The San Francisco call., 1904-11-03
Lady Yarde-Buler Claims Ability to
Manage Her Own Affairs.
AtfOrnev Asks Questions About Her Estate

OAKLAND, Nov. a--Again have the
legal reserves Of. the unfortunate Lady
.Tarde- Butler been called to defend her
alleged right 70 be restored TO capacity.
This afternoon Judge W. z Greene and
a. Jury listened TO arguments presented
by the lady's attorney in which IL was
desired to show that the daughter of
&he house OF Kirkham is able TO man
age her own affairs. Some time has
passe1 since she was discharged from
q sanitarium, where she was treated
for Temporary insanity"
Lady Yar7e-B Butler was on the stand
In her own behalf and testified that
her guardian, George 7. Wright, had
prevented her from visiting her son
Arthur upon his death bed The wit
ness burst into tears as she falteringly
told the story The witness also testi-
fed that she had reached the age Of
81 years and that the fortune amount
ing to nearly a quarter OF a million
=. dollars left her by her father, General
.-Kirkham, had dWindled to less than
half that sum through the extrava-
ganoe Of her husband, Edward Yarde-
Buller, who tried TO maintain the dig
nifty Of a gentleman 10 the manner
DlL4 Dl- 4AA6 10 htFB Up NLIct NllldSs
two IN Europe and one IN this state.
When demonstrated with him, ."
she. added. he replied that American
women seek titles and must expect to
have to pay something for them. He
treated me- badly and / was forced to
leave him"
After Lady. Yarde- -Buller's testimony
had. been given Attorney Peter Dunno
rested his case. Prior. TO her examina-
sfrr1 hnruqrrar- he had n1appT 1Tpov1 tho
stand W. r. Chapman, the trustee of
+: her estate. Chapman testified that the
only property now owned by Lady
Butler twas a building at the corner Of
Pine and; Battery streets, occupied by
the wholesale firm OF Dinkelspiel
Bros. which he valued at about Sl15,-
1000. There was q mortgage on II, how
ever. for $50. 900. The building rented
for $500 a month and out Of this the
Interest on the. mortgage had to be
= paid.
Chapman testified on direct examina-
.tiQn that he believed Lady Butler
thoroughly competent TO manage her
own affairs. Attorney Robert Fitz-
gerald; for the guardian. in his cross
examination asked Chapman many
pointed questions.
Trustee CHAPMAN said that he had
not been appointed trustee solely on
the recommendation Of E. II. Wake
man. as Lady Ysrde-Buller had looked
into the matter Of a successor for
Wakeman on her own behalf
Il suppose you thought her perfectly
sane when she made you trustee?"
esl1ed Fitzgerald.
I did" replied Chapman
And you think she has been sane. do
you not2'
7 do"
"Wen, how do you account for the
fact that you acted while as trustee as
attorney for Baron A. A Barroteau
and attempted 10 get letters of guard
ianship for him F's
That was a move to- try and head
of the move you made on this side of
the bay, but you were too quick for
me-"
DO you think it was evidence of san
tty for a refined; cultivated woman to
be assOciating With Barroteau?"
Isdid not know his s'reputation at that
time.
Don't you KNOW continued Fitz-
gerald. that Wakeman squandered the
money obtained from mortgaging the
building at Pine and Battery streets at
the racetracks that he robbed her of
money obtained from the sale of 200
shares Of the stock Of the Bank of Cali
fOrnia, valued at between $40O' and $500
q share?"
I knew there We're suits being
pressed against him and that he was
anxious to get rid Of the .trusteeship. -
answered Chapman. but / had no per-
EOnal knowledge Of the facts; besides
Lady Butler is not an unsophisticated
woman: I believe she had some knowl-
edge Of the racing venture. She has
been on the track for many years and
can place a bet as well as ! can"
Ralph Blair, Lady Buffers SON., took
the stand and said that he believed his
mother incapable Of managing her own
effairs.
After Ralph Blair had testified
against his mother she smiled at him,
and he took his seat at her request be-
side her. After the trial she spoke To
her guardian, Wright, and he helped
her on with her coat and they left the
courtroom together The case will go
on in the morning.