The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-26
De LAVEAGAS
INVOLVED IN
WILL CONTEST
Miguel A., Brother of TestatOr,
ReSists Formal AppIica-
ton for Probate
Sister Estimates the Estate as
Worth S2,OOO,OOO and Is
Principal Beneficiary

Definite announcement that the Will
Of Maria Conception de Laveaga will be
contested by her brother, Miguel A.
De Laweaga, was made in Judge
Troutts court yesterday by Attorney
Piusburv. representing the dissatisfied
heir. The announcement foreshadows
q vigorous fight over property worth
al least $1,000 600 and said by Mrs.
Maria Josefa Cebrian. the principal
beHe6eiary under the viii. 70 be worth
$4,000. coo. II includes some OF the
choicest real estate In San Francisco.
The adversaries IN the struggle are
brother and sister Miguel de Laveaga
and his sister, Mrs. Cebrian. are the
only heirs OF the testator. II she had
died,intestate they would have had one
half OF the estate apiece. BY her viii
she left only $50. 600 to her brother, and
the balance. except $1,000. to her sis
ter
GROUNDS OF CONTEST WITHHELD
The grounds upon which the win is
10 be contested are kept from public
knowledge. It is believed, however,
that undue influence viii be alleged.
Miss de LsWeaga. who was SO years Of
age. died IN Spain. Mrs. Cebrian. while
maintaining her legal residence in San
Francisco. has speih considerable time
IN Europe in the last few years, and
was with her sister before she died.
Although the win has been photo
graphed by Theodore Kytka. the hand
writing expert. and a very minute ex-
animation is being made Of what are
said TO be ensures. II is not questioned
that the viii was written or signed by
the testator J. V de Laveaga, the law
yer who is attorney for Miguel de La
veaga. his father. specifically disclaims
any suggestion Of forgery
CONTESTANT MANAGED PROPERTY
For more than 20 years Miguel de
Laveaga has managed the estate OF his
sister, Marie Conception. holding her
power OF attorney. Yesterday Timothy
Lyons. attorney for Mrs Cebrian,
charged that De LaTeaga had mingled
his own property with that OF his
sister.
Miguel de Laveaga was forced into
announcing a contest yesterday by the
fact that Mrs. CebT1an was applying for
the admission of the Will to probate.
Pillsbury asked for a continuance for
80 days, stating that he was Investigate
ing certain facts before filing the con-
test.
Lyons was opposed 10 any continu-
ance but a short one. He also COM
planned that when Miguel de Laveaga
was appointed special administrator of
the estate the bond was fiXed at only
IS 600
LARGER BOND Is DEMANDED
"Inasmuch as the property is not in
the hands OF a neutral. but is in the
hands Of a person who is about 10
open war on the VIII and on my client
] submit that bond OF $4,000, O0O
should be given" said Lyons
Judge Trout made no order as TO in
creasinE the bond, but put the hearing
on the petition for probate over to
July l..
Miguel de Lsveaga, the contestant
is prominently known as a capitalist
and real estate owner. He also pos
sesses considerable ranch property and
lives in Contra Costa county. He was
not IN court yesterday. but his son. J.
y. de Laveaga. consulted with Attor-
neys Pillsbury and Oscar Sutro. Mrs
Cebrian is the wife Of John c. Cebria n
a civil engineer. Cebrian built many
OF the lighthouses on this coast