WCP1299

[1]

Godalming

Dec[embe]^r. 12^th. 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, or Miss. Rich— Emma Davis Rich and Anna Maria S. Smith signed the marriage Register of wh[ich] 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 Webster 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]