The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-12
HOW ALB. JOHNSON .
LOVED HIS MONEY
Plaintiff in Will Case Prepared to
Portray a Parsimonious
Millionaire.
Miss Dickerson Testifies that She
Paid Her Own Expenses to
California.

for the winter, but who lvel there in a
room at $3.50 q week; a man whose
life was dominated by parsimony-thi
is the portrait Of the late Albert John
son, promised by today's developments
in the litigation over his will.
From the foundation laid today in
the cross-examination Of Miss Edna
Dickerson, niece and sole legatee Of the
deceased, 1t is evident that the attack
will be directed upon this point. Most
interesting revelations Of a millionaire
leading almost pauper life are pos
sible.
II knew from his kindness to his
relatives that Albert johnson was a
man Of means. He could not have done
what he did for them otherwise" de-
| clared Miss eDickerson, under cross-ex-
animation in today's hearing on the
petition to prove the will.
"Did you learn this on your trip to
California when Mr.. johnson made you
pay your own fare?' asked Emanuel
Cohen, counsel for DR.. Asa johnson, the
objector to the will.
HNo, sir; did not.''
Miss Dickerson IS cross examination
lasted all the morning, and is not yet
finished. The niece and heiress Of the
late Mr.. johnson seemed perfectly self.
possessed. She answered all questions
laconically and with directness evi
IDENTIFY learned by long experience IL
court work. She could not be made
to admit that the late millionaire was
eccentric or parsimonious.
/ Her Life Reviewed.
| In reply to questions, the witness
gave an outline of her life. She the,
described each meeting she had hat
with Mr.: johnson, beginning in 1897
and continuing as often as once yea
up to the day Of his death. Details O.
| the five weeks California trip, begin
ming in January, 1908, were particu
Chicago friend, Miss C. M. Sherwood
met Mr.. johnson in Kansas City b,
agreement. The three then travelled to
gether, each paying his own fare, t
!, Redlands, Los Angeles, San Diego, bac
I to Redlands and Los Angeles, and t
!, San Francisco. They stopped at th
, same hotels, all settling their own bilIi
Did you travel in Pullman cars7'
asked Mr.. Cohen.
! Ono, sir; we did not.
In day coachesY"
"In tourists" q
: Other short trips and visits Of tn
: witness to Minneapolis were gone int
. in detail. Asked how Mr.. johnson en-
Q tertained her on one visit to this city
Q Miss Dickerson said: che took us fc
/ walks, to the parks, for trolley rides
t to the rolling mill, to Minnetonka, an
+ several times we went driving.o
Q Had Not Seen the Will.
9 Shown the will, Miss Dickerson VIZ
g asked If she had ever seen the doc,
|, ment or copy Of it prior to Mr.. JOIN
v son IS death. She said she had not.
"Did Mr.. johnson ever speak to yo
" or write to you about the dispositio
: i hnr r+n Iol 4o oh ~ IL Nr%x
No2 until just before # re- lis death.
: "You knew that he was very rie
mani"
: ~ knew in a general way that l
was well to do.'
: "You knew that he owned lars
s amount Of property in the heart Of tn
s city, didn't youf"e
4 "1 knew he had some property, but
4 never knew anything definite about it.
F.. "Did you not know that Mr.. job
b ~ did not"
K "You say, do you, that the fir
3 knowledge that you were the sole ben
+ fciary named in this will came when Il
s will was openedq'' :.
: emo, sir; Mr.. Reed told me on T
s day I arrived from Chicago, the Satu
day before M 4c,J Johns on, de deat IL
= lOIt u0 u1Out
s eyes, sir"
& nWhat did he say to you about t
s Wills"
s ..shall 7 tell you all'''
: "He said: .The Hunters will be a
: fully disappointed when they learn t
i contents Of my, will l suppose tn
Z will try to break it. That will be j,
s like them. If they do want you
) spend every dollar Of my estate in fgl
! ing them. You will win in the end.
s WHe said: L trust you and ha
s confidence in you, Edna. want y
i to look after my relatives as [ ha
s done. want you to do as / ha
i done by my brother, Dr.. johnson. Gil
s him 500 or 5000 once in while. Nev
= give him more than that. # you !
s The Hunters will get it away from hi
s You know that [ have suit agai1
& The Tribune. I want you to ke
s fighting that suit just as / have don
S|I think that is about all he said. Sol
s Of it he repeated several times, especi
& ~ that sahout the Hunters -