The San Francisco call., 1906-09-07
DOLbEER HISTORY
TOLD IN COURT.
Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips Is
Kept on the Stand the
Greater Part Of the Day
PROGRESSES SLOWLY

Several new witnesses were intro
duced yesterday in the trial of the Dol
beer will contest, the most interesting
Of whom was Mrs. Elizabeth c.. Phillips,
cousin of Miss .Dolbeer,s father, who
cared for Bertha Dolbeer for several
years after her mothers death. and
who was beneficiary. under Miss Dol
beers will to the extent of 100000. Mrs.
Phillips testimony related principally
to the condition of Miss Dolbeer's
health prior to her last trip to Europe.
Mrs. Phillips first told of the insanity
OF Mrs. Sabra Murray. John Dolbeer's
aunt, and of the insanity of Calvin
Dolbeer. John Dolbeer's brother She
also stated that she knew Hannah
Schander Dolbeer. Bertha Dolbeer's
mother, before Aer marriage. and was
intimate with her up to the time of her
death. She testified that Mrs. Dol
beer. at the time of and prior to Bertha
Dolbeer's birth, was irrational at times,
suffered from Insomnia, and finally end
ed her life by shooting herself.
In answer to questions put to her
by Attorney De Cola, Mrs. Phillips
gave an account of Miss Dolbeer's COM
ing to her home following her mothers
death, and of their subsequent relations
towards each other.
Bertha was Of an undemonstrative
nature" she said, but up to the time of
her death she never failed in her
thought of me. About year before
not so good. She said she had trouble
with her head and eyes, and didn't
sleep.
When Bertha started for Europe I
asked her why she was going. and she
said she had to go. She said she would
be gone about three months, and
thought the sea trip would benefit her
-. Ill,
may be as far as Paris. She seemed
vague about it She was thinner than
usual at this time. don't think I
had ever seen her so thin before. Her
color was about as usual. She remarked
that life was not worth living because
she was not feeling we'll. She was sub
ject to fits of depression.
Bertha's mind in April. 1904, did not
seem sound to me. think she was
unsound because of her moods, her lack
of interest in the world and the fact
that she was growing thin, had lost
her appetite and was not like herself.
had a conversation with her at this
time regarding her fathers will I ex-
pressed the view that 1T was good
will because It made many people
happy, and that she ought to be proud
Of it. Miss Warren's name was men
toned I said one thing that sur
prised me was that he gave Miss War
rem more than he did me, but that he
probably had his reasons. Miss Dol
beer said yes, he probably had his rea-
sons.
II received one letter from Miss Dol
beer while she was away. 1t was writ
ten from the steamer. She said she
was not any better. She wrote Mr..
Mugan that she was not so well, and
that she wanted to get home. That let
ter was from Paris
In closing her testimony. Mrs. Phil
lips testified that Miss Warren had a
great influence on the Dolbeer family,
practically dominating the father and
daughter, and that she herself had at
one time denounced this influence.
Preceding Mrs. Phillips testimony,
several other witnesses were placed on
the stand An effort was made through
Raymond Hoff sherman to show that
Miss Warren and others made state
ments to the effect that Miss Dolbeer
committed suicide. but this testimony
was ruled out. Sherman told of being
in New York at the time of Miss Dol
beers death and of being a member of
the funeral party which brought her
body to San Francisco
Mrs. Margaret H. Warren. Miss Eta
Warren's mother, told of her acquaint-
ance with Mrs Otto w. Pellage, known
as Ismar. but denied having ever con-
suited her professionally. or of having
known of Miss Dolbeer being acquaint-
ed with her in any way.
Miss Frances Stewart, Miss Warrens S
half sister. also told of knowing Ismar
slightly Her testimony was similar
to that of Mrs. Warren.