The herald., 1898-07-31
Thought Him a Buzzard
LOS ANGELES. NJ

LOS ANGELES, May 16 1896
Mr.. Hodghead-I received the deed and
had gotten his promise to deed me the
Burbank ranch; also the place on East
Fourth street, but he refused to sign when
the time came, but wanted me to marry
him, and should share equal with him.
I told him no. that did not protect me after
his death, and 1 was going back to San
Francisco. That set him a-thnking and
he has been after me all afternoon, ask
ing me if 1 would not stay if he would fix
things satisfactory. I told him Yes, if
he fixed it to suit me, and not unless he did
and there was only one way to do so, and
that was to deed me the property" l Of
fered to make clause in the deed giving
him life interest. QIe is hard custom
err. The doctor said Hes a bird" 1
thought buzzard). have been thinking
Of some way to get even with him. Think
this over and give me the exact position
will be in and what effect it will have. If
l marry him on condition Of having some
property decided absolutely to me, would
I also at his death get one-third of his es-
tate besides. as his widow, or could it be
taken away from me? Then, again, would
it interfere with the suit in hand of my
l. after
his death to recover my separate estate
| would give him receipt for certain
amount on some Of the property (as you
suggested and get the statement signed.
Would that give me firm hold on the bal
ance of his property for my separate estate
without any flaw? If so, I'll marry him
for the sake Of getting the best of him an
| the rest I could never be a wife only IN
name but he Is going pretty fast. My con-
tract with you would remain the same, as
I would expect you to fight for my separate
estate. If marry him I'll go straight and
apply for letters of guardianship and have
no trouble in getting it, either. Then can
have the handling of things. Please do
not advise me to marry him unless am
safe at all points. Excuse the writing as
I am all broken up with the days battle
| with him. Yours truly,
ELIZABETH BELL.
P. S.-Write me a few lines on a piece
of paper that can read to him.
LOS ANGELES, Cal. July IS, 1896
| Mr.. Hodghead-Yours of the 14th received
You get an extension of time, by all means
as a commencement of the suit now woult
konck everything in the head. He has only
| made a deed to one lot, and that have not
got in my possession; it is in the hands OF
| another party to hold, and am trying tc
get the other lot also; think can get it,
have not given him the dismissal as he did
not comply with the agreement. He wants
| the dismissal, but told him when he deed
| ed me the property / would give it to him
| Yes, Bell made will, revoking all former
| wills, and to let the estate be divided ac-
| cording to the CODE and making me ex-
ecutrix without bonds. Judge Redman
| drew it up and told me that would give me
! one-third. I did not give him the receipt as
1 have not got the deed and Redman made
| it out for consideration of $40 only. If
| it was not for Adams (his attorney could
| have handled Bell all right, but he has told
| him not to give me anything unless gave
| him an agreement not to commence any
| other suits and dismiss all suits pending
| So I was ignorant and did not know what
| he meant but steered him away off. ]
| told him I had no other suit and that this
| suit was not mine at all and had nothing
| to do with it, No, do not say anything
| about the marriage to Sawyer or Burnett
S. hey would tell Amory Bell. and want
to fool the crowd. John is with me and /:
ia we'll he came when he did, as was quite
sick taking care of Bell. I had been up
day and night for ten days. We thought he
would not be here now, but he rallied and
out assistance. He is paralyzed, one hall
of him, straight through; still he may lin
ger some time. He Is suspicious of me yet
and would do me dirty trick yet If he gets
the chance. Excuse the writing Have the