The San Francisco call., 1897-04-16

weeks ago while taking the deposition oi
the widow. During her testimony the
fact was brought out that during the last
three months of the doctors life she culti-
waited habit of making memoranda oil
passing events. When asked regarding a
certain conversation she produced her lit
tie note books and when once in sight
everything in them was included in the
deposition. One afternoon DR.. Wythe
called on the late doctor and when going
away Mrs. Pardee asked him what he
thought OF her husbands condition for o
man who had seen so much sickness and
suffered so much pain. According to the
memorand um DR.. Wythe replied: Il fin d
him tolerably well--bodily.''
This note was evidently taken as sug-
gesting that DR.. Wythe considered the
late DR.. Pardec as being affected mentally,
and 1t was for the purpose of getting DR..
Wythe's testimony Oh this point that the
deposition was taken this afternoon.
The story of DR.. Wythe was very brief
and did not occupy more than ten MIN
utes. He saiu that on July IA, by invita-
tion of DIR. Fisher, he visited DR.. Pardee e
and found him in weak condition and
suffering from several ailments. He said
that he did not notice anything wrong
with DR.. Pardee's mind, and that he
never saw him afterward. Prior 10 this
visit lac had never been acquainted with
the doctor except casually. and conse-
quently he was not in a position to speak
from experience of the condition of DIR.
Pardee's mind for the few months prior
to his death.
In reply to a question by Attorney
Moore DIR. Wythe stated that he did not
remember having the conversation with
Mrs. Pardee, as stated in her notebook,
nor did he rememb ber ever having any con-
versation with Mrs. Pardee at any time.
Tomorrow afternoon Judge Van r. Pat
erson will take the deposition of Mrs. Viz
ginia Arnold in San Francisco. Mrs. Ar
mold was an old acquaintance OF the Par
dees and was intimately acquainted with
them during the close of the doctors life
Her testimony is required>by Messrs. Reed
and Nusbaumer, attorneys for the widow.
On April % the celebrated case will come
to trial. The issues can be briefly stated.
The widow declares that at the time of
making his will Dr. Z. III. Pardee was so
completely under the influence of opiates
and his sou, Dr. G. C. Pardee, that he was
not cognizant of the disposition he was
max ing of his property. He left property
to the widow which he valued at s75, 600,
and 1t is noted as remarkable that this is
the only valuation of property named in
the whole of the will.
Its present value is SAID 10 be $45 000
To his daugnter, Nellie, be left two pieces
of property of which she was to obtain
possession when she was % years of age
She died few months after her father,
and by a clause in the will which pro-
vided that should either the widow or
daughter die before the distribution of the
estate by an order of court the daughters
property went 10 her hali.brother George,
as matters now stand under the will
George is entitled to about $250,OOO and
Che widow to about $55. 600.
1t is very evident that DR.. Pardee an
ticipated contest, for in another clause
OF the will 1t is stated that If any OF the
beneficiaries shall make contest they
shall forfeit all claim of any nature to the
estate. There is also another clause
which shows that contest was expected.
The decedent provided that any doctor,
attorney, or any professions al man who
had had any dealings with him during
his life should not be subject to the
statute relating to professional con fidence.
but should be at liberty to tell everything
they knew without restraint.
These are the conditions of the contest
VIII ich prevail at this time.