The record-union., 1899-10-15
EVIDENCE FOR MISS AUSTIN
IN HER SUIT AGAINST WILL
COxSON'S ESTATE.
One Witness Testifies Regarding
Money That the Deceased
Had in His Safe.

The trial before Judge Ellison of the
case of Amanda P Austin against
George H. Wilcoxson, as executor OF
the estate of Jefferson WilcoXson, de-
ceased, was resumed at $3.50 O'Clock
yesterday morning
Edna L Ficks was the first witness
called She knew Amanda P. AUSTIN
and knew jefferson Wilcoxson during
his lifetime. She testified that her
sister, Blanche who testified on Fri
day, spent great deal of her time in
Wilcoxsons office when it was situated
under the Ficks residence. Blanche
she said, was there more than her folk
thought she ought to be, but that VIII
coxson liked to have her about, ana
witness supposed it was all right.
Witness had had one conversation
with Wilcoxson concerning Amanda.
That was about five years ago. Wit
ness was in Wilcoxson's office, and the
latter said he would like to go to the
springs. but that Amanda could not
go with him. Witness suggested that
he take her, and he agreed to do so,
provided Amanda could not go.
Amanda, however, went. Mr.. Wilcox
son told witness that Amanda could
do more for him than anybody else;
that he could not get along without her,
and that he intended to provide for
her Witness told Wilcoxson she had
noticed that Amanda was very kind to
him.
On cross-examination, witness could
chn
ferred to.
John Burns, a rancher and stockman
of Sutter County, testified that he
knew Jefferson Wilcoxson during his
lifetime, and he also knew Amanda
Austin. When witness would call at
Wilcoxson's office, if Miss Austin was
not in. he was in a habit of inquiring
after her. Wilcoxson. in replying, would
always wind up with: "She's a noble
girl" On one occasion after Wilcox
son had been i'll, witness suggested
that he must have had a good phys1-
clan. Wilcoxson replied that it was
Miss Austin, his nurse, who saved ms
life, and not his physician.
When witness last saw WilcoXson,
at the Capital Hotel he had been very
i'll. and said to witness: Il most died
without providing for that dear girl. 3"
Witness said Wilcoxson told him that
he had been afraid he would die before
morning. and had called for pen and
ink, and that he wound up by saying:
Amanda is now all right" Witness
said that from what he had seen and
heard he had always understood that
Amanda was to be Mr. Wilcoxson s
heiress. The latter statement was or
dered stricken out on the ground that
il was a conclusion of the witness, and
not a part of the conversation.
Cross-examined, witness said that
when he last met Wilcoxson he had
come to this city to attend a meeting
of the Anti-Debris Association, but
could not recollect who was at the
meeting or what was done there. Will
coxson told him that he had provided
s fCr Amanda SO that she would never
want during her lifetime. Wilcoxson
told witness that he had divided the
stock Of the Williams Bank between
several persons. naming them, and said
he had divided his property, but wheth-
er between his fifteen nephews and
nieces, witness could not recollect. Wit
ness supposed he had divided his estate
amongst his relatives, though he did
not recOIect that he had so stated. He
recalled that WilcOxson told him on
one occasion that he had presented
each of his relatives with 81 600 Wit
ness said that on two occasions about
twelve years ago, he had borrowed
money for a neighbor, giving his indi-
vidual note for payment Witness
said he had not been interviewed by
Charles o. Busick
Mrs. Addie E. Peaslee, a daughter of
John Burns of Sutter County, was
called. She had been very we'll ac-
quainted with Mr.. Wilcoxson, and was
a friend of Miss Austin. Witness had
conversed with deceased concerning
Amanda Austin. Once in the city wit
ness had called at the Capital Hotel
to visit Amanda. She was not in, and
Mr.. WilcOxsOn invited witness to come
in. saying he wished to talk with her.
He had told her that Amanda had been
kind to him. would never lose any
thing by what she had done for him,
and that he had fully provided for her.
The conversation was held during the
State Fair in 1896. Witness had fire.
quently seen Mr. Wilcoxson, and ne
had always spoken of Amanda and
said how kind she had been to him.
on cross examination, witness said
he had divided all his property among
his relatives; that he had provided well
for Amanda. and that after his death
there would be no quarreling among
his relatives. Wilcoxson had mentioned
the Bank of Williams, and said he had
given Amanda some of the stock-he
did not say how much, and said she
had been well provided for Wilcox
son, witness said, had said nothing
about any other property given by
him to Amanda. He told witness he
had made a will and divided his prop
erty among his relations; that he did
not say he had divided it equally, but
that ne did say he had divided it so there
would be no quarreling after he was
gone; that he had tried to do right by
all of them