Description

Alice Edith Dickason (b. 1854 - d. 1907) was born in California in 1854 or 1855, the daughter of I.Q. Dickason, born in Virginia in 1822 or 1823 and Elizabeth Dickason, born in Kentucky in 1836 or 1837. At the time of the 1870 US Census, Alice was living in Prescott, Arizona.

Alice's father was the US Marshall for Arizona and defaulting revenue officer in Prescott, Arizona, who left the country after his crime was exposed. Her mother remarried and the new couple conducted themselves in a notorious manner. Alice's mother then shot a man through a door keyhole whom she claimed was spying on her privacy. She did not serve time for the incident.

Alice became infamous during the Blythe estate contest. Thomas Henry Blythe was an eccentric millionaire in California who died in 1883 without a will. Alice claimed that she was his wife and the benificiary of his estate. Another petition was filed by Florence Blythe Hinckley who claimed she was Thomas Blythe's daugher. The case was debated in court in San Francisco for years. The San Francisco court determined that Florence was the legal heir, but Alice appealed. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that Florence was Thomas Blythe's daughter and legal heir.

Alice Dickason lived in obscurity following the case. She was arrested several times for petty offenses.

Alice died in squalor on July 18, 1907 in San Francisco and was buried in Potter's field.

Sources: US Census 1870; Arizona Journal-Miner April 6, 1872; Arizona Weekly Enterprise August 3, 1899;The Mercury News "Days Gone By: Exploring the Boalt-Blythe Connection Resurrects a Landmark Legal Case August 23, 2010; The San Francisco Call July 18, 1907.