Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-10-27
Contestant in Famous viii
Case Takes Stand in His
Own Behalf and Relates His
Version 10 Jury,
SAYS CONFESSION WAS
OBTAINED BY FORCE
Trial Again Assumes SenSa-.
tionaI Aspects and Family
Skeletons Are Held Up TO
View of All,

The trial Of the contest over the
viii of the late Judge Julius Staab,
which for several days had been
dragging along IN more or less fea :
,ureless manner with reading of doc
uments ami reiteration of personal
peculiaritics Of the testator, again as
sumed mighty sensational aspect
Yesterday when Arthur Staab, the
contestant. took the stand and began
the narration TO the jury of his trou-
bles with various members of his
family
Mr. Saab was still on the stand
when court adjourned 1t O'Clock
Yesterday afternoon. His attorney,
Neil f.. Field, had taken him careful
~ over every Incident Of his life IN
any way bearing on the issues in
voNed in the case, up to the time Of
the death Of the late A. \. Staah. the
father Of tn. witness. Mr., Staab an
swerrd al questions In the most mini
ute detail. and 1t is probable that he
will he on the stand the greater part
Of the day today, as Mr.. Field had APP
parenily not much more than half
finished his examination in chief 1T
the time Of adjournment.
The witness told story OF injus-
tice and wrong done him by his
father and other members of his fam
ily--of hostility TO him and favorit-
ism 10 his brothers from his early
youth--of fidelity to the interests of
his father which was repaid by I'M
kindness and bitterness. The pith Of
his evidence was contained in his nan :
rat.ve of the scene at the reading Of
his fathers will when he said: II
knew that the rest of the family were
banded against me-"
College Career Cut Short.
Mr.. staab began his testimony WITH
an account of his education. After
attending the public schools of Santa
Re and when about IA years old, he
said, he went with his mother and
other members OF his family 10 Ger
many. where two years We're spent
and where he continued in school
Upon his return to the United States
he entered Swarthmore college, where
he continued through his junior year.
when he was taken from college by
his father. who wanted him to work
IN his office in Santa Fee.
The witness stated that he remain
ed in his fathers office from 1898 to
1891 In 1897. he stated, he per-
al .. tr fat - al m To
tend a business college in Phiiadel-
pha, during which time he worked
for small salary with a Philadelphia
firm, attending business college at
night and paying his own expenses,
At this time, he said, his brother, DR..
Edward Staab, was studying medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania,
while julius was al Harvard.
At the conclusion of his course in
the business college the witness said
that he went at his fathers insistence
back to Santa Fe and again entered
the employment of the latter as Of
flee manager and bookkeeper on an
allowance of $50 month. He re-
manned in Santa Fe in this capacity.
he said. untu 1902, when he went to
beaumont, Tex, and went into the oil
business, returning in a few months
10 Santa Fe to take charge of his
fathers business so that the latter
could go to Europe. After the re-
turn from Europe of his father the
witness said he again went to Texas
and later to Alabama. coming back to
Aaf "a N. 40 s..ts Of
other trip to Europe by his father.
This time, he stated, he remained in
Santa Fe until January, 1904.
Leaves to Get Married
On this occasion, said the witness,
he did not tell his father where he
was going. except that he was going
south" His reason, he stated, was
that he intended to be married while
away, and he knew that his father |
was opposed to his marriage TO
Gentle, having threatened him on Il
former occasion to disnherit him II |
and having broken up a former love
affair of the witness on that account. /
Prior to leaving Santa Fe, however, !
he stated that he had informed all
his brothers and sisters of his inten-
ton to be married while away.
Mr.. Staab stated that he was mar
RED TO Miss Julia Nicholson in San
Luis Potosi,. Mexico. January IL, 1904. !
After his marriage he and his bride |
Travelled in Mexico and then went -
Denver. returning to Santa F'e the lat |
ter part Of April. When they reach
ed Santa Re Mrs Staab was i'll and /
they went to a sanitarium.
The first time after his marriage !
that he saw his father. he said was |
In May, 1904, after he had returned |
TO Santa Fe with his bride. The wit |
ness and Mrs. Staab were sitting on |
bench on the plaza in the capital |
city when the elder Staab passed by |
and refused TO speak to him. He told !
Of other instances, In Albuquerque,
when he had seen his father and had |
approached him with the salutation,
Hello. Papa" and his father had
told him that he wanted to have MOTH I
Ing to do with him
Troubles With His Father.
Mr. Staab told of several instances
before his marriage, when he had had |
lrnuhlx