The San Francisco call., 1899-12-20
EXCAVATED THE
CELLAR BUT THE
WILL WAS GONE
Lawyers and Heirs
Weld the Pick.
FENNELL ESTATE MYSTERY
LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
HAVE BEEN GRANTED.

While the candles hickered and dripped
quarrymen wrenched the underpinning
from beneath the cottage Of the late Mrs.
Winifred Fennell, AL Fair Oaks street,
on Monday night in a vain search for a
last will and testament heirs allege she
left directing the disposition of her prop
erty. Monday afternoon A Ruef, attor-
ney for the Public Administrator. entered
Judge Coffeys court on business. Judge
Cof1ey was engaged in an attempt TO ef-
feet a compromise Of the various claims
OF relatives of Mrs. Fennell. who claim
that the decedents husband, William
Fennell. has made away with the will, but
on observing Mr.. Ruef the court said
that in his opinion 1t would be a good idea
TO appoint the Public Administrator spe-
clal administrator OF the estate during
the pendency OF the present litigation.
Mr.. Ruef promptly accepted the offer and
conferred with counsel representing the
various claimants with the result that an
order as made appointing the Public
Administrator special administrator of
the estate. Notwithstanding the surprise
OF Judge Coffey, occasioned by the fact
that his spark of humor had been quick
ly famed 10 living flame by Mr.. Ruef."
Immediately following the completion OF
the order appointing the Public Admins
traitor, Mr.. Ruef, after considering the
allegations made by Mrs. Elliott. a sister
of the deceased. that a will was in exist
ence, invited all interested parties to ac-
company him In an inspection OF the
premises lately occupied by the deceased
for the purpose OF discovering the will IL
one existed. Emil Pohli. who represents
for Mrs. Elliott, Mr.. Ruef and all OF the
claimants met shortly after 5 o'clock Mon
day evening and proceeded 10 the Fen
nell residence. All of the attorneys, on
arriving at the premises. Immediately be-
gan the search, the curiosity OF the ladies'
in the crowd being thoroughly gratified
as they delved into trunks, valises ard
wardrobes.
AS the will was not forthcoming Mr.
Elliott, husband Of decedent's sister. who
claims that she was named as devisee
in the missing will. insisted. that the base
ment Of the house be searched for the
document. AS the basement" is about
three feet from ground TO roof. candles
were procured, as well as picks. shovels
friend, whom he addressed as Pat"
crawied under the basement. and, closely
followed by Mr.. Ruef, began investiga-
tions. Pat" finally convinced himself
that he had found the burial place of the
missing document, and after obtaining
Elliott's concurrence began TO sink on the
prospect. An occasional fragment Of pa
per added TO the excitement of the inves-
tigation, and every spur. dip and angle
was closely followed by the excavators.
After they had worked out this hole both
wielders of the pick discovered that they
were wringing with perspratiOn, and Mr.
Ruef discovered that he was the victim OF
a cramp. the result OF long confinement
In the three-foot basement.
7.
his place as guardsman. Elliott and Pat
had calculated by this time that the VIII
was buried over in another corner. Both
wormed their way TO said corner. again
opened excavations and. although the
house showed signs of collapsing for lack
of underpinning. they kept up their
work. After having laid out trenches OF
sufficient magnitude to hold q division II
the Boer army Elliott and Pat" retired
from the basement and after a vigorous
consultation decided that the will was In
the woodshed. Consequently the con-
tents of the Woodshed were carried TO the
exterior. but investigation failed to pro-
duce the document.
Then Mr.. Elliott decided that as Mrs.
Fennell has many favorite flowers IT was
very likely that she had wrapped the doc
ument in oilcloth and deposited II at the
roots of some favorite. AS IL was o'clock
at night by this time and the candles had
dwindled low. Mr.. Ruef refused 10 re-
main longer and for the time the search
was called off Yesterday morning. now
ever, an attache OF the Public Admins
traitors Office visited the Fennell home
stead and with the assistance of counsel
plowed up the front yard and uprooted the
flowers. but the will is still missing This
fact will be reported to the court a. the
next hearing. In the meantime. however
the Public Administrator will labor be-
meath the authority conferred by special
letters of administration upon the estate
of the deceased and, as there Is nothing
left to eXcavate, excavations beneath the
decedent's former home Will doubtless be
abandoned and the will numbered among
the mysterious disappearances.