Collins

Plaintiffs bring the action to foreclose a mortgage on property in Riverside County, given by defendant to secure her promissory note for two thousand dollars, May 27, 1892, due five years after date, with ten per cent annual interest. The note and mortgage were given to Julia Mann, but the money was furnished by Bridget Collins, to whom Julia executed an assignment. Bridget came from Ireland about 1865 and took service as a cook with defendant at St. Louis, Missouri, and worked for her sixteen or seventeen years, and it was there she accumulated this money. Her two brothers, plaintiffs in the action, have for many years resided in St. Louis. As near as we can determine from the evidence, Bridget came to California in 1891. She worked for others several months, and came to defendant and remained about a year. Later Bridget worked for another family, and in the latter part of 1893 her health failed her and she was taken to defendant’s home and eared for. Defendant testified: “She was a good deal over sixty,” and could neither read ñor write. In December, 1893, Bridget determined to return to St. Louis for the advice of a doctor who had been successful formerly in treating her.…