The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08
Eaton Accused of Disobeying
One Of Judge Coffey's
Orders.
Interesting Testimony in the
Bell Estate Controversy
Yesterday.
Witness George Staacke Thought
Widow Bell Had Done Many
Good Things.

Il WlSn 10 INFORM your Honor that
witness who was excluded from this room
by order of court is disobeying the man.
date and in fact is guilty of contempt OF
| court" said Attorney Fisher Ames ad-
| dressing Judge Coffey during the hearing
of the Bell estate controversy.
Indeed 2" responded his Honor grimly,
looking sharply around the room.
Yes" continued Mr.. Ames; George
K. Eaton, an important witness in this
matter. in violation of your order is listen
ing at the crack OF the door.
Bring the accused before the court in
proper form, and if his delinquency be
established 1 will put him in Jail till the
crack of DOOM" replied the Judge cheer
fully. ''If there is anything Judge likes
to do it is to put felloT-citizen in JAIL"
The affidavit of accusation was read,
and further consideration was postponed
| until next Monday at 2 P. NJ.
George Staacke. one of the executors of
the estate of the late Thomas Bell, was
called as witness to tell what he knows
of Mrs. Theresa Bells m management of the
$1,000 allowed her for the family allowance.
Fred Bell, son OF the dead millionaire,
1t will be remembered, is attempting to
have his mother removed from her posi-
ton as guardian of the minor children on
the ground that she is an i'm proper person
to perform that duty but more perticu-
larly he objects to having the affairs of
his mothers household dominated by a
colored woman commonly known as
NANNY" Pleasant.
Several witnesses were produced by
young Mr.. Bell to prove that Mrs.
Pleasant ruled the Bell household with a
rod of iron; that she CONTROL ed eyery-
thing about the premises, hired and dis
charged servants, chided or chastised the
| children, gave orders that firss-cIass food.
| such as spring chickens, SQUADS, brook
| trout and tenderloin steaks, should be sent
upstairs to Mrs. Bell anu herself (Mrs.
| Pleasantly while stale bread and SOUP
meat were served downstairs to the Bell
| children.
1t was further shown that Mrs. Pleasant
| had the exclusive handling of all the
! moneys belonging to the household, and
! that she bought horses and other stock
for small sums and charged large sums
| up against Mrs. Bell for the same. A
| laug liable instance was c!tei, where Mrs
| Bell was made TO believe that a young
! stallion, now at her ranch in Sonoma
County, is worth over $1,000, whereas ~
fact the animal cost only SIS in San Fran
cisco. Notwiths randing his almost worth
lessness, this lucky creature is kept in
box stall filled deep with straw and is as
carefully tended az if he were the peer of
an Ormonde or an Eleclioneer.
For i've days Attorney Fisher Ames has
been devoting his atten ton TO showing up
the escapades of young Bell, and has
brought TO light many facts that were not
10 his credit. Attorney w. II. Schooler,
| on behalf OF the young man, insisted thai
his client has led better life since he re-
covered from his injuries that he received
by falling downstairs April % 1896
Speaking for himself young Bell frankly
admitted that he was intoxicated when he
fell over the bansters, ana said be had
led very wild life before his accident.
He was hurt so badly that he was for
long time confined TO his bed, which ac-
cording TO his explanation to the court
gave him an opportunity 10 get sober.
His sobriety led to a thorough compre-
hension of the way in which "Mammy''
Pleasant had usurped control OF his family
affairs, and thereupon disputes in regard
TO the management OF the household
arose, finally leading to the present con-
test.
Mr.. Staacke entered court with basket
ful of vouchers and receipts for :he thou
sands OF dollars that have passed through
the hands OF himself and his co-executor.
j. w. c. Maxwell, and proceeded to illus
trate why Mr.. Ames thinks Mrs. Bell has
made good manager of the money that
was ostensibly paid to her, but which her
son says was ''gobbled" by NANNY"
Pleasant.
According to Mr.. Staaeke's showing
Mrs. Bell paid about $1,000 taxes from the
family allowance and also paid $l1 600 in
assessments on mine belonging 10 her
husbands estate, which mine is about to
be sold Tor S75, 900. She also paid several
thousand dollars to banks in this city and
Sacramento 10 protect 5000 900 worth of
the assets OF her husbands estate all of