The San Francisco call., 1899-04-14
MARY MURDOCH
TELLS HER STORY
Plaintiff in Celebrated
Suit Is Heard.
HOW THE NOTE WAS MADE
DUE TO SETTLEMENT BETWEEN
SAM AND WILLIAM.
Other Important Witnesses Heard,
and the Note Which Is Now the
Bone of Contention Is Posi-
lively Identified.
DUE TO SETTLEMENT BETWEEN
SAM AND WILLIAM.
Special Dispatch to The Call

WILLOWS, April 13.-The Murdoch
case opened this morning at $50 o'clock
and the matter of the objection of the
defense to the plaintiff, Mary Helen
Murdock, testifying was argued. The
contention of the defense was that the
plaintiff was incompetent under section
1880 of the Code Of Civil Procedure of
this State
The point was argued fully by both
sides and submitted. The court ruled
that the objection was good and sus-
tanned it.
After the ruling, however, short
consultation was had and the defense
withdrew all objections to the plain
tiff testifying and she was Immediately
placed upon the stand, and told all
about the note and its making. She
said that she was called home from AL
len Springs by some message, and ar
rived home at about midnight on April
4, 1877. On September 3, 1877, William
and Samuel Murdoch met her at her
home, and after completing a settle
ment of their affairs, extending over
period of some fifteen years, and the
note in question given as evidence OF
that settlement, Samuel gave William
two notes, one of S26000 and one of
smaller sum and $4,000 in gold coin
Witness knew of other sums of money
passing from Samuel to William prior
to the making of the $100,00 note.
Witness said that the agreement was
mutual between the two men, and that
II was the wish of Samuel that the
note be made payable to plaintln, IN
order that his two grandchildren should
get the money. The time Of twenty
years was also made for that purpose,
as Samuel said that at that time the
boys would be wise enough to know the
value of money.
Witness made a good appearance and
General Barnes was unable TO shake
her in the least, after severe cross
examination.
The next witness was H. A. Skiff,
who in 1890 was present at an inter
view between the plaintiff and William
Murdock in which the plaintiff asked
William for payment Of interest on
the note, which request was refused,
William remarking that the plaintiff
ought to be satisfied, as she held his
note for S100, 900, and it would all be
paid when due.
Az effort will be made to impeach
the witness by attempting to show
contradictory statements made to- par
ties in the State of Washington.
c. B. Ashurst testified to having
called at G.. w. Murdock's place on the
4th Of. September 1877, and paid Samuel
$40 00U that he owed him, which sum
was turned over TO William on the fol-
lowing day when the 800 600 note was
made. Ashurst is a brother Of the
plaintiff and was formerly very wealthy
and was handling great deal Of
money and business at the time Of this
transaction.
Z. l. Robinson, an attorney, now Of
San Francisco but formerly of Sacra-
mento, testified TO having seen the note
In question at the State fair at Sacra-
mento in September, 1877. He identi-
fed the note, having had it in his pos
session at that time, making an ex-
animation Of it for a client of his,
DR.. Hicks.
Plaintiffs attorneys announced at
the close of the days session that they
would in all proba bility rest tomorrow.