The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-21
That Was What Fred Bell
Told Sympathizing
Thomas Hall.
Another Phase of the Remark
able Sway of an Old
Colored Woman.
Nanny" Pleasant Held the Reins in
the Household of a Dead
Millionaire.

ana Judge Co1fey' courtroom was crowded
agaln yesterday, making 1t necessary for
the oalllft to order into the hallway nearly
a hundred men and women who could not
md seats. In this case the colored part
OF the population takes unusual interest
Tor the reason that Mrs. NJ. E. Pleasant
commonly known as NANNY" Pleasant,
Is the real defendant in the litigation,
though Mrs. Teresa Bell is named IN the
pleadlngs as respondent
Mrs. Pleasant is a remarka bic character
and the stories of the witnesses show that
she Is a manager and manipulation who
would have made a fortune in politics if
she Gad put forth her energies in that d.
rection. As it is the testimony tends to
show that she Is we'll off in this worlds
goods, and that she never fails to see
which side of her bread is buttered.
Two OF the most interesting witnesses
were the sisters Hail. Maria and Isabelle,
VINO were employed in the Bell household
for several years and who testified that
alter Bells death the children did not get
good food; that before his demise they
had porterhouse steaks, but that soon
they had 10 be satisfied with soup meat
ana other stale and inferior viands, while
there was in the market the former. who
had complete control OF he house, direct
ing that the tenderIoin part of the steaks
should be served TO her.
George +. Eaton was another entertain-
ing witness. He amused the spectators
by telling how Mrs. Pleasant bought
horse for S10 and made Mrs. Bell believe
that It was worth not less than $1,000, the
inference being that Mrs. Pleasant pocketed
that difference. Several other trSnsaC-
lions OF q similar character were enumer-
ated all tending to show that Mrs. Bell
has been vietimiZed by Mrs. Pleasant who
manages all the financial affairs OF the
Bell estate.
Mr.. Eaton was the first witness called to
the stand yesterday morning. He ex-
planned the manner in which Mrs. Pleas
ant made Mrs. Bell think that sac owed
her son Fred Bell 5000, when in fact she
had not borrowed any money from him,
this being one of Mrs. Peasants plans in
the Juggling of the Bell estate funds.
Mrs. Bell one day said she wondered if
sue couldn't get $1,000 more from Fred,
and the witness Ventured the information
that Fred had no m oney TO lend, to which
Mrs Bell replied: Yes, he has; be has
already lent us 5000" After Mrs Bell
left he room, Mrs. Pleasant told the wit
ness that he must never meddIe IN her
business again so long as he remained IN
the house; that she mad made Mrs. Bell
believe they mad borrowed money from
Fred Bell in order that she might manage
things TO suit herself.
Another deception that Mrs. Pleasant
had tut on Mrs. Bell was in relation 10
900 acres OF land in Mexico. which Mrs.
Bell was induced to believe Mrs. Pleasant
had obtained for her, and which was said
10 contain gold mine.
Attorney W. H. Schooler attempted to
get q history OF Mrs. Bells diamonds,
he xnnhd ShnW that the
lady mas not seen the Jewels for several
years and that Mrs. Pleasant is the only
person who knows where they are at THIS
moment, but Attorney Fisher Ames OBJ
jected, and the matter Was ruled out by
The court.
Nr. Eaton testified that he saw Mrs.
Pleasant take siIveTware and line linen
from the safe for the purpose of honor
ing Bayard Sayille at a dinner party. de
was not an expert IN such matters, but
Mr. Pleasant tod him that tue nap kins
cost SIS apiece. He never saw the sale,
a it Is in a cIosei, and did not know who
carries the key or has the combin alton.
dc saw some rich siIverware taken from
the safe by Mrs. Pleasant one day. Mrs.
Peasant gave the siIverware to Mrs.
Stewart, who lived at 10Y Bush street,
and Mrs. Stewart took il away with her.
He also saw a colored man take big roll
OF carpet
ldulGl OuEdIO4i DAil 1O4 DAbb4HE UP q
monument to the memory of Mr.. Bell
was formerly S13. 3l8. but was finally cut
to SO COO and even this the witness con-
dared exorbitant. He was about 10 have
l. CUT down by the Probate Court, when
Mrs Pleasant told him not 10 meddle any
further IN the matter; That Mr.. Shearon
was her friend; that he had lent her $500,
and that she always stool in with her
friends, so she wanted to see him get the
money. though The contract was not IN
existence before Mr.. Bells death. Mrs.
Bell also told him to let the claim go
though for ST., 0O0. Mr.. Maxwell, one OF
The executors, objected to the bill until
both the ladies insisted that 1t was all
right, and then it was allowed 10 go
through in accordance with their wishes.
Several mythical persons have been IN
PRODUCED into the history of Mrs. Pleas
ants dealings with Mrs. Bell, and an
other saeh parsonage appeared yesterday.
Mr.. Eaton said that Mrs. Pleasant made
Mrs. Bell believe that they were borrow
ing large sums from a man named Nc
Arthur. whereas, in fact, the money WAS
being iuggled out of the Bell family al
Iowancs by Mrs. Pleasant. Finally it be-
came necessary to get Macarthur out OF
the way, and Mrs. Pleasant reported 10
Mrs Bell that the man was killed in the
St. Louis cyclone and toId MN to con-
tlrm that report If Mrs. Bell should ask
ANYTHING ABOUT il. All the money from
me Bell family allowance was deposited
TO the credit OF Mrs Pleasant, and she
checked against 1t Tor all kinds OF ex-
pendiIures, including the cost OF main
tanning the BeiltiDe ranch. More than
$4,000 had been sunk IN useless buildings
and stone walls at the ranch.
Thomas Hail testified that he was en-
pIoyed at the Bell residence for a num-
Der OF years and confirmed the testimony
of former witnesses that poor food was
given 10 the children while the very best
the market afforded was sen: upstairs to
Mrs. Pleasant and Mrs. Bell. Mrs. Pleas
ant was the absolute boss, he said. He
never saw her do any work OF any kind
except 10 give her orders and everybody
had 10 obey. MIS-. Bell never ate with her
children.
Mr.. Hall admitted that he had Fred
Bell living at his house for three months
a. the yoang fellow came TO his place ON
crutches and was told to stay there until
he could get better place. He was on
crulches aud said he was hungry and had
no place to live il, as Nanny" Pleasant
had pitched him out of his own home.
Further testimony will be heard in this
Strange case at IL o clock this morning.