The San Francisco call., 1906-04-06

OAKLAND, April 5.-Confronted by
the possibility of being deprived of one
of the most beautiful ranches in Contra
Costa County through the mysterious
disappearance of the will Of her late
husband, Mrs Carrie Holpin, better
known to the world as Papinta, the
originator of the famous fire dance has
just reached here from Cape Town,
South Africa, after the fastest journey
she could make. She will fight in court
to retain possession of the Papinta
rancho, in Ignacio Valley, near Concord,
from the grasp of her father-in-law.
James Holpin. and his daughter, Mrs P.
Dickson. The father and daughter have
instituted proceedings to secure por-
tion Of the estate of the late William j.
Holpin, claiming that in the absence of
a will they are entitled to all except the
widows legal share of the property.
Mrs. Holpin, through her attorneys,
P. 2. Dunno and c. w. Durbrough of
San Francisco and NJ. r. Jones OF Mar
tineZ. has filed an answer TO the suit
of her father-in-law and his daughter,
in which she declares that a, will was
left by her late husband. in which all OF
his property was given to her. She
among her husbands effects imme-
diately after his death. and has never
since been found.
FINDS WILL GONE
William Holpin died very suddenly at
the Papinta Rancho while his wife was
absent in the East. Three days later
Mrs. Holpin. reached her home, only to
find the place in possession of James
Holpin. who, on learning OF his sons
death, hurried from San Rafael to take
charge of the property. Mrs. Holpin al
leges that in her absence the effects Of
her husband had been thoroughly ran
sacked. and that when she went TO his
trunk in which his will and her own
safe but could find no trace of > the
former. nor has she ever been able to
discover what had become of it.
Before his death, however. Holpin
decided the Papinta Rancho. which con-
sists of more than $50 acres. valued at
5000 an acre. TO his wife, and these
deeds she new has.
Mrs. HoIpins father-in-law and his
daughter are represented in their fight
for share of the property by Attorney
Otto tum SUDDEN. and Mrs. Holpin's legal
representatives believe that it is the in
tention of the contestants to attack the
validity of these deeds. which. they de-
clare, are perfectly correct. Mrs. Hol-
pin has also secured the deposition of
the attorney by whom the missing will
Of her late husband was drawn up, and
she viii use this in the coming battle
to protect her rights.
RANCHO NOW FAMOUS.
Papinta. as Mrs. Holpin is known in
the theatrical world, became famous sew
eral years ago through her creation of
the fire dance" which she has presented
in almost every large city in the United
States. After her success as a dancer
was assured her husband purchased the
property in Contra Costa County, which
is now known as the Papinta Rancho, and
In addition to acting as the manager of
his wife in her theatrical work, engaged
In the business of raising blood horses.
Rapinta and her husband developed their
property into one of the most beautiful
ranches in the county, and the Papinta
Rancho soon became known as the breed
ing place Of some Of California's most
famous 1--we stock. Among the horses
which helped TO bring this reputation to
the rancho was FL Rayo, a racing stall