Amador ledger., 1905-04-21
THE TREMAIN CASE.

The probate case of John Tremain
was decided last week by the court
IN favor of the surviving widow. The
facts of this case are as strange as any
story of romance or fiction. John
Iremain was from Cornwall, Eng
land. In 1883, according to the evi-
dence presented at the trial, he was
married to a widow named Jenkins,
who had four children, at st. Austel,
Cornwall. He had half brother
named W. Crocker at Bisbee, Ari-
zona. The latter part of 1888 or
early in 1884, at the request OF this
half broher, he emigrated to America,
gonlg to Arizona and working in the
mines there. Tremain was illiterate,
and his correspondence with his fam
lily in England was carried on
through Crocker. The latter return
ed to England, and Tremain, after
working at Leadville and other
places, drifted to Amador county,
and found employment at the Oneida,
Peerless and other mines. While
mere he boarded at Mrs. Northey's,
now Mrs. Crowgey. While in Cali
fornia he took out life insurance
policy in the New England, the pre-
else amount we do not know. In
this application he stated that he
was single man, and the policy in
case of death was made payable to
the administrator or executor of his
estate. He subsequently made a
will, in which he bequeathed his
property to Miss Minnie Northey of
Jackson. Thereafter he went to Ari-
zopa, and was there caved on and suf-
located, February II, 1904. The re-
mains were brought to jackson for
interment. After his death it be-
came whispered around that he had a
wife living in Chicago, Mrs. Ire
main having left the old country and
settled in Chicago, taking her two
sons, leaving the daughters in Eng
land. Through correspondence be-
tween parties here and in England,
the fact of Tremain's death reached
the ears of his stepdaughters in Eng
land, who communicated this know
ledge to their mother in Chicago.
Mrs. Tremain wrote here for confirma-
tion of the death. For many years
prior to his decease there had been
no letters passing between Tremain
and his wife. The matter was refer
red to G. H. Crocker, the attorney
here.
After the will had been admitted to
probate the attorney received a power
of attorney to represent Mrs. Ire
main. A contest between the public
administrator and Miss Morley for
administration of the estate, resulted
in the appointment of the latter as
executrix of the will.
The attorney for the widow then
moved that the whole of the estate,
being under $500, be set aside for
her benefit. The deposition of Mrs.
Tremain and her son, Arthur Jen-
kins, both of Chicago, also of Mrs.
Howden and Richard Cunden we're
presented to the court last July, and
copy of the marriage certificate was
forwarded here. but owing to tech
nical defect it could not be admitted.
Meantime, the widow ceased writing
here, or her letters failed to reach
their destination.
About month ago q. FL, Crocker
went to Nevada county on legal bust
ness. While walking on the business
street, street distuI bance attracted
some attention, which led to his in
PRODUCTION to man named w. M.
Avery, native of England. Conver-
sation developed the fact that he
came from Chasewater, near st,
Austel, Cornwall. He was asked if
he knew man named John rremain
there, and he replied that he knew
Jack Sam Tremain we'll. On further
questions he said he married a widow
with four children, and that he had
half brother named CIockeI. He
identified the photograph of Ire
main. He came on to jackson and
testified in behalf of the widow on
April 1st. He said the officiating
minister at Tremain's marriage also
performed the ceremony at his own
marriage to his first wife. The out
come of this chance witness was that
the estate was awarded to Mrs. Ire
main upon proof that she is at pres
ent living and unmarried. Tremain
had one child, girl, but she died.
In the event of Mrs. Tremain's death
in the interval, the estate would not
go to her children, but would be dis
tributed according to the will. The
widow is 58 years of age, and stated
in her letters that she could not stand
the expense of the trip to California.
She will be overjoyed at the news of
the decision of the court, which was
expected to reach her IN Chicago this
week.
SNELL-ALDRDGE COMPANY COM