The San Francisco call., 1897-06-08
Attorney George A. Knight
Astounds a Dozen
Jurors.
Judge Coffey Also Taken by
Surprise by an Exploit
in Legerdemain,
Witness George H MaStick Declares
That Michael Ryan Had No
Such Skill.

| Attorney George A. knight was full of
| Interrogation points in the Jacob Il. Davis
will contest yesterday. He wanted to
know apout the contents of the alligator
skin travelling bag that Mr.. Davis took
with him to Pennsylvania and that was
sent back from Philadelphia the day after
| that gentleman's death. It is Mr. Knights
theory that this travelling bag contained
| the copper urn that held the ashes of the
late Mrs. Davis and that the box was sent
to san Francisco after Mr.. Davis death in
order that the will here presented for pro-
! bate could be deposited in it.
Mrs. John NJ. Curtis, one OF the legatees
under the will, was the first witness. She
| was called on TO complete her testimony
! touching the contents of the all-important
| travelling bag. AS near as she could re-
member, at the time of Mr.. Davis death
! it contained some of his effects and two
small shawls belonging TO herself and her
siste-. After her uncle's death John Sen
| derIing took possession OF the valise and
sent it by express to John NJ. Curtis in
this City.
| The valise was produced in court. 1t
| proved to be about Is inches long ana 10
-
! trate the possibility OF putting the copper
urn in the valise Mr.. Knight had prepared
| q duplicate of the original box, and used
/ II in the taking OF yesterdays testimony.
Mrs. Curtis was sure that the valise con-
| tanned no hing while in Philadelphia eX-
| cept the wearing apparel OF members OF
! the party. When asked in regard TO the
wherea bouts OF The remains of Mr.. Davis
! The witness replied that she had no def
! mite information on the subject.
is 1t not true that the ashes of Mr..
Davis are held as security for the: pay
ment of the funeral expense" asked Mr..
knight.
Objection was made 10 this line of in
quiry, and Mr.. knight explained that he
ad been given to understand that such
was the case.
Attorney Campbell said it would be ad-
mitted that the ashes OF Mr.. Davis are IN
7 he possession of Undertaken Sch uyler in
Philadelphia and that he holds them sub
ject to disputed bill for funeral ex penses.
He did not deny that there was Dill vet
unpaid in that regard, but this had grown
out of the fact there had been no al Just
ment of the responsibility of the diff-Tent
parties in interest. At the proper time
all these things would be arranged TO the
satisfaction OF all who have right to par
ticipate in the consideration of the sub
ject matter.
Miss LIZZIE Muir told briefly the facts of
the visit of Mr.. Davis, her sister and her
self 10 Philadelphia and the circumstances
attending her uncle's death in that city.
Attorney George II. Mastick. one of the
advisers of the proponents of the will,
testified to the finding of the will in the
copper urn which contained the ashes of
the ate Mrs. Davis. He said the box was
placed on the able in the sight of all and
that ii was opened by a tinsmith, who re-
moved the solder with a soldering iron.
He said that Mr.. Ryan stood near the end
] A,Ef - - =. 10 g
! Boyd, surviving partner of the firm of
! Boyd 81 Davis, removed the articles
| that we're in the box. Il stood directly
! back of Mr.. Ryan, said Mr.. Ma,tick
He took out the tissue paper first; thenl
saw the coffin plate. l couldn't see the
! will. There was a halt in the proceedings
and Mr.. Boyd told Mr.. Ryan 10 feel in
! the box to see if there was anything else
! there. He did so and took out the will"
! Mr.. Knight-Do you sweSr that Mr..
! Ryan did not have this will in his sleeve
and that he did not slip it in like this
! (suiting the act TO the word and placing a
small paper i'll the duplicate box in front
| of him) and that he did not then pull it
out and hand it to Mr.. Boyd?
Mr.. Mastick-I swear that it was not
done.
Judge Coffey seemed greatly surprised
at Mr.. knights deftness of manipulation,
but made no comment.
Mr.. Knight-Was the will under the
ashes?
Mr.. Mastick-I suppose so. did not see
it until it was taken from the box.
Mr. Knight-Did Mr.. Ryan have any of
the ashes under his finger nails?
NJ Mastick-I don't know. l didn't
examine. He shook the ashes from his
fingers.
Mr. Knight-Did any of you look for
any other papers after this Will was found?
Mr.. Mastick-No. sir.
;-ht
you found This?
MT. Mastick-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Knight-Then so far as you kno W
there may be some moro papers in that
box, such as deeds and the like, may there
not?
Mr.. Mastick-I think not.
Mr. Campbell-If there had been any
such sleight of hand as Mr.. knight is try
Ing TO suggest you would have seen il,
wouldn't you?
Mr. Mastick-I think so.
MI Campbell-What was the condition
of the solder on the box when it was pro-
due TO be opened?
Mr.. Masuck-It was very smooth. 1t
was very smooth Job.
Mr.. knight Gnsinuatingly)-Wha do
you refer to as a very smooth jlb?
Mr.. Campbell with naughty dignity)-I
We refer TO The soldering around the aper-
ture OF the can, not to your suggestions
of necromancv.
Mr.. Knight Neutrality-suspicious.
Ii must be admitted that Mr.. Knights |
slels sht-of-hand exploit was neatly per-
formed. 1t appeared to interest the
jurors, who evidently look on him as a
successor to Hermann, the Wizard.
Judge Coffee granted q continuance at |
this point. Mr.. knight promising to con-
clude his side of the case by tomorrow
evening. Nothing further was said about
John Senderling, who was with Mr.. Davis
when he died, and who was writing a
deed OF certain property TO the Iegatees
named in the will here offered for probate.
Mr.. Knight saws he wants to know how il
happens that he was with his latest
breath trying to deed them properly in a
deed when he had already conveyed it TO
them by a Will.