The San Francisco call., 1897-03-13
BRIEF COURTSH|P
OF AN AGED Man
Mrs. Laura Milen James
Suit for a 100000
Estate.
She Claims AL the Property
for Herself and Her
Infant Child.
Heirs at L W Making a Legal Struggle
to Show That She Is Not
the Widow.

In Judge Coffey's court the Dr.. Charles
A. James will contest is nearing close.
All the testimony has been presented to
the court and the lawyers are now making
their arguments.
The circumstances OF this case are un-
u ually romantic and interesting.
DR.. James died in this City on the 2Sth
of January, 1895, and to the surprise OF his
old aequaintances, woman claiming to
be the widow of the deceased appeared
upon the scene. The SHOWS of sew
enty winters had whitened the ven-
erable beard of DR.. James. while his puta-
tive wife had not seen more than eighteen
bright summers.
The lady said that her maiden name
was Laura Milen, that she was the daugh-
ter of DR.. Milen of San Jose, and SO
through the trial she has been called Mrs.
Laura Milen James by her attorneys,
while the lawyers on the other hand have
referred to her as Miss Laura Milen, some
times called Mrs. James.
She based her right TO the name OF wife
and widow on document which purports
to be marriage contract signed by her
self and DR.. James, and it is about this
paper that the most bitter controversy
has ragged during the forty nine days that
have been devoted to this trial.
Mrs. James was witness in her own
behalf. and told remarkable story of love
at first sight, the susceptible affections Of
an old man and tho responsive love OF a
confiding girl.
On the 9th of January, 1895, she says,
they were married. He died on the 28th
tor T., 1ato
| was born Septe ber 16. 1896, which was
seven months and ten days after her mar
| riage. She introduced expert medical tes-
| timony to show that the birth was prem a.
! ture; some Of the physicians expressing
| the opinion that the sorrow of the mother
might have had that effect.
| Attorney w. 81. II. Hart made the fur.
ther point that Mrs. James was caused a
great deal of suffering and mental torture
/ by the fact that she was accused of poison
| ing her husband, and that his body was
disinterred in order that the contents of
| the stomach of the dead man might be
analysed. He argued that this anguish Of
the mind would necessarily have a bad
| effect on Mrs. James, with the result in
| dicated.
On the other hand, Attorney George d.
| Shadbu introduced witnesses to prove
that M iss Laura Milen, sometimes called
Mrs. James, was in the habit of associ-
ating with fast young men, actors and
music-hall performers, and sought to
establish the fact that her relations with
| them were not what they ought to have
been. Mr.. Shadhurne prod uced a witness,
! the keeper of lodging house. who swore
| that Mrs. James and her stepmo hcr and
| sister were lodging In her house in this
! CITY, and that on the night of the l4th of
Dece m bar, 1894, they went out in the early
| part OF the evening and between II and II
/ .-L. 49,, l. lx
who remained with them till the next
morning.
In regard to the grief of the widow, Mr..
| Shadburne offered the testimony of some
| VINO were present, TO prove that Mrs.
| James did not weep at the death scene,
and that she manifested no grief al the
| funeral. One witness said that the only
| remark OF the so-caIled widow Immediately
| after DR.. James passed away, was tnat she
| would .'never forget the face he made as
he died.
Dr. Milen, father OF Mrs. James, testified
| that his daughters mental and moral
culture had been relegated by him 10 their
stepmoiher. This gave Mr.. Shadburn
chance to prove that the stepmother, Mrs.
| Milen, was an improper person to act as
| guardian OF virtue, but was calculated to
corrupt the morals OF young girl. To
prove this, he introduced in evidence
novel called 1.-THE Temptress. or Was He
| to BlameP" So vile was this book that it
| was interdicted by the Society for the
| Suppression of Vice, and ali copies that
! cou be found were seized and burned.
| Mrs. Milen acknowledged with a show
| of literary pride that sho was the author
| of the work, but declared she never showed
| it to her step-daughter, Mrs. James.
| The claimant, Mrs. James, who demands
half OF the $30. COO estate for herself and
the remaining half for her child. was
good witness on her own behalf. Her
| appearances in court made q iavora BILE
| i'm preston on all who heard her. She
also presented multitude of witnesses to
| refute the stories told against her and to
prove her good character and the purity
| of her life.
| Attorney q. w. Fox opened the argu.
j ment for the claimant. he made strong