The San Francisco call., 1896-05-29
A Bright Young Widow Who
Claims She Was Engaged
to the TeStator.
THEIR EVENING BUGGY RIDES
Did Not See Him for Six Months
but the Engagement Was
Never Broken.

SAN JOSE, CAL, May 2S.-The contest
Of the will of the late George H. Parker in
Judge Reynolds court attracts a great
many spectators. The first witness this
morning was Mrs. Husbands. She stated
that she was a widow and lived in Ala
media. Mrs. Husbands is bright young
woman and not over 25 years of age, and
claims that she was engaged to Parker at
the time of his death. She testified that
she first met Parker in San Franciaco, in
1892, at the studio of Miss Sinnott, where
the witness was studying painting. Parker
called on her frequently during the first
month of their acquaintance. Then for a
month she did not see him, but the fol-
lowing month she met him in San Jose.
For the next month or six weeks they met
several times daily in this city, and during
that time they went out riding together
quite often in the evenings.
On her return to her home in Alameda
Parker called on her there quite often, and
they indulged much in the pleasure of
buggy riding. For six months after that
she did not see him, she having gone on
visit to Hum boldt, but again met Parker
in January, 1898. Buggy-riding was one
of the pleasures they enjoyed most every
day, and the witness saw Parker up to
within two or three days before he last de-
parted for the East.
Were you engaged to marry himP''
asked Attorney Coogan.
Eyes" was the reply of the witness.
"Did it last up to the time of the death
of Mr.. Parker2''
at was never broken.'
From this topic Attorney Coogan quickly
turned his attention to another topic and
asked what Parker had ever said to her
about his son Edward. The witness SAID
that Parker had often said that Edward
was a drunkard, extravagaut, a spend
thrift and smoked the best cigars. This
Information Parker claimed TO have re-
ceived from Jane Pomeroy. In further
conversation with the witness Parker had
told her that his son had been offered his
fortune TO leave his wife, but had refused
TO do so, and that after all there must be
some good in both of them. In concur
ring in this opinion the witness said to
Parker that she would reserve her opinion
as TO the son and his wife until she became
his wife.
The deposition of D. W. G. Thompson
was offered this morning by Attorney Pat
terson for the contestant. Thompson mad
known Parker thirty years prior to his
death, and in the first fifteen yesrs met
him nearly every day in business inter-
course, but in later years not SC often.
The testimony regarding the condition of
mind Of Parker in recent years was not
admitt4d, as the witness had not qualified
himself as of sufficient intimate acquaint-
ance in latter years. AS to the condition
of mind of the testator in the first fifteen
years of his acquaintance, this testimony
was also ruled out on the ground of being
too remote.
During the morning session Attorney
Patterson offered the inventory and ap-
praisement of the estate, which showed
the entire value of the estate in Santa
Clara, San Francisco and Alameda coun-
ties to lie worth $244, ,239.
Mrs. Mary s. Welch was also briefly
crosse Samined this morning by Mr..
Delmas, but nothing of Importance was
developsd.
In tie afternoon Mrs. Husband was
cross-eKamined by Mr.. Delmas. Several
letters were shown from her to Parker, and
from Parker to her, in which there was an
entire absence of love. ana no evidence of
an eng cement.