The San Francisco call., 1897-10-05
The Bell Household to Be
Searched by a Deputy
Sheriff.
Records of the Family Have
Disappeared Very Mys-
teriously.
The No ther Accuses the Son, but
His Attorney Suspects the
Negro Woman.

Attorney Schooler has a suspicion that
NANNY Pleasant is holding back some of
the records of her management OF the
household of the Bells, and by way
of satisfying his curiosity along
these lines the big mansion at the
corner of Bush and Octavia will be
searched this morning by a Deputy Sher-
ff. Schooler hopes that the drag-net thus
thrown out will gather some evidence that
will show where the moneys that execu-
tors OF the estate OF the millionaire have
paid the widow and the negress have gone
to.
The attorney has been forced to the
search-warrant tactics by the refusal Of
Mrs. Bell 10 produce certain books that
were described by young Fred Bell in
court some days ago, and which he de-
cIared contained many entries that would
bolster up the charge that the negress is
making away with the funds OF the estate.
In answer to subpoena issued for this
purpose Mrs. Bell made the startling
declaration in court yesterday that the
only two books that she had any knowl-
edge of had been stolen recently from the
house, and that she believed the thief to
be none other than Fred Bell hims elf.
attorney, could not understand the con-
sistency of his clients purloining this
important piece of property and then
seeking by every possible means to have
it pIod duced in court in his own behalf.
1t was customary to keep the family
records in a wardrobe in the hall, the keys
to which were possessed by herself and
Mrs. Pleasant. Some days ago she de-
clared this wardrobe had been ransacked
and when pressed TO the point she said
she thought young Bell was the guilty
party. 1t WAS plain Attorney Schooler
was not of this opinion by the peculiar
questions he asked concerning Mrs. Pleas
ants connection with these books. Mrs.
Bell said that since her husbands death
she had no idea of how much money she
had received from the estate, but thought
that it might be somewhere between
$4,000 and $4,000.
Miss Marie Bell was next called to
throw some light on the missing books,
but she was poor witness. She knew
nothing of the missing records, although
she was Nanny Peasants assistant IN
making up the household accounts. At
iorney Schooler then asked for a search
arrant and Judge Coffey promised to is
sue it this morning as soon as the proper
affidavit had been presented.
Fred Bell in the early hours of the ses-
sion related over again the history of his
'Tanching enterprise in Soroma County.
He said that the stock and outfit had
been furnished him by Mrs. Pleasant
without his mothers knowledge. On his
nineteenth birthday the negro woman
had made him a present of a thousand
dollar diamond ring, which she told him
she had taken from his mothers Jewels
Don't wear it around in front OF Mrs.
Bell, because she might recognize it,"
was the admonition of the negress. "I'u
tell her that friend of yours made you
present of the ring, il the worst comes to
the worst"
The ring subsequently found It's way
into the possession of a friend" for
loan and is there still. Bell, continuing,
declared that his mother had nothing 10
do with the management of the house
hold or her children; in fact, they had
little respect for her at all. They would
call her 'mother" to her face and refer TO
her as Mrs. Bell or "the old fool" among
them selves.
Tne case goes on this afternoon.