The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-08

hrs Mitchell Seeks to Enforce
the Legal Rights Of Her
Offspring.
Secret Romance in the Lie of a Well
Known Pioneer Business Man
of San Francisco

Another sensational probate contest is
promised in the settlement of the estate
OF Martin kedon, deceased. The case
presents Just such romantic development
OF affairs as would scarcely be possible in
any country except California under the
peculiar conditions that obtained in the
earlier and more informal days of the
CIty's history.
The matter was brought up formally in
Judge Coffey's court yesterday on the ap-
pIication of Attorney 2. ]. Mogan 10
have Mrs. T. a. Mitchell appointed guar
dian Of her 14-year-old son Frank, in or
der that she might enforce his claim to
chiiTs share OF the hedon estate, which is
said TO be worth not less than 800, 900.
Although his move was a surprise to
the court 1t was not unexpected so far as
the other heirs are concerned who have
long known OF the lads claim to kInshlp
on accOuntof his acknowledg ed parentage,
so Jar as the decedent could make such
acknowled gment.
Mrs Mitchell is the widow OF T. a.
Mitchell, W no was chic deputy for Sandy
Austin when that enterprising gentleman
was Tax Collector of this City and County
Mr.. Mitchell died about twenty years ago
and Mrs. Mitchell esta bllshed boarding
house, in order to support herself and her
two children.
Martin kedon, known as prosperous
merchant, was one OF the boarders at Mrs.
MitchePs house. He was established
there with his three children and held him
self out 10 Mrs. Mitchell aud the rest of the
world as q WidOTer, alleging this his wife
was dead. Kedon and his children ca re-
fully guarded as family secret the fact that
Mrs hepon, the wife and mother, was an
inmate OF an insane asylum, to which she
wa committed in 1868, and as all mentio
Of the adjudication OF insanity had been
suppressed from publication in the news.
papers there was no knowledge IN the
community touching the insanity of Mrs.
kedon.
Soon after Kedon moved into Mrs.
Mitchelps house he began to show her
marked attention, and finally proposed
marriage. she knew nothing OF the exist
ence OF his wife and promised to marry
him. Then arose some difficulties 8hicn
Ire told her were insufferable or account
OF their difference in religious belief, and
which he assured her would preclude their
marriage in the usual way by a ceremony
in the church. He therefore suggested
that they be married by contract, and
finally pursuaded her that as the contract
plan had been held legal and sufficient in
other cases, 1t would be good enough for
them.
When Mrs. Mitchell gave up her board
ing-Eouse they all moved to a private
bow James was born.
kedon's children were BY this time old
enough 10 understand the situation, and
revelation of the true state of facts was
hsd TO all parties in interest Mrs.
Mitchell, who IS woman of high charac-
ter, at once separated from hedon, and
though she had been made to suffer by the
duplicitv OF the man she had regarded as
d her husband, she made no public demon
stration against him.
In the meantime young Frank grew to
lusty boyhood, and was constantly kept
in mind by his father. Martin Kedon, who
provided for his wants carefully from the
day of his birth. Frank was sent to school,
and his tuition was paid for openly b.
kedOn, and two years ago the boy was
taken into kedon's store a. clerk under
the name of Thomas Smith, though Ke-
don revealed to the boy their true relations,
and told him that he had as much right
there as anybody. The other employees
about the esta olishment had clear IN
derstan ding OF the lads status
For some time Mrs. Mitchell has been
con sldering the sdvisa biIity of presenting
her sons claims for portion OF the ke-
don estate. Her own children urged her
not to 90 so, but she finally decided that
she must do her duty 70 the offspring OF
Mr.. KedOn and herself regardless OF what
mioht be said by the public
The insane Mrs. Kedon is still living
and is still an inmate of the State Insane
Asylum. Under the Jaw she is entitled to
100000 or two thirds of the properly,
which will leave $4,000 10 be divided
among the children. Ii Frank is declared
legal heir he will be awarded a quarter
Of the last-named amount
The question OF legitimization will
present son:e points not hitherto decided
in this State. 1t was thought that nearly
every phase OF The matter of declaring
Iegiti mate children born out of wed lock
had been prese ted in the cases of Jessup,
EEX TODAY