WCP1299

Godalming

Dec^r. 12th. 1887

My dear Fanny¹

The difficult point is to prove that the Mary Wallace² who was married at St Pancras 23 years ago, is now alive in California & is the claimant of this property. A continuous series of letters would prove it. Have you any letters of Mary’s 5, 10, 15 and 20 years old? Did she correspond regularly with any one else — Mrs. Clutsom,³ or Miss. Rich⁴— Emma Davis Rich and Anna Maria S. Smith⁵ signed the marriage Register of wh. I have now a certified copy. Do you know [2] either of them? Of course I am the best witness & would be in a Court, but the lawyer objects to me as a near relation [.] The mere knowing the Websters is no good. It is the identity of Mary ^now, with the Mary Webster daughter of Michael Webster⁶ mentioned in the Yorkshire Will, that is the point. If Mrs Clutsom has corresponded with Mary continuously she can prove this.

Yours very faithfully │affectionate Brother │ Alfred R. Wallace [signature]