The San Francisco call., 1897-06-11
Superintendent Blain of
Cypress Lawn Cemetery
Tells His Story.
Only Purp,e Tissue Paper Usei
by Him in Mrs. J. q DAVIS
Crematory Urn.
Experts Employed in the F4ir-Craven
Case Are to Exam lie the Will
That Is Under Contest.

Attorney George a. knight started in
Yesterday morning TO prove that the cof-
tin-plate found in the urn containing the
ashes of the late Mrs. Jacob u DAYS had
been tampered with in some manner after
it had been deposited by the late Mr..
Davis. whose will is in dispute in the
Probate Court.
Charles Wright, who is connected with
the firm OF n. Gray & Co., testified that
he supervised the work of furnishing the
casket used at the funeral of the late Mrs.
Davis and produced a coffin-plate that he
said was counterpart OF the plate used
on Mrs. Davis coffin.
Something of a sensation was caused by
the exhibition of this plate, as it was az
once manifest that this plate IN its origi-
nal form would not mt INTO the urn of
ashes; that it was too large 10 admit of
its insertion IN the aperture left for the re-
ception of the incinerated remains.
Mr.. Campbell, representing the pro-
ponents of the will, seemed considerably
surprised and wanted 10 know ii the wit
ness might not be mistaken, but the latter
! thought not. He promised, however, to
bring 10 court any other coffin plates OF
similar design that may be in his estab-
/ llshment.
William J. Blain, superintendent of Cy-
/ press Lawn Cemetery. was the next wit
ness and gave partial explanation of the
way IN which that large coffin plate got
! through that small hole in the urn. He
said hat, at Mr.. Davis request, he took
:he plate from the coffin, ard in order TO
get it into the urn he cut off the end
! and bent up the sides so that the plate
would slip through the aperture.
Mr.. Campbell accepted this as sufi-
/ cient explanation of the way in which the
! plate made its appearance in the urn, bu
] Arfn MI hn ~
! animation of the witness, thought it only
! made the difficulty all the greater. This
| divergence of opinion may in some sligh L
degree be explained by the otherwise I'M
! important fact that these lawyers are en-
/ ployed on opposite sides of the case.
/ In order 10 exemplify the method by
/ which he carried out Mr.. Davis request,
/ Mr.. Blain took out his pocketknife ana
/ cut off the plate that had been supplied
/ by Mr.. Wright. 1t was then bent and
! placed in the duplicate box that Mr..
/ knight filed as an exhibit in the case IN
order that the urn containing Mrs. Davis
ashes may not be handled any more than
may be actually nee 'ss@Ty in tn trial OF
I the issues involved in the litigation.
Another point that Mr.. knight and Mr..
/ Heggerly considered important was that
/ when the urn was opened III court in the
| presence of the jury it was found 10 con-
! tain several sheets of purple and white
! tissue paper, NneIede, aCCOIulHS 10 MI
| Bialn's testimony, only purple tissue pa-
! per was used by him i n preparing the urn
1 OF ashes for delivery to Mr.. Davis.
| In Teuly 10 Mr.. Campbell the witness
replied that the urn was not sealed or
! soidered, and that there was nothing 10
! prevent he piacing Of additional paper in
! the urn to fill the space not occupied by
the ashes and the coffiu-plate.
| Mr.. Blain did not appear to be entire ly
/ satisfied 70 illustrate his method OF dis
/ posing of the coffin plate b7 the use OF
| sand in the duplicate urn handed him by
/ Knight. He explained that sand is ght
and may be easily displaced, whereas the
incin' rated remains of a human being are
/ heavy and difficult OF displacement.
| Judge Coffey asked the witness what
| the managers at the cemetery call tie
/ box that contains the ashes before they are
delivered 10 the person for whom the
| work Is done.
Some call it an urn. was the reply.
! I'VE usually call it n receptacle
| Did anybody ever call 1t camp
We'll, It has been called that some
! times"
! Attorney George Mastick announced
! that John Senderlng, witness in the
case. will arrive from Philadelphia to.
! night, and an adjournment was ordered
until next Monday, Mr.. knight agreeing
! that he will not nut more than iour ex.
perls on the witness stand. These are
/ the men who are now employed in the
! trial of the case of Mrs. Craven against the
! Fair estate, he said, and they could moi
be called until they had completed theil
engagement across the corridor.
Judge Coffey appeared to think tha
almost any old expert would do as well a:
the i'm ported talent suggested by Mr.
! knight.
Attorney Campbell said il was the in
tention of the proponents OF the will ir
| this case to have the cross examination o
the experts conducted by Attorney Tread
well, who is something of an expert him
| self, and intimated that he thought they
would earn their fees before they got on
of the jury-box. or. as it would be ex
/ pressed by those who are sportively in
! cllned, they would know that they had
/ had a run for their money.