The record-union., 1899-10-14
THE WILC0XS0N
ESTATE CASE.
Witnesses on Whose Testimony Miss Austin
Hopes to Establish Her Claim.

The trial of the case of Amanda p.
Austin against George H. Wilcoxson'
as executor of the estate Of Jefferson
Wilcoxson, deceased, was resumed be-
fore Judge Ellison yesterday morning.
Grove l.. johnson, one of the attor-
neys for the plaintiff, who was absent
Thursday, was present, and conducted
the examination of the witnesses.
Jemima Witham, the witness on the
stand when court adjourned on Thurs
day, was called, and said she had had
several conversations with Jefferson
Wilcoxson; that on one occasion he
said he would do well by Amanda; at
another time he said to witness: "Do
you know that some time Amanda will
be a rich woman?'' How much do
over 100000" replied Wilcoxson.
"Tn give it to her Nobody knows
anything about it, and 1 expect it will
surprise them"
Witness said that the deceased had
said that Amanda was the best of girls,
and said several times that he would
leave her we'll provided for. He had
given her to understand that Miss Aus
tin would be left money and not per-
.sonal property. Wilcoxson told wit
ness, she said, that Amanda had had
several good offers of marriage, but
that she had Qike his old sweetheart,
who refused to leave her daddy, re-
fused to leave her uncle.
At one of the conversations. witness
said Wilcoxson had told her he had
sent for Amanda TO come to California,
and that he had sent her the money
to come on; that he had sent for her to
be a companion to him.
On cross-examination the witness
said she first became acquainted with
jefferson Wilcoxson in January, 1884,
and with Miss Austin about the same
time. She had met them on the road
before that, but had only a speaking
acquaintance. Four or five years ago
she had visited Wilcoxson and Amanda
FIVE or six times when they lived at
Kimberlay's on street. At the time
of Jackson Wilcoxson's death, Jeffer-
son Wilcoxson had put his arm around
Amanda and told witness that she was
his especial charge. On other occa-
sions he spoke of her as his favorite
niece; that he always spoke highly Of
her and that he said he thought more
of her than "all the rest of them.
Witness could not recollect dates of
conversations, and had difficulty in
segregating what had been said at diff
ferent times She could recall only one
conversation she had held with him
when any of his relatives were pres
tin was in the garden when Wilcoxson
spoke of leaving her over 100000, and
witness believed she had heard him,
as she turned around and laughed At
torney Seymour kept the witness under
cross-ffre for a long time, but failed
materially to shake her testimony
given on direct examination.
On redirect examination the witness
said Charles O. Busick. an attorney
connected with the defense, had called
on her, and she, knowing nothing
about law, had told him what she
would testify TO.
Judge Ellison said there was no rea-
son why the defense should not inter-
view witnesses if they so desired
j. A Woodson of this city testified
that he had been connected with the
Sacramento School of Design since its
inception He had known Jefferson
Wilcoxson during his lifetime. He had
had two conversations with Jefferson
Wilcoxson, one, he thought, during the
California State Fair, probably in 1872.
AT that time he had been introduced
to Mr.. Wilcoxson by Miss Austin. They
had discussed a picture painted by
Miss Austin, and witness inquired OF
Wilcoxson whether he intended to al
low Miss Austin to go TO Europe and
improve the talent God had given her.
Wilcoxson asked witness if he thought
God had given her talent, and witness
had replied that he was not a conf
dant of God, but the woman had talent.
WiIcoxson said: I've brought her here,
and now you folks want me to send
her away" Subsequently Wilcoxson
had asked witness if California schools
of design were as good as those of
Europe. Witness replied that they
We're not, being mostly only secondary
schools.
The second conversation, witness
said. was. he thought, held at the last
exhibition given at the Sacramento
School of Design, but was not sure as
to date. Witness asked why Wilcoxson
did not give Miss Austin a chance
send her to Europe to study. Wilcox
son had replied that he could not let
her go-that he could not do without
her
On cross examination witness said he
had known Amanda p. Austin since
about 1880. She, at one time, was
as a teacher at the School Of
Design in the Crocker building. She
remained less than a year, and then
a studio of her own. She,
witness thought, had attended the
School of Design before being employed
as a teacher.
r. o. Cravens Of this city was next
called. He testified to having known
Jefferson Wilcoxson prior to his death,
and that he had known Amanda P.
Austin about twenty years. Witness
said he had had a conversation with
Jefferson Wilcoxson during the Con-
Convention in 1879. Wit ]