The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-26

SAN JOSE. Nov. 2S.-There promises
TO ne a lively contest over the $26O,JO0
estate of the late James L. Murphy,
who died in this city several weeks ago.
Nearly a score of heirs will be involved.
This legal battle will bic instituted by
Mrs. W',lelmina Chapman, the only
daughter of the deceased Back of her
is her mother, Mrs. Wilhelmina
Murphy. who was divorced some years
ago. and who smiles approvingly upon
her daughters determination. Other
parties interested are sixteen cousins.
among whom will be divided one-halt
of the estate Miss Bertha Smalley,
pretty young woman of 30, who lived
with Murphy for the past few years
also threatens to contest the will.
Murphy's death had barely been an
nolfoced when trouble commenced. He
nada his home at the LamoIe House.
He had been drinking heavily for sew
era1 davs and this and heart disease
were the cause Of his sudden death.
win him throush his sickness was
Bertha Smauey-
When The end came Mrs Wilhelmina
Mummy went o his rooms to see what
Funeral arrangeDeI5ts had been made.
She asked a about his effects, particular
Iv his gold watch and chain. Miss
Smalley had these and at first refused
TO give them up. She finally gave them
10 q servant to give TO Mrs. Murphy.
At this juncture Mrs NJ A. Carroll,
Murphy's sister. appeared and obJecteu
20 the former Mrs. Murphy BEING pres
ant as the chief mourner. Mrs. Wilhel-
nina Murphy and her daughter assert
that Mrs. Carroll assumed a dictator
shin and even objected to them attend
ing the funeral, and instead Of being
among the immediate nCurners they
were only allowed to occupy the TWEEN
tv-second carriage in the cortegt, and
this through strategy. AT the churcu
they were kept in the background ana
the daughter was not even permitted
TO gaze on her dead fathers face
It was rumored around thal lhe M
of the deceased gave half OF the prop
erty to the nieces and nepheWs. rev
DAVIS ago Mrs Wuhelmina Chapman
went to w Gill, who was the attorney
for her father and asked 10 see the
will The lawyer first denied having IT,
brt finally showed it to her. BY 1t Mrs
CbaDnan is given One-half of the prop
ertv and the other half is divided pc
tween the following nieces and neph-
aws: Mrs. Ward Wright, Misses Eliza
beth. Evahne, Daisy ana E!end anu ~
ETarffn and Patrick Murphy, children OF
q n Murphy: MOllie, Matte, MaFtIn
and william Taaffe; Mrs. w r: WHIT
tisr Gertrude and Jack CarroII; MIS-
FE--.zae ana CIeTneGII ARGUES
This aroused the daughter ana she
+ben and there told Attorney Gill these
cousirls would get none of her fathers
Ms. Wnhelmina Murphy and her
DAUGHTER and son-in-law, D. j. CHAP
man. we're seen in their pretty noun, r,i,, a.
132 North Fifth street tins evening;
They talked readily of the case ana
showed there would be a battle royal
irg court. II, -,
yes. l will contest my fathers will ="
said Mrs Chapman, ana then her
mother cautioned her about talking 100
Il don't propose to let those people
eniOv what rightfully belongs to me II
there is any way Of getting 1t IN law.
They influenced my father when he
was weak from drink, and that is how
he came to make such a will. If he had
left it to charities L would not nave
objected"
Mrs. Chapman said that although her
marriage had been somewhat in the
nature of elopement her father thought
q great deal of her Only few days
before his death he had told her he in
tended to go into the real estate and
insurance business and proposed tax
ing y. J. Chapman, her husband In
partnership with him.
Mrs. Murphy interrupted her daugh-
ter frequently. She said her relations
with Murphy since their separation hac
been amiable and Murphy frequentlj
called at the house. She is very bitter
against Mrs. Carroll and the brother:
and sisters of her former husband Sh'
eaid thew were arrayed against her anC
had influenced Murphy She denied Sh'
was interested in the contest. Mrs
Murphy had expected nothing unde
the will as she was amply provided Tor
She said a diamond stud and other jew
aIrv belonging to Murphy were missing
1TiSe Sn1aIlev went to San Francisco
list a fter his death, and, it is said, sh
couId probably throw some light OF
fbe wherea bouts of these things ant
cher nersonal effects of the decedent
SSrs Mnrrhv knew nothing about an.
deeds TO property having been given t
the Smalley woman.
Jimmie" Murphy was the younges
con of the late Martin Murphy,
wealthy old pioneer. and at ms Iather
death inherited one-sixth of the vas
Murnhv estate. At this time his shar
was worth about 81, 900. He wa
rather sporty and drank heavily. Hi
father left large share of the wealth
In trust for him until he became
years of age. A year ago he came int
Dossession Of this. The deceased wa
married to Mrs. Wilhelmina Murph.
twenty-five years ago. drunkenness
and neglect caused her to seek di
yorce, and in August, 1886, she obtained
q separat ton. Mrs. Murphy got a por
tion of the property and was well pro
vided for. besides beino given 5000 pc
month aIimonr during her life Elevel
hundred acres of the Milpitas ranch
valued at about $4,000. has been leviet
unon to secure this sum. His estat
now is estimated to be worth $4,000
and is in good shape.
Murphy was born in this county for
4y-six years ago. He was member o
the first Board Of Bank Commissioner
and also held responsible positions il