The San Francisco call., 1897-06-03
alexander BOYD
IS VERY POSITIVE
Says He Would Have Hon
ored Jacob q Davis
Signature.
Referred to the Will That Is
Under Contest in Judge
Coffey's Court.
Fifty Years Acquaintance With His
Venerable Partners Handwriting
and Aifirms Its Genuineness.

II would have paid out any amount OF
money on that document or on that sig
nature, - declared Alexander Boyd, while
testifying in the trial of the Jacob Il.
Davis will contest. Mr.. Boyd held in his
hand the will of his late partner and
solemnly declared that he believed it 10
be a genuine article and the signature
thereto 10 be in the handwriting OF Mr..
Davis.
Il sat in the same office with Jacob q.
Davis for more thar fifty years, and l
know his handwriting perfectly. That is
his signature. He wrote that document. "
Such were the positive declarations of
Mr.. Boyd during his testimony, which oc-
cupied the entire afternoon in Judge Cot
fey's court.
Attorney George Knight, representing
the contestants, frequently suggested that
Mr.. Boyd might be mistaken, but he
would not concede the point.
After that method OF attack had failed
Mr.. knight said: Now, Mr.. Boyd, has
John NJ. Curtis talked with you about the
testimony you have given in this case
since You were last on the witness-stand ?'
The witnesS-Well, We differ with re-
gard as TO whether that box containing
the ashes of Mrs. Davis was in my office
first or in Mr.. Curtis office. / am right so
far as / am concerned and
Mr.. Campbell-We object to this line of
questioning. Who is John NJ. Curtis that
he should be constantly dragged into this
case?
Mr.. Heggerty-We expect to prove that
John NJ Curtis tried TO influence this wit
ness in order to have him change his tes-
timony.
Mr. Campbell You have not shown
anything Of the kind nor anything like it.
/ would like TO know what John NJ. Cur
tbs has 10 do with this matter anyway.
Mr. Heggerty-Mr. Curtis is an impor-
tant factor in this case as we all know.
Mr. Cam pbell-He is a witness here to
whom you must give credence as he was
produced by you in this trial.
Judge Coffey overruled the objections.
and Mr.. Boyd was allowed to explain that
he had never seen the box until it was in
John NJ. Curtis office. He volunteered
the statement that Curtis told him when
he (Curtis) took the box into the office of
BOYD & Davis the box was under his
(Curtis') coat. That might explain why
it had never been seen by Boyd until 1t
was in Curtis office. He said the reason
it was not opened in the Office of Boyd &
Davis was that there was no proper place
for it, ana no proper place for the solder
ing-iron and frepot of the plumber who
came to unsolder the ton over the copper
can which inclosed Mrs. Davis incinerated
remains.
Mr.. knight attempted to get an ex-
planation out of Mr.. Boyd in regard to
what his old partner had told him con-
cerning the finding Of will in the posses
sion of George II. Mastick.
He told me that we would find the will
with Geor e Mastck," replied Mr. Boyd.
THAT is what l have said several times. !"
You placed a great deal of confidence
in what Mr.. Davis said, didn't your"
Yes
"Well. did you ever find any will with
George H. Mastick?"
No"
"How do you reconcile what he said
about finding the will with Mr.. Mastick {"
Mr.. Boyd looked weary. He simply
said he did not try to explain anything.
or TO reconcile ANYTHING. That was what
Mr.. Davis said. That was all he knew
about the matter.
A great portion of the afternoon was
taken up with revie wing Mr.. Boyd's testi.
mony concerning the opening of Mr..
Davis personal locker in the Boyd a
Davis safe. In that locker was found q
kew to open the iron strong-box at the
Davis residence. in which were deposited
the remains of Mrs. Davis. In that per-
sonal box was also found the so-caIled
wife will, in which Mr.. Davis beoueathed
all his estate TO his wife, VINO died before
him. There was also deed, the purport
of which was to convey to her all of his
property in the event Of his death occur
ing before hers.
Further testimony in the case will be
taken this morning.