The San Francisco call., 1897-08-27
She First Saw the Disputed
Wills While in New
York.
They Were Sent to Her by
Her Mother for Safe
keeping.
The Baroness Won Turkheim Lends
Peace to the Session by Not Put
ting In an Appearance,

Relmas never had an ounce OF trouble in
his life-that is, if his appearance ana
actions yesterday IN the Fair case were to
be taken as a. basis for the formation of an
opinion.
He came in smiling and bowing cour-
teously to his associates just as if the
Baroness Won Turkheim never existed and
never had smitten his pallid cheek. The
Baroness kept away from the City Hall
yesterday and it was probably well that
She did, for prowling around the corridors
were specially detailed police officers,
some deputy Sheriffs and one or two alert
private detectives, who had instructions
to lake care of the tall woman in the event
of her attempting to create another dis
turbance. But they were given nothing
TO do.
The feature of Yesterdays proceedings
was the fuIfllment OF the promise 10
place pretty Margaret Craven Oh the wit
.ness-stand, and have her tell the court
and Jury what she knew about the dis
puted Deeds the ''pencil' will and other
matters OF vital interest to her mother.
The little actress was ever in her mothers
confidence and quite naturally had
great deal to tell, But even then the wit
her story being in the man a simple
confederation OF her mothers evidence.
She was handsomely gowned Tor the oCca-
sion and appeared a yerIta BILE dream.
Miss Craven's most important state
Inent was that while she was IN New ork
during January and February of 1895 she
received 4 letter from her mother il
which the latter impaired the informa-
ZION that she had forwarded to her most
important package which she wished 10
be kept unopened and laid away very
carefully. a few days later the package
arrived. Several weeks after that Mrs.
Craven herself arrived in New York, and
the daughter returned the package TO her.
Miss Craven then learned for the first
time that the package contained the ink
and pencil wills.
Miss Craven said that Attorney Wheeler
told her and her mother that he was de-
lighted with the pencil will. H said he
had gathered up letters written by Senator
Fair from all parts OF the continent and
had made extensive comparisons OF the
writing along with that OF the will, and
told the ladies that he had found counter
parts OF every letter and scratch in the
now disputed document.
Did Mr.. Wheeler say that more than
once?' asked Mr.. Delmas.
"Oh, he said it innumerable times" re-
piled Miss Margaret In fact Mr.. Whee-
Ter was so enthusiastic over the will that
at times he was almost in ecstasies."
The little lady was then asked regard
ing the ink copy OF the pencil will.
well, l was cautioned particularly not
to say anything about that ink will. Mr..
Llovd and Mr.. Wheeler told me that thev
were perfectly satisfied wi the genuine
ness OF both of the documents, but they
preferred the PENCIL will to the otner.
They said 1t would be better not TO let the
world know that the copy existed and eau
toned me not to say anything about it.
Both ofthem told me that they were COM
ing out 10 our house toget er to examine
me thoroughly as to tue Information
possessed and said must not tell any BODY
about it-not living SOUL"
Referring to the occasion of the move
ment in court to probate the trust" will
instead OF the pencil document, the wit
ness said that ner mother thought the at
torneys were dealing double with her,
and called upon Mr.. Wheeler in ord er to
ascertain what it all meant. Mr.. Wheeler,
she said, told Mrs. Craven that the pro
ceedings were merely a bit of strategy
and not at all sincere. He told her not
TO worry, as he had a re eputation at stake
and would sacrifc it and his honor be-
fore he would prove false 10 Mrs. Craven.
He told her that she must not worry, as
he Intended to look alter her interests
himself and would see to 1T that she was
not deprived OF any of her rights.
Attorney Russell Wilson, continued
Miss Margaret, was another good friend,
as she put 1t in her naive way. MIR. VII.
son informed Mrs. Craven in the witness
presence that the contract by which $500
900 was to be paid by the heirs for The
surrender of the lady's claims had a flaw
in it ana was not worth the paper upon
which 1t was written. Despite this, how.
ever. he intended to use his influence with
his clients to have them do the ",quare
thing" in reference to the contract. He
assured Mrs. Craven that she would tino
in The end that he was the best friend she
had.
The little actress was next guided to
the story of Judge John r. Aitken's deal
ings with Mrs. Craven. She said she re
mem bered tnat he called at their home
quite frequently about the middle of last
wear. She heard him tell her m other that
lie recoIlected her showing him the dis
sputed deeds some time in January or
February. 1895 He said he could not FIX
the exact date, but was quite sure that he
saw the deeds during one OF those two
months.
The witness contradicted Aitken's story
fatty regarding a visit ne saws she made
10 his office in company with Judge Den
SON. Aitken said Miss Craven had the
DISPUTED deeds with her on that occasion.
Miss Craven now said she not only did not
have tDem IDGU, Jul llCNCl All AOA AlAC lldu
the deeds in her possession
After a few questions bad been asked
and answered regarding Mrs. Craven s
trjp to New York, where she joined the
witness, the direct examination came to
an end.
The cross-examination of tho fair wit
ness was not the bitter gruelling that had
been anticipated. There was desire
among The attorneys for the plaintiffs 10
"pass the buck" on this proposition.
They all admire and even like Miss Mar
garei, and none hungered for the unpeas-
ant JOB of batting her. Mr.. Mitchell final
" accepted the job with much reluctance,
but when be got down to business 1t was
easily seen that he was not anxious TO in
cur the displeasure OF the witness. About
all he did was 10 ask her to be little more
definite regarding several of her state
ments and then excused her.
Before adjournment the attorneys in
the case and Judge Slack had a talk as to
what issues should be submitted eventually
10 the jury. II was agreed that the fol-
lowing should be the ideas conveyed:
Were the disputed deeds signed by Fair?
We're they lawfully acknowledged? Was
there a conspiracy between Mrs. Craven,
Mrs. Haskins and Notary Cooney 10 loot
the FAIR estate?
Iiar oil mill 10 n