The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
IS This DAVIS WILL :?
Many Witnesses Give Their
Opinion in Regard to the
Document.
Old Friends of the Testator as Well
as Experts Heard in Judge
Coffey's Court.

| Daylight has begun to show ahead in
the Jacob z. Davis will case, and 1t looks
as if the trial will end within the next fort
| night.
Attorney ]. G. Campbell, representing
the proponents of the will, has announced
that he will get through with his witnesses
in DAY or two, and Messrs. Knight e.
Heggerty, speaking for the contestants,
expect to have but little more testimony
But there is the argument 10 come and no.
body can guess how long that will last, but
it will probably not take more than a
week.
Several witnesses who knew Jacob T.
Davis were called by Mr.. Campbell 10 give
their opinions in regard to the document
ALI of them declared that they thought it
genuine. Among these were Attorney
Charles L. Patton, William NJ Fonda,
Louis J. Phelps, David Fitzgibbon, Charles
l.. Field Jefferson E.. Doolittle, Robert
Ash, Charles w. Gordon, Miss Emily L.
Hammond and other old friends of the
deceased The day before he left for the
East Mr.. Davis told Morris Raphael that
be had made his will in favor of 1.-The
girls" meaning Mrs. Curtis and Miss
Muir.
Dr.. g. NJ. Mouser testified that he be-
lonoed to the society called 1.-THE Good
Samaritans," of when Mr.. Davis was also
a member. Mrs. Gurus and Miss Muir, the
benehciaries under the will here in court,
were introduced and initiated in the Good
Samaritans IS the daughters of Mr. Davis.
John w. Wilcox. formerly prominent
politician, known as "the Mariposa Black
smith," testified that he was talking with
Mr.. Davis and expressed a regret that
John N. Curtis husband of the Mrs. Cur
It's in this case, was drifting into politics
as it was sure TO break him financially as
it had the speaker. To this Mr.. Davis re-
sponded that it was all right for Mr.. Cur
It's to 90 ahead and CRAFTY his ambitions
as he (Davis) intended to take care OF Mrs
Curtis and see that she never wanted Tor
anything.
e. b. Holbrook, who was associated with
Mr.. Davis for m..ny years in the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty 10 Animals,
swore that he believed the will to be gem
uine much to the surprise of Mr.. Knight
who asked: Didn't YOU tell me you
thoupht this will strange kind of docu-
menu"
II did," replied the witness.
Didn't you say you thought it was a
swindle all through?'' was the next ques-
ton.
Yes"
Have you changed your opinion? Pr
mo"
MIR. Campbell came to the rescue of tn
proponents o. the will ana asked Didn't
you tell Mr.. Knight that you believed the
signature 20 be genuine at the time to
which he refers?"
Eyes, and [ informed him that I shouId
have to so testify if l was ever put ON the
witness-stand, was Mr.. Hobrook's
rep ny, KD,sht u.,t.a . 49,.
HoIbrook thought there was a swlndle
about 1t, but Mr. Campbell objected and
the question was Withdrawn. 1t is an
open secret that those who were associated
with Mr.. DAVIS in the different benevolent
societies with which he was connected
expected him to do something handsome
Tor their societies IN he disposition of his
property, and it Is assumed that Mr.. Hol-
brooks expression was in a measure ex
presslVe OF his disappointment when il
was ascertalned that the societies were
not mentioned as beneticiaries under his
will. -A4'
Roy Thurston Kimball, who was with
MI Davis In many fzaternal undertakings
ana mad seen him write many times. said
unhes1 latlngly that he believed the will
to be genuine. He did not pretend TO he
an expert, but declared that he would AT
Mr.. Davis "' VI
George Grant, paying teller of the Ne
Vaoa BANK, swore that he had seen Mr.
DAVIS write his signature. He gave II as
MS opinion that The viii ia genuine