The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-24
V|[YSQUAW MAKES
TROUBLE
Terribly Tangled Litigation
Before GriInshaw Over
Indians Estate.
For ways that are dark and tricks
,-,in

/ The Red Skin Squaw is peculiar"
with apologies to the. shade of
Mark Twain, Artemus Ward or who
ever feels offended
| OF all the mixed pieces of litiga-
ton that ever muddled bunch OF
attorneys, the superior court of Che
/ Ian county has found the limit of
perpleXity in the legal entangle-
ments over the estate of William Ma
son; and it's all on account of
/ squaw.
/ A good many years ago an Indian
! by the name of VIM. Mason secured
a quarter section three miles above
Cashmere. The land was considered
almost worthless until the orchard
craze struck the valley.
| Old William had wife by the
name of Julia. Don't forget Julia.
She's wise old girl, even if she
hasn't been at college. Mason admit
like Julia very well, strange to say,
and drove her away from the tepee
one morning before breakfast and
told her never to return. Squaws
are more or less used to this sort
of thing, and Julia never weeped a
wope. She just went, but she has
stuck around" in the long mean
while, even after old William had
departed to his happy hunting
ground. Before the parting, how
ever, Julia gave birth to a daughter,
Lucy. Don't forget Lucy either. She
plays an important role in this In
dian drama.
! Shortly after Julia was persuaded
to leave her happy home, old Will
/ lam took another squaw. He did
not take the trouble to have the
county auditor or anybody else re-
cord the matter in legal manner.
Indians think that is all foolisbness.
Perhaps it is, but in this case the
carelessness is making all kinds of
! treble.
Four years ago Mason died and
A. F. Estes was appointed his adj
ministrator. BY order of the court
40 acres of the quarter section was
sold for $1,000 TO the highest bid
der. who happened 10 be A. L. Van
Vally, OF Everett. He was at once
seized with an intense admiration for
the balance of the $50 acres and
proceeded to set it by some means
or other. He was warned that it
would be wise to be satisfied with
the 40 until the estate was settled
by due process of law. That was
! ,s4ly h i'm, I
were hired and propositions made to
the known heirs for their various
! interests.
In this transaction Van Vally
thought he was safe for the reason
that he dealt with all the heirs re-
cogni4ed by Fstec. Maggie the sec
ond wife, was the only legal spouse
recognized by Estes, together with
her daughter Matilda, and Levy.
the daughter of Julia. Eut Julia
herself was not thought a necessary
party to the negotiations.
All was going we'll Each Of the
three heirs received cash for her in
terest. Two weeks ago they came
into court to settle up. AS the judge
was about to make the desired de-
cree, in walks Fred Reeves, inno-
Gently enough. and inquiries what is
going on. When informed OF the
little matter that is being disposed
of so amicably to all concerned, he
says: Il represent Julia Mason, the
lawful wife of William Mason. | de-
man this whole proceeding he es-
topped until my clients interests can
be adjudicated."
This bomb shell made sorry work
of Van Vally's fond hopes. The
judge ordered everything TO cease
while the claims of Julia should be
presented. 1t was shown that she
| had not been divorced: that no legal
marriage % Maggie has been re-
corded; that Julia must therefore be
recognized as the common law wife
! of deceased
Then came Lucy. JUlia's daugh-
| ter, to the witness stand and swore
that she was only II when she re-
| ceived $1,000 from Van Vally last
wear as compensation for her inter-
declared under oath that she was
10. Julia went on the stand and
confirmed Lucy's statement.
The evident purpose is to prevent
Van Vally from taking possession of
Lucy's interest until he comes
through with more cash. If success
full i'll her contention, Julia will pre-
vent Lucy from making the transfer
until Van Vally settles with herself
which makes said Van Vally say UNI
in addition to her daughter; all of
pleasant things about Indians, es-
pccially in0iaa s4uaWs.
Maggie and Mathilda have al
ready received their cash payments
and are not disposed to ask for any
thing more.
Three legal firms are wrestling
over the litigation. Merrick & Mills
of Seattle are acting for Van Vally;
Reeves e Reeves for Julia Mason;
and l.. J. Nelson, of Leavenworth,
e. ,,rtx