The record-union., 1899-11-04
The CASE NEARING ITS END.
DEFENSE IN THE WILCOxSON
CASE ALMOST THROUGH.
Testimony Showing Sums OF Money
Paid to Miss Austin by
Uncle JEFF.

S~~>~~>-2
Paid to Miss Austin by
Uncle JEFF.
The Austin -Wilcoxson case, which
has been on trial for three weeks before
Judge Ellison, was resumed yesterday
morning.
The direct examination of Mrs. jose
phine M. Smith was resumed. Wit
ness said that during her stay in this
city in 1892, Amanda Austin and three
of her sisters went from this city to
San Francisco and thence to Los An
geles, and that Jefferson Wiicoxson
paid the expense of the trip.
The witness identified a letter writ
ten by Amanda Austin, and the de-
fense made offer of the letter in eyl-
dence. Attorney H w. Johnson said
the offer was made for the purpose OF
proving that Miss Austin at one time
contemplated marriage, which, he held,
tended to disprove any alleged con-
tract between her and Jefferson Will
coxson. He thought that had she en-
tered into a contract to take care of
decedent during his lifetinme, it was
hardly reasonable to suppose that she
would have become engaged to be mar
ried.
Attorney Grove l.. Johnson said the
question as to why people got mar
ried or became engaged was one which
no human agency, except the parties
to the contract, could fathom. He said
as a matter of fact that she did not
get married, and that the alleged con-
Of 1pd hu
tion she might have had in that di-
rection.
The court admitted the letter in evil
dence, but it was not read.
Ben H. Preston, advertising manager
of the Bee" was called. An offer was
made to prove by the witness that be-
tween January and July, 1886, an ad-
vertisement of an art studio conducted
by Miss Austion appeared in that
paper.
An objection to the offer was sus-
tained ON the ground that there was
no proof that Miss Austin had author
lied thesinsertion of the advertisement.
The ad. in question was permitted to
be read for the purpose of keeping the
record, straight, and witness was re-
quested to examine the books to see
whether or not he could ascertain who
authorized the insertion. Witness sub
sequently brought in the books of the
company showing that the ad. had been
inserted by Miss Austin and charged to
her, but that the bill had been col
lected from Jefferson Wilcoxson.
Mrs. Smith was recalled for cross
examination, and in answer to ques-
ton said she was not at this time
friendly toward Miss Austin, but that
she formerly thought a great deal of her
Witness said she was not friendly with
either Mrs. Austin or DR.. Austin. She
had ever been friendly with Jefferson
Wilcoxson, and received occasional let
ters from him until the year of his
death. Witness maintained that there
had never been any unpleasantness be-
tween herself and Jefferson Wilcoxson
and that subsequent to 1898, after g
family difference, she had received
letters written and signed by him.
Witness said she knew Jefferson Will
coxson assented to Amanda Austin's
engagement, because in December
1885, she had heard him say as much
in Amanda's presence Witness said
the engagement had also been talked
over in August of 1885, and when the
examining attorney informed her that
the engagement was not entered into
until after Amanda returned from
school in December, 1885, she said that
to the best of her recollection the mat
ter had been talked over in August.
Witness came to California to be a
witness in the case at request Of he1
brother, Geo. H. Wilcoxson. She could
remember only two services performed
byMiss Austin for Jefferson Wilcoxson
she made eggnogs for him and trimmed
his corns. Witness was i'll while here
in 1885, at which time Amanda and
her other nieces waited upon her. She
could not recall that Amanda did more
for her than either Of the others. Wit
ness saw Amanda at one time darn a
very small hole in ''Uncle. Jeff's" socks
L. D. Stevens, President of the Bank
Of Woodland, was next called. He
first met jefferson Wilcoxson in 1880
and had business relations with him be-
tween the years 1885 and 1895. Dur
ing the latter period Mr.. Wilcoxson
was a very active man, and so fan
as witness knew, attended to his OWL
business. Up to within two or three
years of his death, Mr.. Wilcoxson's
health Was good. Wilcoxson was very
secretive In his business.
The deposition Of William Hughes Of
Fayette. Howard County, Mo-, was next
admitted in evidence and read. De-
ponent visited California and talked
with Amanda Austin. She told him
-------------