The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-07
BITTER PILLS
FOR v HELLER
Mrs. Haskins Accuses the
Attorney of Double
Dealing.
Messrs. Delmas and McEnerney
Indulge in Some Sharp
Repartee.
The Cause of the Laughlin Family
Enmity Toward the Witness
Brought to Light.

nesses for the dt fanse in the Fair-Craven
TRAITOR she it was who saw Senator Fair
write out the famous "pencIl" will-was
completed during yesterdays session of
the case, and the aged lady was returned
/ to Attorney Delmas for rediIe t examna-
ton. This was also finished, so when
Judge Sack reconvenes court Monday
morning Mrs. Haskins will find herself
again in the hands of the enemy, so 10
speak, and being subjected to what is
called rec DISCRIMINATION.
Whal were probably the most interest
ing features OF yesterdays quizzing were
the direct accusations of double dealing
made by the witness against Mr.. Wheeler,
one of the attorneys for the Fair he rs.
| These statements were altogether in COR
roboration of The evidence already given
in court by Mrs. Craven.
! 1t appears from what the ladies say that
! Mr.. Wheeler was so enthusiastic over the
''pencil" will and so certain OF its genu.
! ineness that he was continually in confer
ence with them, and promised on his
honor as a lawyer 10 be their friend and
protector forevermore. Mrs. Haskins told
all about this, and also how Mr.. Wheeler
deserted their cause imm ediately alter the
"lrust' clause III the Original Fair will,
| filed for probate by the executors, was de-
cared invalid by Judge Slack. The latter
! decision, it will be remem bered, re nd cred
/ that will as efficacious for the heirs as the
| pencil document and precIuded the
necessity OF having to pay Mrs. Craven
that $500.00 to surrender her claims.
| Mr.. Wheeler plainly did not relish the
exposures made by Mrs. Haskins and
WINGED under them, but he he IDEALLY
| CONSENTED TO her relating the incidents in
! full.
| The cross-examination of Mrs. Haskins
yesterday was practically contineI 10 an
effort on tie part of Mr. Wheeler to bring
| out the fact that when the will of Mrs.
| Hasklns husband was contested in Judge
! Coffey's court two years ago, she was
| charged wi b having forged that instru-
men;. But he did not evince the same
zeal in permitting the fact 10 be shown
that a jury declared that the will was
genuine. That fact was left for Mr.. Del
mas TO bring out on redirect examination.
| The effort to put in evidence the several
wills executed by the late James Haskins
met with failure despite the strenuous
efforts of the attorneys for the heirs and
| estate to get them in. Mrs. Hasklns
frankly admitted that her husbands re-
lations had charge her with forgery. but
that these charges were found TO be wholly
untrue. She also admitted that she did
not employ Eugene d. uprey 10 defend her
IN the contest, although he was in court
| looking after her interests. The plain
tiffs' counsel were aiming 10 show thai
Mrs Craven, out Of friendship for Mrs
Haskins, retained Mr.. Denprey, but Mrs.
Haskins said she did not know who en-
| ployed him.
! Mr.. Delmas took occasion to inform his
opponents that inasmuch as Mrs Has
! kins had admitted that she was accused
i of forgery in the will contest he would not
/ object TO their going into that matter to
the fullest extent.
"And make virtue of necessity" re-
marked Attorney McEnerney, who likes
10 get in d little shot once in while
Those who boaS. OF virtue may repent
of vice before we are through" replied
| Mr.. Delmas cuttingly.
! Mr. Wheeler's first question at the after
| noon session was de assigned TO ascertain
| from Mrs. Haskins whether or not Mrs.
! Craven ever told her not to mention the
| fact that Senator Fair had given her
de eds.
| The witness replied with an emphatic
no"
Did Mrs. Craven ever tell you to only
admit that Mr.. Fair had executed the
Wills on The 9th of September, 1S94?"
asked Wheeler.
Never, sir. -
The attorney once more asked Mrs.
| HasSins If she remembered Mrs. Laugh
".
Mis- Laughiin and her daughters and
Mrs. Haskins all lived together at one
| time.
Ibid you tell Mrs. Laughin in the year
| 1895 that Mrs. Craven had called you
liar and iorgeI?" asked Wheeler.
Never, sir"
Did not Mrs. Laughlin ask you why
you continued to have anything to 90
with such woman, and did you not re-
ply that YOU could not help il, as Mrs
Craven had you under her fee2'
Never, sir. NOBODY ever had me under
| their ct, sir--man or woman"
"Wnen Mrs. Craven left your house 10
move TO Guerrero street did You and she
! not quarrel z
I'VE did not. Mrs. Craven and 1 never
d S greed. AS a matter Of fact, when she
moved helped her 10 PACK Up her things
and assisted her III every way. We were
| as friendly as we had always BEEN"
"Dil you ever say to any OF the Laugh
Inns hat if you went to San Q1eniin Mrs
Craven would have to 60, tou2'
~ never did"
Ibid YOU ever tell Miss Annie Laughlin
that you never saw Senator Fair and
would not know him if he should walk
into The room p
why, never, sr.
Mrs. Ha kins ". com PEELED 10 listen to
more OF this. She had 10 deny that she
had ever SAID she paid ali OF Mrs. Craveu's
bills and went around in rags herself, and
that she had ever proclaimed in the pres
ence OF the Laughlins that she was a
| "forger."
The situation finally grew humorous to
the aged lady despite the serious nature
of the innuenaoes carried by Wheeler's
questions. She smiled and then laughed
outright as she gave her answers.
Il can explain some Of This" she said
once. II told those people to move out of
my louise, as l wished to convert it into
flats. AMI all this i what they have con-
cccted out OF spite and revenge"
Wheeler objected to allowing his sally
to remain Oh the. record. and at his re-.
quest it was stricken out.
There was one more question IN the same
line. and then the cross-exsminationw was
over. The lady was aske If she had ever
told the LaughIins that Mrs. Craven had
induced her 10 do nil he dirty work' in
connect ion with the Fair wil and that
the latter document was the cause of all
her trouble.
Nothing ofthe Sort" she replied. ut
was YOU Yourself who kept telling me that
the Fair trust will would be the use of
tron BILE for me- You are the one, SIR
Mr.. Wheeler prev Ell upon the courtto
strike from the record The reference to
himself. and then the witness was turned