Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-15
REV. SAvIDGE
ADVISED HALL
TO Get MARRIED
marrying ParSOn" Gives
Testimony in Estate Con-
test Case; Offered to
Help Him Find Wife.

Rev c. w. Savidge testified yes
terday afternoon in Judge Leslie's
court in connection with the Ralph
II. Hall estate contest case.
csaete's marrying parson" was
quiszed as to his knowledge Of
whether Hall was known as bach
elor or a benedict
Il recall that on September II,
1906, Mr.. Hall drove me to the fun
eral of his friend, the late DR.. Har-
vey Link. at Willard, where / con-
Quoted the services" the witness
testified. Hall told be he was
bachelor and ! told him that he
had missed his opportunity by not
being married, and ! suggested that
he should cultivate me, as | believed
that ] could help him. i can assist
YOU yet / told him."
Hall was 20 years Of age at that
time. He died in 1916 at the age of
so.
Overheard Conversation.
Mrs. Mary Grinnel testified that
she was one of the occupants of the
funeral carriage in which the min
lister and Hall rode. She stated that
she overheard Hall tell Rev. Mr..
Savidge that he was a bachelor and
heard the minister tell Hall that he
Shout be ashamed for not having
married"
The principal issue involved in the
case is whether the domestic rela-
tions of Hall and the late Mrs.
Nancy ]. Pollock, during a period of
nearly rs years, constituted COM
monrlaw marriage.
Burt Hutchinson lived for many
years with Hall and Mrs. Pollock
and he was introduced as a witness
who had intimate knowledge of their
affairs. The witness testified that
when he mentioned the subject of
formal marriage to Hall, the latter
replied that it was nobody's bust
ness how he lived.
Born in Omaha.
Mrs. Elizabeth Malmstean, who is
making a fight in Judge Leslie's
court for 4 share of the estate of
the late Ralph H. Hall, was born in
Omaha 80 years ago. Her mother
was an actress, we'll known on the
stage in years gone by
The baby of this former actress
was adopted by Miss Nancy Max
we'll who later became the wife of
the late Rev. Thomas H. Pollock,
United Presbyterian minister, iden-
tilted with church affairs in Sarpy
county
Mrs. Pollock lived fer many years
on the farm of Ralph H. Hall, near
Ralston, and in the case now being
heard the adopted daughter of Mrs.
Pollock is contending that her fos-
was the common-law
wife Of Hall, and that she, Elizabeth
Malmstean, is entitled to share of
a 100000 estate.
Guards Mothers Name.
Mrs. Malmstean's natural mother,
after leaving the stage, married
prominent and wealthy man and
they resided in Minneapolis for
years. Mrs. Malmstean is guarding
the identity of her mother J a mat
ter too sacred to reveal. Six years
ago she went to Minneapolis to visit
her mother.
During Friday mornings session
Of the hearing Mrs. Clara RAIDER tes-
tilted that Mrs. Nancy Pollock fire.
quently attended the United Pres
byterian church in South Omaha
and that she received a pension as
the widow of Rev. Mr.. Pollock.
Mrs. Nancy w Moss testified that !
Mrs. Pollock made herself known
on various occasions as the widow
OF Rev Mr.. Pollock rather han the |
wife Of Ralph H. Hall.
Other witnesses have testified |
that Mrs. Pollock AMI Mr.. Hall |
were generally understood to have |
been eommonlaw wife and husband.
Farm Involved.
The property in litigation includes
800 acres of farm land near Ralston.
Mrs. Malmstean was an adopted
daughter of Mrs. Nancy ]. Pollock
before the Iatter's common-law mar
rage to Hall. The defendants are
contending that Mrs Pollock was
only a housekeeper in the Hall
household.