as 10 ali the circumstances of
that oath of September.
She said she was not feeling well that
day and went out to call upon Mrs. Craven,
going FIST TO the school, learning that
Mrs. Craven was not we'll and not at
school. From there she went to her dress
makers, on California street. 10 pay bill
and from there to Mrs. Craven's house, st
2007 California street. She was ushered
into Mrs. Craven's room. where she found
James G. Fair seated at table and en-
gagged in writing. She described the fur
niture in the room which Mrs. Craven
called 1.-The studio"-a large table, an easy
chair, lounge and a sofa.
Where was Senator Fair seated ?" asked
Mr.. Delmas.
Sat the table, writing"
What was said when you entered, if
anything?'
II did not wish to intrude and begged to
be excused, but Senator Fair asked me to
come in and be seated. Mrs. Craven came
forward and spoke to me. 1 went in and
took a seat back of Senator Fair
Had you often seen Senator Fair at
Mrs. Crayen's?'
Il had not visited her often"
Did you know Senator Fair person
allyn
.'Iknew him some thirty-two years before
knew Mrs. Craven. Ny husband gave me
an introduction to him on Montgomery
street.
"Couid you see what material Senator
Fair was writing within
He was writing with lead pencil on a
pad he had. He wrote for some time.
left the room several times while he was
so engaged"
did you hear any conversation between
Mrs. Craven and Senator Fairf''
''He asked her how to spell either the
word asylum or orphan do not re-
member which it was. she told him to
remember the teachers cause or clause, l
am not sure which was the word
did you hear any other remarks while
you were there2'
81 asked to be excused and Senator Fair
asked me 10 remain. He said it was
warmer there and better for me-
''When Senator Fair completed the
writing what did he do?"
He read it aloud and then handed it to
Mrs. Craven and asked her how she liked
it. She said it was o X. That was the
word she used, L think
What kind of paper was it he wrote
upon2"
"a pad
Ibid you know what kind OF instrument
il was Senator Fair was writing?'
81 suspected from her asking him to re-
member the teachers clause.
You suspected that it was a will,
Yes"
You knew it was a will when you heard
ii read aloud2f'
Certainly"
What else was said?''
Mrs. Craven said, This is not legal,
being written IN pencil. He said, Very
well then, will write it in ink"
Did he do SOP"
Yes"
Ibid you remain in the room ?''
mo; l went away before he had CON-
pleted the copy"
did you make any remark during the
writing2'
Yes, / yenturec to remark, Senator
Fair, you have not remembered Mrs.
Craven in your will"
HE answered, i have remembered or
provided for her in some other way /
can't recall whether he said 'remem-
bered' or provided He rose up and TOOK
from his pocket and handed TO her two pa
pers, saying, Here are your deeds for the
property on Mission and Sansome streets
The papers were folded as deeds usually
are
How far had Senator Fair progressed
in copying the document in ink when you
left the room2n
II did not notice. | did not leave the
house. / went into an adjoining room. /