The San Francisco call., 1909-05-12
CONTEST TURNS ON
PSYCHIC AGENCIES
Alleged Undue Influence Said to
Be Responsible for George
w. Fletcher's Will

OAKLAND, May 1.-THE merits OF
the contest over the will of the late
George T.. Fletcher. prominent rail-
roadman of San Francisco. will be
measured by the most attenuated rules
of psychic phenomena. according TO
the outline of the case as presented
today The impact of Christian Science
on the mind of a diseased man, ana
the effects of concentrated mental sug-
gestion directed against the interests
of loving wife were placed for de-
termination before jury in Judge
Wells court by the contestants OF the
Southern Pacific official's last testa-
ment.
CITES UNSEEN AGENCIES
Attorney r. H. Countrynan in direct
ing the attack on Fletcher's viii as
serted that numerous unseen agencies
had been employed upon Fletcher dur
ing his last illness. And in expanding
his charges the attorney said that Miss
Adeline Maud Wellendorff. musician
president of the exclusive Piano club
of the college town, was as adept In
directing invisible forces to her own
advantage as she was in lingering the
ivory keys of a piano. Artimas
Fletcher, brother OF the decedent, who
stands six feet one inch in height
and weighs over 200 pounds. was ac
cused of being closely associated with
Miss WelIendorff in weaving the
meshes OF the mystic web about the
testator.
AS a result Countryman claimed that
Mrs. Anna NJ. Fletcher. wife Of George
Fletcher, had had her life wrecked and
tor a n
all but disinherited. and Mrs. C. ID.
Fletcher. his mother, was ignored in
the will and Miss Selma Patterson,
sister of Fletcher's wife, was driven
from their home and their condolences.
Miss Patterson is now the contestant Of
the will.
VALUE OF THE ESTATE
Fletcher's will disposed of an es-
tate estimated at $4,000 by the pro-
ponents and 100000 by the contest
ants, with bequest of $1,000 cash to
Miss Wellendorff. an income Of $3.50
a month to Mrs. Fletcher and the final
division of the residue between Ar
timas, Miss Wellendorff and Fletcher's
sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Roman of San
Rafael. Though a beneficiary under
the will. Mrs. Roman was not charged
with plotting and the use of mental
influence. Mrs. Fletcher outlived her
,.
been no will she would have inherited
their community property, and Miss
Patterson would have been direct heir
at her death.
Countryman in making his open
statement to the jury briefly outlined
the history Of the relations between
the Fletchers and Miss We1lendorff
He said they engaged her about IS
years ago TO instruct their daughter
Martha In piano playing, and that
shortly afterward she took up her resi-
dence in the same hours. From that
time we will show said the attorney.
that Miss Wellendorff. with her force
of character, accomplishments and gen
eral disposition, won place in the life
OF Mr.. Fletcher, which she never re-
lInquished.'
INFLUENCE OF WOMAN
Another phase of this life was hinted
at when Countryman was questioning
a juror, IF 1T should be proved that a
man in Fletcher's station OF life, mem
ber of the Bohemian club of San Fran
cisco. and responsible Official in the
Southern Pacific system. had met such
woman under the circumstances I
have outlined. had lived in the same
house, and that while she was present
the man had treated his wife coldiy.
but later when the young woman was
absent renewed his former friendly re-
lations with his wife and then became
cold again with the return of the
young woman. would these affect your
Judgment If it should be shown that
he had afterward disinherited his wife
and his own mother in his will while
bounteously remembering the young
woman in question:
The hearing will be resumed today.