The San Francisco call., 1899-10-15
FORTUNE LEFT
IN AN ALMANAC
Contest Over Wilcox
sons Estate.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

SACRAMENTO, Oct A-Interest IN
creases in the suit Of Miss Amanda ?,
Austin against the estate Of Millionaire
Jefferson Wilcoxson, deceased. and as the
case proceeds it develops many unusual
features.
Jefferson Wilcoxson was one OF the best
known capitalists IN this section and there
was scarcely a bank in the interior in
which he was not a stockholder or In
some important way interested. while his
land holdings were far scattered and
large. he was a bachelor, and about
twenty years ago, when years began to
tell on him, he sent 10 Missouri for his
niece, Miss Amanda P Austin. For eight
cen years she was his nurse and constant
companion. No daughter could have been
more dutiful, and fully a score Of wit
nesses have testified that old man VII
coxson never missed an opportunity TO
praise her, to speak of the gratitude he
felt for her and TO declare that on his
death she would find herself amply pro-
vided for.
Prior TO his last illness WilcoXson deed
ed over TO his sixteen nephews and nieces
something like $600, 900 One only was eX-
cepted and that one was his niece Aman-
da. but many witnesses have testified tnat
he often said that while he had not deed
ed any property to Amanda she would
nnd herself at his death amply rewarded
for her services.
Upon the death Of Wilcoxson a little
safe in his office on Seventh street, this
city, was opened and 1000 in green
backs was found sandwiched between the
leaves of an old almanac. This, 1t IS con-
tended by Miss Austin. had been placed
there by Wilcoxson as her legacy, but her
claim was rejected by the other heirs.
She brought suit for the recovery Of Sl50,-
900 and the trial has been on for several
days. Both sides are making a strong
fight and there is said to be an excellent
prospect for some sensational disclosures
One Of the most important witnesses for
Miss Austin to-day was Leonard Estes, a
TanCher Of COlusa County. He referred TO
his fifteen years acquaintance with Will
coxson and 10 the latter's visit 10 Colusa
shortly before his death
Said the witness: "One day WilcoxSon
made me come to him and said he was
feeling bad. He said I am feeling very
bad and I want TO talk to YOU He said
he had given everything he owned away
except one safe l said You can't take
that up above with you He said l am
Said there was $4,000 In the safe, and
that Amanda was to give $4,000 Of II to
some old friends Of his, and that she was
10 keep the S150,e0o. He said that the
money was in bills and was piled in an
He said that there was letter lying
on top Of the money addressed to Amanda
p Austin, and this letter told Amanda
that the so 900 was to be given away TO
those designated in the letter, and that
the $3.50 900 was hers
L told him that maybe those who
opened the safe would destroy the letter
and Amanda would not get any OF the
money. as there would be no evidence
he replied: There is no danger of that;
my nephew George viii open the safe and
IS soon as he sees the letter addressed TO
Amanda he viii give II TO her.
Miss Austin is seeking to establish her
claim that there was a letter in the safe
with the money which awarded it to her,
but il will be Contended on the other side
that there was no such letter 1t is along
this line that the sensational testimony
lin is apparently contenting herself with
showing by the testimony Of witnesses
that her uncle intended to leave her the
no provision had been made in the Will.
one Of her witnesses. Rev. T. II 3. An
derson. has come from Missouri TO testify,
while others have journeyed from dis
tanCes almost as remote