The Strange Journey of a Dismissal Letter
A delayed letter of dismissal, postmarked weeks after it was written, adds a layer of intrigue to the high-stakes probate battle surrounding the Yesler estate.
Proceedings in the hearing of Mrs. Yesler before Justice Humes continued with the cross-examination of Mrs. Fay. A notable portion of the testimony focused on the mysterious timeline of a letter of dismissal sent by Mrs. Yesler to Dr. H. L. Smith. Dated December 12, the letter was not mailed until January 25, the day of the arrest of the three doctors involved in the Yesler estate controversy. Mrs. Fay provided testimony regarding secret conferences between the accused, a visit to Drs. Jordan and Van Buren where she revealed her knowledge of a will, and her observations of the Yesler residence, describing whispers and nighttime meetings. The witness identified the letter of dismissal, which was produced in court, and noted that it took from December 12 to January 25 to travel from the Yesler residence to the Starr-Boyd block. Counsel for the defense and prosecution engaged in sharp exchanges, with Mrs. Fay at one point becoming visibly emotional while correcting the record regarding her family's history. The court adjourned until the following morning.
“I am not to get excited at all.”
The Yesler estate trials were a massive, public obsession in early Seattle, highlighting the intersection of money, influence, and medical power. Today, such probate disputes regarding the estates of city founders are less public, but the scrutiny of Seattle’s elite circles remains a fixture of civic life.
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