The herald., 1897-07-15
- w AAA
Tiny Heiress May Prove
a Bone of Contention
DoR0THY's MOTHER HERE
WANTS TO TAKE HER DAUGHTER
BACK AGAIN
Both Creede's Money and His Adopted
Daughter May be the Causes
of Litigation

At the time of Nicholas c. Creole s
! sudden death last Monday night his wife
was supposed to be in the city, but ii
has since been learned that she was far
away from Los Angeles in Iuka, Miss.
It is true that she came out here about
three weeks ago, but returned east al
most Immediately. During her brief
ton with her husband through outside
parties Mr.. Creede's brother-in-law,
William Phifer, was approached by a
Miss Katie Shelon, who brought up the
subject of reconciliation and asked
him to use his influence to that end. The
proposal did not meet that gentleman's
approval, and he probably did not men
ton it to Mr.. Creole.
About two months ago Mr.. Creole be-
gan action against his wife for divorce
on the ground of cruelty, alleging that
she was addicted to the use of NOR
phine. She was in Mississippi when no.
tice of the action for divorce was served
upon her. Mrs. Creole engaged attor-
neys there and they in turn commune
Gated with Frank G. Finlayson of this
city and asked him to look after Mrs.
Creede's interests. A cross complaint
was filed asking for half the property.
Mr. Finlayson thought it would be adj
visable for Mrs. Creole to come west,
and, acting upon his advice, she arrived
here about three weeks ago Mr.. Creole
learned of her presence and hurried off
to Elsinore with his little adopted
daughter, but he did not know of her
return east.
Mrs. Creole was informed by tele-
graph of the death of her husband and
again left yesterday for this city.
A WILL EXTANT
It is now positively stated that there
is a will in, existence by which Mr.
Creole left his fortune, which amounts
to about $4,000 to his little adopted
daughter, Dorothy. John T. Jones, Mr..
Creede's attorney, stated that the docu-
ment will be offered for probate early
next week. The wife of the deceased
miner will doubtless contest the will.
ANOTHER INTERESTED PARTY
The mother of the little girl, Mrs. ii.
R. Basford, arrived from Santa Barbara
yesterday morning and is stopping will
friends in the south part of the city
Mrs. Basford is the woman whose ro-
mantle elopement from the San Miguel
| island with man named Walters Gre
| ated quite a sensation two years ago
The girl at that time lived with Captain
| Waters, who had adopted her, and they
| formed the population of the island
The couple in time made their way to
the mainland and were married. Doro
| thy was born and a about the same time
| Walters deserted his wife. The child was
| put in an orphans asylum and the CIR
went upon the stage. Mr.. Creole four
| little Dorothy ard adopted her.
| In the meantime the abandoned wife
| drifted from one place to another with
| out making a very great success upor
| the stage. She finally got divorce from
| her husband and later married H. r
Basford in San Francisco, who is {
well-to-do hardware merchant. Wher
the news of Mr.. Creedes death reached
her, Mrs Basford was in Santa Barbara
She at opce decided to come down herr
and look after the child interests
MRS. BASFORD'S WANTS
If possible she wants to take Dorothy
back to her own home, but states tina
she will not contest the matter if Mr.
Creole has made other arrangement
for her.
Il do not want to be appointed admin
istratrix for my little daughter, becaus
1 do not want to be bothered with hand
ling the money" Mrs. Basford said to
reporter yesterday. But I want yer,
much to have her come and live with M
again, now that l have a good home,
she added
Mrs. Basford believes that Mrs Creed
will want the little girl and will CLAIM
that she has the first right to her pos
session. through virtue of the adoption
even though she is said to have signet
away this right when she accepte
$4,000 from Creole and agreed to relin
quish all claims she might have agains
his property or to the custody of littl
Dorothy Mrs Basford will vigorousl
oppose Mrs. Creole in this if she does at
tempt to assert any control over tn
) child, OH the ground that the woman
, not fit person to have charge of tn
training of the little one.
Dorothy is now at the Creole resi-
: dence, at COL Figueroa street, with he
! nurse and Mr.. Phifer.
Coast Dentists