The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-28
LEXAuDER BOYD
OPENED A SKULL,
Interesting Episode in the
Davis Will Con-
test.
Experience of a Pioneer While
Mining on the Yuba
River.
Mrs. Belle Curtis Declared to Be
One Of the Worlds Best
Cooks.

Owen Meredith's famous dictum tina
"Civilized man cannot live without
cooks" was wildly recalled in the jacob
q. Davis will contest in Judge Coffey's
court yesterday.
There can be no doubt that Mr.. Davis
was civilized man and that appeared to
be one reason why he so highly appre-
ciated the cookery of his niece by mar
riage, Mrs. Belle Curtis, to ON he willed
property estimated TO be worth $1,000, 600.
She is not a cook in the ordinary sense, to
be sure, but is evidently an adept in the
divine and gentle art of gastronomy.
That he was equally appreciative of the
handling of his household affairs by Miss
Lizzie Muir il evidenced by the fact that
he bequeathed to her the other half of his
estate, the young women standing on an
even plane of his approval, according TO
the declarations OF the document that has
been filed for probate as his last will and
testament.
These interesting facts came out in the
testimony of Alexander Boyd, the lifelong
partner of the late Mr.. Davis.
An effort is being made by the relatives
of the late Mr.. Davis to prove that the
will is forgery. and in his questions At
torney George A. Knight declared that he
was seeking for a reason that would salts
factorlly explain the action of the decedent
in signing suca will, if, IN fact, he ever
did sign it.
OF course there were many other en-
dearing traits of character and ties OF
association as well as relationship by mar
"a o. M oil vnon cd hxy
Mr.. Boyd, but he dweit with particular
stress on the Joy and comfort experienced
by the old man from the ministrations of
the young ladies who were mem bers of his
family circle for so many years and who
were with him when he died.
Mr.. Knight-Mr Davis had great affection
for Mrs Curtis and Miss Muir, had he not?
Mr.. Boyd-Yes. He never seemed satisfied
unless they were in the house.
"Do you know of any reason that made him
THU so much OF Mrs. Curtis?"
well, for one thing, he liked fine cooking,
isn't a better in the world. AT least he
thsught 500
"Mr. Davis kept a servant-a cook-didn't
he?"
WASN'T the kind of cooking he wanted. 1t was
the fine cooking that she did for him-the
things he liked. He thought nothing tasted
so good as when Belle cooked it."
to Mr.. Davis?'
''she fixed everything about the house and
made it pleasant and comfortable for the old
people-ior him and his wife,"
Attorney Campbell thought this line of
inquiry had gone far enough and said so,
but the witness evinced no unwillingness
to answer and Mr.. knight persisted.
"Tney, humored his whims il every way,
yes, of course; just as loving daughters
would do"
This reply appeared to please the attor-
neys for the proponents of the will more
than it did Mr.. knight, and so another
branch of the case was taken up, but til 9
ladies VINO were thus held up as models of
helpfuness to the old ;people with whom
they lived showed that they appreciated
the compliment paid to their home-loving
qualities.
Mr.. Boyd testified that about thirty
years ago his late partner, Jacob q. Davis,
begaa to take care of Mrs. Belle Curtis and
Miss Lizzie Muir, and about the same
time he began to care for Mrs. Ed +.
Smith of Sacramento. He continued IN
that relationship up 10 the time of Mrs.
Smiths marriage. Mrs. Smith is sister
OF Mrs. Curtis and Miss Muir. Mr. Boyd
intim ateo that he held much the same re-
gard for Mrs. Smith that Mr.. Davis dis
during his lifetime.
Mr.. Boyd was asked to tell about the
finding of the will in the copper urn that
contained the incinerated remains of Mrs
Davis. He declared that the box or urn
was never IN his office before it was
opened, in this regard contradicting the
testimony of John NJ. Curtis, who swore
that he took the box first 10 the Office of
Boyd q Davis, and afterward removed it
fo Of l.
soldered and removed by timer
I'VE met at Mr.. Curtis office by ap-
pointment," said Mr.. Boyd, ''and the tin
ner was sent for to do the work. After
Mr.. Curtis told me of his thought that
the will might be in the box containing
Mrs. Davis ashes l consulted with Mr.
Masiick, who had been the attorney for
Boyd q Davis ever since the Sacramento
flood of 1861, and he said it was Mr.. Curtis
duty to have the box opened if there was
any possibility for finding the will there.
George Mastick, Mr.. Ryan. Mr.. Curtis
and the timer were there; We were all
sharp on time" said MIR. Boyd. when
the top was taken off Mr.. Ryan was stand
ing nearest to the urn, and I said, Mr..
Ryan, see what's there He reached in
and took out piece of tissue paper,
which contained the plate from Mrs.
Davis coffin. The paper was removed.
tulnk the plate was oval IN form.
asked Mr.. Ryan what else was there, and
he said, i don't see anything so l told
him to look again, which he did, but still
could not see anything. Then told him
to put his hand in and see if he could find
the will, if it was there. He hesitated and
minated that he sort of dreaded to han
die the remains of dead person, so said
Stand aside and I'll do it myself I told
them that wasn't afraid to touch corpse
or anything of that kind, and told them
that while / was mining up on the Yuba
had to saw open the skull of dead man
to see whether it had been penetrated by
bullet or not. / didn't banker for the
job but there was nobody else to do it..
apd so went ahead, because [ always be-
lieve in doing what is required of me, no
matter what happens.
IA man had been murdered and we
wanted to find out how he was killed.
Mr.. Davis had lost mule, and hearing
where it was, he went for it. On the way
back he saw two men digging grave ana
saw corpse in the brush. He thought
he would be murdered If he let on that he
saw the corpse. so he punched up his mule
with stick and hurried to our home on
the bar. The bar was aroused and COM
mittee was appointed to go and invests
gate We were on tha com miffae Davis