The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
His Fiancee Has a Letter Written
by the Man When He Was
Very Sick.
ATTORNEYS SAY IT is VALID.
The Relatives of the Deceased Will
Fight Bitterly to Retain His
Property.

SANTA ROSA, CAL, Jan. 5.-There is
| to be legal contest over the will of Victor
Ottmer, the young man who committed
suicide on November II last near Healds-
burg.
The contestants are the father of the
young man, DR.. c. II. Ottmer, and Jennie
Il. Campbell the fiancee of the deceased
The exact value of the estate is unknown.
Young Ottmer had considerable personal
property and fifteen head of horses in Cali
fornia, but the main portion of the estate
consists of landed interests III Oregon,
near the town of Burns. In addition to
the foregoing Ottmer had some $500 in
notes and money that he gave outright to
Jennie before his death. This she still
holds.
Dr. Ottmer has endeavored to induce the
girl to rellnquish all claim to the estate,
offering to allow her to keep the notes and
money.
Young Ottmer had been engaged to Jen-
ME for several months. When first en-
gagged both resided near HeaIdsburg.
Later Ottmer went to Oregon. He fell
sick there from exposure while lost in the
woods. Feeling that he was not going to
recover he wrote on June % last farewell
letter to his tiancee. This letter is the in
strument filed by the girls attorneys as a
Photographic will. 1t reads as follows:
BURNS, Or, June %, 1895.
Miss Jennie L. CdmpbeH-DARLING JENNIE: 1
have bad news to tell you. 1 am most terrible
sick at present l can scarcely eat anything
at all. have been feeling bad for about a
month. OF course [ never wrote ANYTHING
about it, for L supposed l would be all right in
a little while. Dear Jennie, this letter L want
20. ny,I ell
Not even your home folks, unless that 1 should
not get well, then you can make it known
What want to tell dear Jennie, is this: You
are welcome to all my property after what
bills owe is Strengthened up in case l should
not get we'll. And if get all right again OF
course we can settle the matter between our
selves. If any one asks you how am getting
along you can tell them that l am sick and no
more about what have told you, if you please,
dear Jennie. Ii think that 1 am able to come
home Will try and come back soon as can
get things Strengthened up a little. Jennie
please excuse this short letter and bad spelling
and writing. Write as soon as you get this,
for 1 am so anxious to hear from you. From
your intended, S. V. OTTMER.
DR.. Ottmer contends this letter will not
stand as will. This is the issue upon
which he will make his fight.
Ottmer grew better of his sickness and
returned to his old home in Dry Creek
Valley, near Healdsburg. His sickness
affected MS mind. His inability to re-
cover his full mental powers preyed on
him, and in a fit of moody desperation he
sent rifle bullet through his head.
Jennie Campbell is bright Irish lassie,
25 years of age. She has lived most of her
life in the redwoods near Healdsburg. DIR.
Ottmer, the father of the dead man. is a
wealthy retired physician, owning and
living on a well-paying fruit ranch in Dry
Creek Valley. He also owns valuable
business property in Healdsburg.