The San Francisco call., 1908-12-05
''DOdie" Valencia, Mother of
Dead MiIIiOnaire's Son, Peti-
tiOns for Letters for Child
Woman's Counsel Accuses At
tOrney John S. Partridge of
Unusual Conduct in Case
Startling Developments Prom
ised at Investigation to Be
Made by Coroner

home. He was about TO answer when
I heard q mumbllng sound, followed by
the sudden Jar Of the telephone, and I
knew that the receiver had dropped
from his hand. He never answered my
request. ] telephoned Immediately TO
Dr. Edwards, our family physician. and
told him 10 go out and get David. DR..
Edwards went TO the beach in his own
machine
He conveyed David TO the Trinity
hospital. where for some reason he was
refused admission. He was then taken
to the scobie hospital. but DR.. Edwards
and DIT. Bsyle could not persuade him
TO step inside OF the institution. and so
he was brought home David. when
drinking was abusive. and 1 did not see
him upon his return. The next morning
when he arose he complained OF feeling
ILL., Shortly afterward he died.
About six months ago he suffered
from severe hemorrhage. and DIR. Ed
wards said that he should be carefully
cared for"
When the anonymous person who had
D. warned Coroner Leland that he would
DO well TO investigate the death of
Baird first called him on the telephone
that Official was skepticaL He disre-
garded it. But the mysterious monitor
again admonished him in another mes
sage
Examine The stomach urged the
voice. That was all.
Leland communicated this warning
10 Attorneys Mastick and Partridge.
representatives Of Mrs. Veronica Baird.
mother OF the dead man. and they con-
sented 10 the removal OF the stomach
Tor investigation. Mrs Veronica Raird
was in Europe at the time her son died
and Is now on the way home. The
body is being held until her arrival
PETITION FOR LETTERS
As climax TO these developments
there was filed yesterday in the su-
perior court by the woman eDodie'
valencia petition for letters Of guard
ianship over the child. in which il was
claimed that the infant was the sole
heir to the S100OOO0 estate. and en-
utled TO the whole Of it. This presages
legal battle that viii be fought "a
the bitter end. Already Attorney Tim
olhy J. Lyons, representing the woman
mas made charges of unprofessiona
conouct against Attorney John s. Part
mage, who is counsel for the relatives
IN ner petition TO the court the
valencia woman does not claim to have
besh me wife Of the dead man, but
attorney Lyons intimated that this NAV
pe taken up In a later suit The issue
OF the fight now hinges on the legiti.
macy or illegitimacy of the child.
IN support OF the contention of the
mother Of the child is a birth cer+iA-
cate which was filed December 7 1907
signed by Or. William Edwards and
giving the fathers name as David
Jennings Baird, aged 2s, and the mother
IS Lydia Margarita Valencia. aged %
The infant is named as David Jennings
BAIRD Jr Attorney Lyons asserts thai
lie can produce dozens of witnesses vybc
VIII also testify that Baird had fire.
quently acknowledged the child as his
own.
Baird left viii dated July 80. 1909
IN winch no mention was made oi
Dooie valencia or the child This
instrument was made before the birfF
OF the infant, however. and If its lesfti.
macy is established il viii be of nc
effect
Attorney Lyons appeared much In.
censed yesterday by what he termed the
extraordinary professional actions" OF
Attorney John s. Partridge on the da,
Of Baird's death.
ATTACKS PARTRIDGE
He went out to the house and told
Miss Valencia, who was in a state OF
collapse from the shock. that he woulf
take charge OF affairs" he said Der
Baird, brother. was with him. and to.
gether they took away with them ever,
particle OF evidence that might have
helped the woman TO establish hel
claim and the rights Of her child.
charge also that the investigation hz
the coroner was inspired by Partride,
IN an attempt to scare my client Well
he and his client Bairds mother. vii
ind that they have met an opponent
who viii meet them steel for steel"
David Baird. by viii dated July 90
1908, left his entire estate to his mothe
and brothers. one-half going to tn,
former. Mrs. Veronica g Baird. and iii.
remainder TO be divided among tn,
brothers The VIII was opened las
saturday in Judge Sturtevant's cour
by Attorney = l. Brown. in whose pos
session il had remained ever since {
was executed. Brown and Mrs Vero
MICA c. Baird are the executor an,
tAeCUNL4A named IN the VIII. Thei
petition for letters testamentary ha.
been set for hearing December "A.
Search has been made for a late
viii, but unsuccessfully. Lydia NJ
Valencia, better known as 'Dodie" Va
lencia, states in her petition that Baird
estate consists Of personal property Il
san Francisco Of the value of probabl,
$1,000 000 and OF real property Il
Contra Costa county worth $4,000 o
thereabouts.
The child, David Jennings Baird Jr
one year and eleven months old. is no
mentioned or referred to in the will
and has not been provided for by set
Element or otherwise. she states.
Tne child. the petition goes on, is tn
sole heir OF Baird and is the owner o
his estate To represent and safeguar.
its interests the appointment Of
guardian is necessary, and Lydia Va
lencia sets up that she Is a competen
person TO act as guardian.
In her petition she names her rela
tfves. among whom are Robert Hogan
an uncle, living at 1923 Eddy street
and Camilla Gray. a sister living a
Tl9 Devisadero street. The hearing o
the petition for letters Of guardianshf,
was set for December 10 before Judg
Sturtevant.