The San Francisco call., 1897-03-31
CANNOT CREO|T THE Ne WS
Miss Isabel Murphy'S Attorney
Does Not Believe the Dis
patches About Her.
Special Lstters of Adm nistration
Asked Pending the Probate
Of Her Will.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,
90S Broadway March 30

90S Broadway, March 80.
The receipt of dispatch this afternoon
| from London, stating that the Coroner's
jury had returned verdict that death in
the case of Miss Isabelle Murphy had
been caused by alcoholism, was a great
surprise to Victor Metcalf, her attorney.
The dispatch stated that the deceased
had been heavy drinkeT, and that she
had left all her property, valued at half a
million dollars, to a Roman Catholic
priest, named S. Mullen.
~ have no private advices," said MIR.
Metcalf this afternoon, 'other than the
cablegram received a few days ago notify
ing me of the death of Miss Murphy.
Tie dispatch received to-day seems to me
to be incredible. Miss Murphy has been
in poor health long time, and was re-
quirei to use crutches during the contest
in the courts in this city. She was in
clined to stoutness, which might have in
dicated a tendency to apoplexy.
"She was a youn- woman OF strong
mind, and l do not think it at all likely
that she would permit herself to be CO n
trolled by any one. l am greatly sur
prised at the statement that she made the
priest her sole legatee, for it is entirely at
variance with her intentions, very fire.
quently expressed, of leaving her estate to
her two sisters in case she dieo first. Miss
Isabelle was one of the most amiable of
the sisters, and appeared to be the most
friendly toward her brothers. In return
for this kindly feeling on her Part her
brothers during the contest made no di-
rect charges against her of having int1u-
enced their mother to exclude them anG
Lady Wolsey from sharing in her
estate.
II cannot credit the statement that Miss
Isabelle Murphy was heavy drinker, as
[ have never seen anything in her conduct
to indicate it. So far as her interests in
California are concerned, from which her
income was largely derived, they have
been in my hands. | have transmitted
money 70 her frequently and have heard
from her many times, but l have never
heard a word of any one named Mullen.
1 cannot see how it is possible ior the
statement TO be true that the priest ac
companied her on a trip TO this country.
She came to this country after her fathers
death, but since the death of her mother
she has only been in this country once.
and that was in 1891 when she came with
her sisters. At the trial priest named
Dunstan Sweeney testified that he had
come to this country subsequent to the
visit of the Misses Murphy"
George ID. Metcaif, the other attorney
for the estate, was equally surprised at
the news. sit seems strange 10 me-" he
said, that the contents of the will should
be disclosed so soon. The way in which
it is said that she has disposed of her es-
tate seems incredible. in view of the many
statements regarding her property in case
of her death which she has made to my
knowledge"
Late this afternoon Victor Metcalf filed
petition for spec al letters OF administra-
tion on the estate of Mary l. Murphy,
pending the probate OF her Will. HIS
bond was fixed at 100000.
TO Care for Neglected Children.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 30.-Mrs. Pres
cott. secretary OF the Children's Society,
two little boys uf Mrs. Jago. She lives at
Thrty-fourth and Peralta streets, and IS
not considered tit guardian for her cJil-
dren.
Mrs Prescott has also applied for the
guardianship of the child OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Erickson. The father and mother live
nomadc life, and while they are wander
ing about the child is very badly neglected.
Mrs. Dolm an Arrested.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 30.-A warrant
has been issued charging Mrs. Dolman,
told the peculiar story about her tortured
pets, with petty larceny. j. P. Beckett,
street con tractor, hung out lanterns along
a sewer he was laying in East Oakland,
and Mrs. Dolman was seen TO take them
away. IL is believed that she is insane,
and her arrest will probably lead to an
examination as 10 her mind.
For a Sick Comrade.
OAKLAND. CAL, March 30.-The MEM
bers OF Company A and Sons of Veterans
are working hard for one of their COM
rades who is MINED 20 his home by sick
ness Tomorrow night at Military Hail
they Will give benefit for him. The
affair is fathered by Lyons Post, Appo-
mattox Post, G. a. r., the relief CORPS of
both, Colonel Z. d. Baker Camp, Sons of
Veterans, and Company A, N. G. &.
Two Exiled Lepers Dying.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 30.-Two Chi
nese lepers are dying in little hui on the
hillside near the County Infirmary. The
county provided the little home for their
shelter. but they are watched so that they
cannot escape. Three times day their
food is carried near the hut and they come
out 10 receive it. They are in reality
exiles awaiting death.
Buffers on Africa.
OAKLAND, CAL, March 30-Charles
Buffers, whose experience in South Africa
is well known to all readers. has consented
10 lecture twice for the benefit of the VIM
centian Society of Oakland. His lectures
will be given on April 6 and 13, at ST.
Francis de Sales Hall, at Grove and Twen-