The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-03-03
MAY CONTEST
STANFORD WILL
CONTINUED from page -

seen any other press representative
than the Star man who received the
statement.
Sheriff Henry was disposed to dis
credit the report as soon as he heard
of it. Il do not believe that Miss Ber-
ner ever made any statement of the
kind" he said. L have had many
long conversations with her regarding
the case. She has never said or in
timated anything of the kind to me
or my deputy and 1 am certain she
has not made it to anyone else. It isl
a rumor absolutely without founda-
ton
The origin of the rumor is impossible
to trace. All Wing the Chinese re-
ferred to was one of the Stanford
household at the time of the San Fran
cisco alleged attempt to poison Mrs.
Stanford. He is described in the San
Francisco papers as an assistant but
Ter, who had been an employee of the
family for twenty years.
This morning Deputy Rawlins and
Judge Stanley again spent their time
at the Moana hotel, with Miss Berner.
They are said to be continuing the
ford's effects.
The sudden death of Mrs. Jane Stan
ford may lead to a great will contest.
Though she gave a deed of trust some
years ago which conveyed the bulk of
her estate to the Leland Stanford, Jr,
University, she was still very wealthy
woman in er own right, and her es-
tate will be very large one. The
question of her mental condition which
has been raised to some extent i'm dis
cussiOns of the manner of her death
thus becomes highly important one
from a financial point of view.
The nature of Mrs. Stanford's will
has been one of the matters of specu-
lation here. The police would like to
have known from the start, as a means
of possibly ascertaining a motive for
murder. Judge Stanley, who re-
presents the estate in a legal way, has
had no advices. Stanley is simply
taking charge of affairs with a view
to seeing that interests are protected.
The utmost care is being taken to pre-
serve all records and all possible tes-
timony.
Miss Berner, for twenty years the
private secretary to the deceased and
naturally the most important witness
in all proceedings. has been in almost
constant consultation with either the
police or Judge Stanley or both, since
the death took place. Miss Berner does
not leave her room i'm the Moana and
denies herself to all callers excepting
the police representatives, and the at
torney. She has taken charge of the
actual work Of packing away the many
valuable articles of clothing left by the
deceased. Mrs Stanford travelled
with an elaborate wardrobe. which
will be returned to San Francisco
This morning Judge Stanley and De-
putty Rawlins had another long con-
ference with Miss Berner.
Rumors were about the city this af-
ternoOn that Drs. Shorey and Duncan
chemists conducting the examination
in the Stanford case, found no strych-
nine i'm the stomach of the deceased.
The chemists have not made any re-
port to the sheriff yet, and the rumors
are believed to be due to the failure of
the chemists to report as expected.
High Sheriff Henry and Deputy High
Sheriff Rawlins We're busy all of yes
terday afternoon at the Moana Hotel
with j. f. Hackfeld and w L. STAN
ley the attorney for the Stanford in
terests, examining the effects of the
late Mrs. Stanford. Every article of
her wardrobe which was very extern
sive was unpacked from the three
trunks and the trunks were carefully
examined the articles being repacked
by Miss Hunt and Miss Berner No
inventory was taken Of the goods. The
only note that was found was a list Of
Mrs. Stanford's jewelry. This list was
checked up and all but one article was
found. Miss Hunt recalled where this
had been left and the article was soon
produced. The jewelry which is valued
at fully $4,000 was taken in charge by
Judge Stanley yesterday and was
placed i'm the vaults of the First Ma
tional Bank. The trunks We're sealed
and the keys delivered to Mr.. Hack
field.
"The statement" said High Sheriff
Henry that we found a bottle of