The San Francisco call., 1897-06-29
Thomas Is Accused of Being
Incorporate and Dis
solute.
Why the Children Do Not Eat
at the Same Table With
Their Mother.
They Have Separate Dining-Room,
but Their Food Is Good and
Abundant.

Mrs. Teresa Bell has fled her answer to
the petition to have revoked her letters oi
guardian ship over the persons and estates
of her children, Thomas, Maria, Robina,
Muriel, Reginald and Eustace. Her
answer is an indignant denial of all the
accusations made against her in the docu-
ment recently presented to the Probate
Court.
Mrs. Bell is vehement in her refutation
OF the charge that she is addicted to the
use of intoxicating liquors. She says she
denies the allegation that she is not a iii
or proper person 10 act as guardian for
her wards; denies that sire leads a dfssi-
pa'ed life, or that she frequently or at all
becomes intoxicated, or tnat she appears
in an intoxicated condition before her
wards, or that she frequen Jly or ever has
used 20 her wards, or in their presence or
IN the hearing or presence OF any 9th er
person, any vulgar profane, indecent or
obscene language. She says she has
always conducted herself in a decorous
and proper manner and has attem pted to
instruct them in good manners and good
moralsj that she provides proper schools
for til EN- where religious training is part
OF the cuTr. .culum.
Explaining the allegation that her chill
dren are not permitted to eat at the same
table with her, she says it was the custom
OF the household during the lifetime OF
her late husband, Thomas Bel, Tor the
children TO take their meals in a separate
dining-room set apart for them, their
parents taking their meals, together with
their guests, when any were present, in a
larger dlning-room set apart for the adults
OF the family, and that since the death OF
ber husband this custom has been con-
tlnued.
Touching the quality of the food and
ralment supplied to her child Tel, Mrs.
Bell SAYS ii has at ali times been excellent
in quality and abundant in quantity.
She says it is impossible for her to have
wasted any funds belonging to her chill
dren Tor the very good reason that none
OF their funds ever came into her hands.
After making the statement that all her
her children have been sent TO school con-
tinuously except when prevented by sick
ness and that they were provided with
proper moral training, she says the only
one OF her children who has not profited
thereby Is the petitioner and accuser in
tins case, Thomas Bell, and that the Tea-
son for mis- failure III this respect grows
out of the fact that he is idle and disso-
lute and refuses to take advantage of the
opportunities Tor education and improve
ment that she has offered him.
Ms. Bell alleges that he- son declines
TO subm himself to her supervision or
advice, but spends his time principally
in baTrooms and corner groceries, where
ne INDUCES in drinking and excuses ard
otherwise dissipa ting, to his moral. men
tai and physical detriment, and she be-
lieves that by reason of his dissipation
and profigacy and evil associations thus
formed he has been induced 10 file the
petition wherein be accuses her OF wrong
doing touching the matters here men,
toned. She is of the opinion thatif it ad
not been for these associations and this
evil conductno such charges would ever
have been made by him against her.
When the case was called for hearing
yesterday Judge Slack said he did not
think il would be right for him to take up
a trial of so much importance, which pre-
sented a proba bility of a bitter contest,
until after the close of the Craven Fair
litigation in his department.
Judge Coffey felt the same about con-
sidering the case before the Davis will
contest is ended.
Attorney Fisher Ames, representing
Mrs. Bell, and William Schooler, VINO ap-
pears for her son, were ready and willing
to proceed. 1t was agreed that the case
might be transferred if they can find a
Jud 'e who is willinI to give them an early
boa