Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-12
CLOSE GUARD KEPT
ON TURNBULL GIRL
Claimant to Baldwin Millions Not
Permitted to Send Out
Letters
INTERESTED IN HER FRIENDS
Central Figure of Sensational
Case Seems Unconcerned
on Eve of Trial
INTERESTED IN HER FRIENDS

The central figure in a legal battle,
involving more money than any will
contest in the history of California,
17-year-old Beatrice Anita Baldwin
Turnbull was yesterday the calmest
of all those associated with her in
her fight for a fortune which begins
today before Judge Rives in depart
ment two of the superior court. While
those about her were thinking and
talking of legal points, court moves
and the whereabouts of witnesses, Miss
Turnbull gave her thoughts to a novel
and was obviously interested in any
thing concerning her young girl and
young men friends.
But while the dreamy eyed young
Baldwin claimant gossiped of almost
anything except the will case, those
about her were very careful that she
should not forget the matter entirely
For instance, Miss Turnbull has not
made a move since her arrival in Los
Angeles unless she was accompanied
by another woman who is known as
her companion, installed with her by
her relatives and guardian, and who
keeps careful watch over everything
she does.
Yesterday the girls guardian, Leo J.
Mcguire, admitted that in view of the
magnitude of the contest in which she
is involved unusual precautions had
been taken to watch over Miss Turn
bull. A few days ago her companion
reported to her attorneys that Miss
Turnbull had written a letter to
young friend.
LETTER is NEVER SENT
Immediately the letter was taken
from the young woman and submitted
to her chief counsel, Walter B. Grant.
Although it contained nothing but girl
ish prattle the attorney advised that
at this time the young lady write no
letters and the epistle never was sent.
Yesterday great excitement prevailed
among the Turnbull retinue because
the young woman slipped away from
her companion and sent a telephone
message. Although the message was
one of no Importance it was immediate
ly traced down and weighed before the
excitement subsided.
The attorneys for the young claim
ant assert that a swarm of detectives
employed by the other side is watching
every move of the young girl and those
who surround her. 1t is claimed that
detectives followed the Turnbulls on
their recent trip east and engaged ad-
Joining rooms in order to watch them
while they were at hotel in san
Francisco. In view of these alleged
circumstances the special precautions
have been taken to avoid prying eyes
at the Newmaryton hotel on Olive
street. between Third and Fourth,
where the Turnbulls are now stopping.
The case is set for 2 o'clock this
afternoon, but it is expected that 1t VIII
require several days to secure jury
and begin the trial.
WANTS SHARE OF $1l,OO0,OOO
Miss Turnbull, who was born in Los
Angeles and has lived most of her life
in Boston, Mass, will come into pos
session of two-ninth's of Lucky Bald
wins 81, 1,000,000 estate if successful in
proving that she is the daughter of the
dead turfman. She is represented by
an array of legal talent that promises
stubborn and bitter fight Tor the
sharing of the vast estate.
The girls mother, Mrs. Lillian Ash
lev Turnbull, it is claimed, lived with
Baldwin under what was supposed to
be a common law marriage agreement.
The original of the agreement which is
said to have been signed by Mrs. Ash
ley and the turfman is now in the pos
session of Fl. A. Unruh, executor of the
estate, it is claimed, and the girls at
torneys have formally demanded that
the agreement be produced at the trial
The California law provides that a
child of void marriage, which that
of Mrs. Ashley and Baldwin proved
to be, shall nevertheless be regarded
as a legitimate child.
The name of Beatrice Anita Bald
win Turnbull was not mentioned by
Baldwin when he made his will divid-
ing his property among his children,
widow and "a few friends. 1t is
claimed, however, that such an omis-
sion does not necessarily infer that
the father meant to disinherit the
child but that he unintentionally for
got her, thus making the will void. She
is entitled to share of the estate
under this presumption If the facts as
to the marriage and parentage can be
ascertained.
Beatrice Anita Baldwin's mother
went east a number of years ago and
married William Turnbull. The girl
was later legally adopted by them but
the Massachusetts statute under those
conditions does not bar inheritance
from her natural father.