The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-16
ARCHBISHOP NAMED
AS DEFENDANT

SANTA ROSA. Dec. 15.-Patrick W.
Riordan. Archbishop of the diocese of
California Of the Roman Catholic
Church, and his private secretary,
Father Patrick E. Mulligan. are named
as defendants in a contest instituted in
the Superior Court Of Sonoma County
by Louis J. O'Farrell to set aside the
will OF his aunt, the late Mrs. Teresa
Wensinger. wealthy woman of Free
stone. who died last December. At the
time OF her death Mrs. Wensinger was
e years of age.
Archbishop Riordan is accused by
the contestant of having conspired with
Father Mulligan to control the distri-
button Of the woman's estate. During
frequent visits TO the home IL is al
legged that Father Mulligan nodded the
mind OF Mrs. Wensinger into such a
condition that when Archbishop Rior-
dan advised her as to the disposition
OF her vast property interests she took
his advice.
Mrs. Wensinger was the widow OF
the late #. S. Wensinger. who died De-
cember ]. 1905. and left an Photographic
will. dated May j. 1901. The estate
was appraised early this year at over
$500, S7s. This consisted of lands In
this county, San Francisco, Alameda
san Diego and the State of Washing
ton. as well as stocks. bonds and cash
The Union Trust Company OF Sar
Francisco. which is the executor. has
filed its account. which shows assets or
hand valued at over $41s,02s.
The Will provided numerous large
requests for various members of the
family as well as distant relatives and
friends. but the contestants share is
left 10 his wife. Mrs. Tessie O'Farrell
and children. for whom IL is declared
o'Farrell has not provided. There is q
beoucst OF 500. 900 in trust for the bene-
ut Of Mrs Wensinger's brother. George
Wensinger. At his death this amount
is to be divided equally among several
Catholic institutions.
Separate requests of $500 each were
also made to the Orphan Asylum for
Boys. conducted by the Christian
Brothers; orphan Asylum for Girls
conducted by the Sisters OF Charity
Orphan Asylum. conducted by the Ger
man Dominican Sisters, and the Mag
daien Asylum. conducted by the Sisters
OF Mercy. The residue of the estate
after all requests had been paid. was
left TO the Archbishop OF San Francisco
for the maintenance and operation OF
the st. Patrick's Seminary at Nenlc
Park. San Mateo County.
in his contest O'Farrell alleges that
on the day of the funeral Of Mrs
Wensinger December {. 1895, Arch
bishop Riordan had filed in the record
ers Office in San Francisco a deed from
Mrs. Wensinger TO him as corporation
sole, dated May Il. 1901, the date OF
the Will. 10 property at Mission and
Ninth streets, San Francisco. valued al
over $I25.00o. This deed, he alleges
was in truth and fact a part of the
testamentary disposition Of the prop
erty OF the estate and was intended Sc
by deceased, and was only TO take ef-
feet upon her death. He claims 1lrth-
er ia support of this position that Mrs
WensinRer retained control of the prop
erty and enjoyed the profits UP TO the
date of her death.
Father Muliigan said last night
The facts I'm the case are these: So fan
as ] am concerned 7 di dnot know thai
Mrs. Wensinger ever made a will. did
not know what was ] nher viii. never