The San Francisco call., 1904-12-29
WYER MAKES
POOR WITNESS
Attorney Has an Uncomfort-
able Morning While He
Testifies in MOnnier Trial
PROPONENT IN TEARS
Wife of Deceased Wine Mer-
chant Weeps When Telling
of Sons Attack on Father

| A mixing up of an attorneys state
ments by Sullivan and Roche, counsel
for George Monnier, who is suing for a
share of his fathers fortune; the preco-
cious actions of the contestant, who at
the age Of 8 years began drinking
liquor. and a description of the sons
assault on his father with cane added
interest to the proceedings yesterday in
Judge Graham's court.
! Attorney NJ C. Hassett was called to
the stand by George D. Collins. counsel
for Mrs. George Monnier, the pro-
ponent, to testify as to his beginning
of the suit for an annulment of the
sons marriage on the ground that the
young man was not Of age. The wit
ness was called for the purpose of
! showing that Monnier Sr. advised with
him with the view of having the suit
brought.
Hassett told Of the arrangement he
made with Monnier to take up the case,
and said that the consultation took
place at the time the opening COM
plant was filed.
On crOsS-eXamination Sullivan and
Roche produced the annulment proceed
1ngs In evidence and showed that the
original complaint was signed by Has
sett several months previously to the
time of fling. The witness then assert
ed that he thought his signature had
been added after the witnesses had
signed the document, and then recol-
lected that Lawyer Barry had charge
of the opening of the case.
Roche then asked the witness wheth-
er he dictated the document. and If not
whether he was in the habit of signing
legal papers that he did not read. To
this Hassett finally said he did not re-
member the beginning of the annul-
ment suit, but he thought that what
ever the record showed must be the
correct statement of the proceedings.
He denied that his name had been
fixed to the opening complaint until
after the proceedings had been started.
]. B. Claveril, who was formerly en-
ployed by Monnier Sr., caused much
laughter by testifying as to the unruly
actions of George Monnier Jr. at the
early age of years, when he often
swore at his father, and on one occa-
sion climbed on the bar and helped
himself to liquor. Bailiff Lemke was
compelled to rap for order several times
before the merriment subsided.
The latter part of the days session
was consumed by Mrs. Monnier Sr.,
who described the fight between father
and son, in which George broke cane
over his fathers head. She told how
George came into the garden, where his
father was working, and made an in
sulting remark. His father called him
a loafer, whereupon he retorted with
a vile eDithet. Monnier chased his son
into the parlor with a garden spade,
but according to the witness did not
strike him. She then said that George
seized a cane and struck his father,
causing blood to flow.
At this point Mrs. Monnier was COM
PEELED to cease testifying in order to re-
gain control of herself. In words inter
spersed with crying the witness told Of
Monnier's agony at the ingratitude Of
his son, his threat to disinherit him and
his tragic command to his wife to place
the pieces of cane in his coffin when he
died. q -Ni1
Several other witnesses were called
to testify as to the quarrels in the fam
lily and Monnier's desire to avoid scam
dal. The case will continue this morn
ing at 10 o'clock.