-. .4~:..-;.. . \ v‘ x . 'WEEIII'.,Y - N() n WL AK - G A Harris". ‘ - 1 ‘. \ BIG BIIIIIS FOR Beneficiaries of Joseph Richardson’s Will to Clash. THE PRIZE IS $30,000,000. The Decedent Was the 'Owner of the Fa mous "Spite House" In New York—Ali Kinds of Claimants, One of Them an Inmate of a Poor-house. New York, Aug. 6.—The many heir: who lay claim to the $30,000,000 left by Joseph Richardson of “spite house’ fame will commence their fight in ear nest before the surrogate tomorrow. When Joseph Richardson, this eccen- ric millionaire, died in his narrow home at 1218 Lexington avenue, last June,_the enormous amount of money, etc., he left behind startled the town and nu- merous heirs popped up on all sides. The claimants represent every phase of life. They are mostly, however, plain people. Among them is a cripple, and one is the inmate of a poorhouse. As if to perpetuate the spiteful spirit that clung to him- in life, Joseph Rich- ardson, it appears, left behind him two wills, apparently for no other purpose than to complicate the settlement and division of the hoard of gold which he loved so well and with which he parted so reluctantly. Although there is a host of claimants for the Richardson millions, the contest will resolve itself into a legal duel be- tween two women, who will fight for the largest prize that has ever been adjudi- cated by the courts of this or any other land. . On the one side as a petitioner for the admission to probate of the first will, which bears the date of Oct. 29, 1894, will be Della Grace Richardson, the on- ly daughter of the deceased. \Vidow Wants Her Mite. On the other side will be the widow, Mrs. Joseph Richardson, who seeks to secure the admission of the will of April 24, 1897, which gives her a. third of the $30,000,000. There is a bitter and long standing enmity existing between these two wo- men,and the fight which they will make will be unrelenting. To obtain an adequate understanding of the situation it must be recalled that at the time of the interment of Million- aire Richardson 2. will was read to the assembled relatives which bore the date of April 24, 1897, by the terms of which will one-third of his property was to be given to his widow and one- third to each of his two children by his first wife, and, in addition, $50,000 was bequeathed to the Rev. H. M. Warren, his pastor, and $17,500 to the Central Park Baptist church, on East Eighty— third street. A Since the reading of this will the daughter, Dolls. and the son, George. have presented another will, dated Oct. 29, 1894. by which their father’s estate is divided equally between them, while the widow and other beneficiaries men- tioned in the latter will are utterly ig- nored. ~ Both wills are been filed with the surrogate. The will of 1894 was the first to be presented, but without a pe— tition at the time for its probate. The second will was then filed for Mrs. Richardson by her counsel. Since the filing of the second will a petition for the probate of the first has been made. The Second Chapter. Surrogate Fitzgerald has issued or- ders citing the heirs of the late Joseph Richardson to show cause tomorrow why the will made this year and that made in 1894 should not be probated. This opens the second act in the do- mestic drama which was begun when the master of the “spite hcuse” breath- ed his last. When the counsel for the contestants present their claims fer the executor of the wills tomorrow, a great legal battle will be put under way. George Richardson and his sister, Della Grace Richardson, will be rep- resented by Miller, Peckham & Dixon. The counsel for Mrs. Joseph Richardson and the beneficiaries of the second will will be Darlington & Jenkins. In speaking of the case, Mr. John S. Jenkins said today: “The surrogate has issued orders cit- ing the heirs of the late Mr. Richard- son to show cause why the will made this year, which divides the estate equally among the widow and the two children by his first wife, should not be admitted to probate. . “An order has also been issued af fecting the will of 1891. “This leaves no‘room for doubt that a bitter contest will be precipitated. I “We feel assure .that we can estab- lish the fact tha , r.” Richardson was capable to execute. a will On April 24, 1897, and if this is‘done there will be nothing that can hinder the last will from standing valid. “Our client, Mrs. Richardson, is at present out of town. We are to con- duct the case for her and the others in- terested in the will of 1897." I __ I ; Fifteen Hundred Natives Killed. London, Aug. 6.—'I‘he Evening News this afternoon publishes a letter from a Calcutta volunteer, reiterating the statement that during the recent riot- ing there the artillery fired point blank at a mob of 5,000 mill hands who were. marching to join the rioters, with the result that 1,500 of the natives were killed. Leatherstocking Winner ofthc Komptnwn. London, A.ug.\6.—At the third day’s racing of the Brighton August meeting today Richard Croker’s brown colt Leatherstocking ran a dead heat with the Daisy Wreath filly in the. race for the Kemptown plate. The heat was run off later, and Leatherstocking won. In- vergold was given third place. Serious (‘nvairv Accident. London, Aug. 6.———A special dispatch from Reins. where the great French military camp is situated, says that during the cavalry maneuvers two squadrons of the Sixteenth dragoons came into collision, with the result that one man was killed and several were dangerously hurt. Glove-air" if III-feats Avoca. Pointe Claire; Que, Aug. ,6.—Glen- cairn II won the first of the races be— tween the'yachts Avoca and Glencairi: II to decide- r:hich shall defend the Sea- wanhaka cup. IIIII IIIIINIS. A Decision Against ilrs. Ross In the King Will Contest. AN IMMENSE SUM INVOLVED She Asset-ts That the Man Who Died In an Insane Asylum Under the Name of King Was Her Uncle, and That King ‘Vas Not His Name at. All. New York, Aug. 6.——Mrs. Eugenia Ale- theia Webster Ross has lost another point in her legal fight for the $30,000,- 000 estate left by William Henry King, who died on March 6 in a Providence asylum for the insane. Surrogate Arnold handed down a de- made by Mrs. Ross for letters of admin- istration on King‘s estate. What em- phasizes the woman’s defeat is that Surrogate Arnold says that her claim is unsupported by evidence, and there- fore he appoints George Gordon King and Sarah K. Birckhead administrators of the decedent’s-property in this state, which is valued at more than $1,000,000- Little is known about the family his- tory of King. For several years before his death Mrs. Ross had been endeav- oring to get King out of the asylum, where he had been placed by his brothers, David and George G. King. -During all this time she insisted that she was the next of kin of the man in the asylum under the name of William Henry King, but insisted, and still in- sists, that this man was not William Henry King, but that he was her uncle who had gone under the name of King. After the death of the man in the asy- lum Mrs. Ross came forward and de- manded his estate. When the King family refused to recognize her claim and declared it to be absurd, she insti- tuted a number of suits in the courts of Rhode Island and this state to get the estate, asserting that she was next of kin of the decedent. Mrs. Ross has refused to tell the name of the man who, she asserts, died in the asylum under the name of King. She has said that this man was her uncle and that he fled from Massachusetts many years ago to avoid prosecution for some crime, the nature of which she does not reveal. She says he went to China and adopted the name Of William Henry King, who, she asserts, mysteri— ously disappeared. Worth $30,000,000. The woman also asserts that the man adopted the name of King at the re— quest of the King family so as to con- tinUe a certain business started by the family in China. After many years in China, Mrs. Ross asserts, her relative returned to this country worth $30,000,- 000, and the King family, fearing that he would reveal his identity, had him committed to an asylum. In his opinion denying Mrs. Ross’ ap- plication for letters of administration on the estate Surrogate Arnold says: “Two petitions have been filed herein, one by Eugenia A. W. Ross, claiming to be a niece'of the decedent and his only next of kin, for letters of adminis- tration upon his estate, the other by George Gordon King and Sarah K. Birckhead for letters of administration upon the same estate ancillary to let- ters granted to them March 27, 1897, by the probate court of the city of New— port.” After reviewing some of the le— gal points presented and affidavits filed Surrogate Arnold considers the respec- tive claims in part as follows: “It is conceded that the deceased re- sided in Rhode Island at the time of his death, and, as appears from the exem- plified record submitted by. the petition- ers in the second proceeding, domicil- iary letters of administration were granted to them, and they claim to be nephew and niece and of the nearest next of kin of the intestate. "The controversy appears to be in re- spect to the identity of the latter. That there was a William Henry King, who was the uncle of the domiciliary admin- istrators, there is no doubt, nor that after completing his education at col- lege and quite early in his life he Went to China. The administrators claim that he was there engaged in business for a number of years and returned to Newport, his birthplace; that he there- after lived at that place for several years; that be accumulated a consid- erable fortune in China, which he aug- mented by successful investments and speculations after his return, and that he eventually became of unsound mind and was committed to an asylum fox the insane,'at which and in a similai institution he passed the remainder of his life.” Mrs. Ross' Story. Coming down to Mrs. Ross’ story, Surrogate Arnold says: “Mrs. Ross ap- parently claims that the same person who engaged in business in China was known by the name of William H. King, accumulated the property refer- red to and thereafter came to and re- sided for some time in Newport and was subsequently committed to insane asylums and who died in one of them and was the decedent upon whose es- tate letters of administration are now asked for, was not the William Henry King who was the uncle of the person: now applying for ancillary administra- tion, but was her uncle, and was not related to them in any manner, and she also claims that he was not, in fact, insane, and there is an intimation that he was immured in the asylum afore- said by the King family Of Newport, to \which the other petitioners belong, in order to prevent him from contracting a marriage which he had contemplated and in order to secure possession of and succession to his property. She does not give the real name of her uncle whom she seeks to identify as the de- cedent, nor does she furnish any proof showing that he ever went to China, but says that he disappeared many years ago, was supposed by his mother and family-to be dead and was so treat- ed by the courts where her grandpar- ents resided and died. “I have," says Surrogate Arnold, “gone through all the affidavits pre- sented by her (some Of which were not made in either of the present proceed- ings and might fairly be objected to on that ground) with much care and have given them full consideration, but they fail to convince me that she was related in any manner to the' decedent, while the proofs presented on the part of the other petitioners satisfy me that their relationship to him is as stated in their petition." . l cision today denying an application» A MURDEROUS DAUGHTER. Demented Louise Hanptmann Almost De- capitates Her Mother. St. Louis, Aug. 5.—All St. Louis is talking of the remarkable tragedy at 4718 Greer avenue, by which Mrs. Peter Hauptmann, the aged wife of a whole- sale tobacconist, lost her life. Mr. Hauptmann, the husband of yes- terday’s victim, is reputed to be many times a millionaire. He was one of the most important witnesses for the prose- cution in the recent Tobacco trust trials in New York. It was at first supposed Mrs. Haupt- mann had committed suicide and so re- ported to the first policeman who reach- ed the house. Later investigation show- ed that Mrs. Hauptmann, who was 60 years old and feeble, had been murder- ed in her sleep by her daughter Louise. LouiSe is 32 years old. She has been mentally unbalanced for a long time, but the family have cared for her at home, not Wishing to place her under the rigid restraint of a public mad- house. Mrs. Hauptmann lay down on the lounge in the hallway to take a nap. Her daughter by a former marriage, Fredericka, was in the basement en- gaged in some ‘houschold duty. Her son Will was also asleep in the house. On the second floor was the daughter Louise. Soon after Mrs. Hauptmann had fallen into a doze it is supposed that Louise came down stairs, went into the dining room, got the bread- knife and went back into the hall,.where her mother was asleep. It is believed that she drew the knife across her mother’s throat, as the knife was found beside the lounge upon which Mrs. Hauptmann took her nap. The girl then went into the dining room and asked for something to eat. This attracted the attention of Will Hauptmann, who went to call his moth- er. When he entered the hall, he found her writhing on the floor, blood spurt— ing from a terrible gash in her throat. He raised an alarm, and Fredericka rushed upstairs. The mother strug- gled to her feet and gasped words which her children interpreted to be. “She did it!” She then fell into the arms of Fredericka, dead. Peter Hauptmann, her husband, was summoned and the police were notified. Policeman Looney guarded the prem— ises and waited for instructions as to whether he should arrest Louise. When Louise was told that her mother was dead, she broke into a wild laugh. It has been the custom of the family to keep Louise in a special room. In some manner she escaped from it and went to rummaging about the house. Since last Sunday Louise has been in a bad humor. It seems that she is untidy and inclined to be careless with regard to her personal appearance. Her moth- er insisted that she take a bath on Sun- day. and she demurred, whereupon the mother and Fredericka undertook to wash her. She fought fiercely, but was overpowered finally and bathed. To this circumstance is ascribed Louise’s intense hatred for her mother. mani- fested since Sunday and culminating in this tragic manner. Deputy Coroner Lloyd viewed the body late in the afternoon. He found the neck almost severed. STBERS STOP A FUNERAL. A CarriageSVnS Smashed and Two Persons \Vere Injured. Cincinnati. Aug. 5.—While the funeral procession which was taking the body of John Mulvihill to the grave was passing Sycamore and Church streets a drove of steers passed. Several of the animals got into a fight and ran into the carriages. A carriage. which con- tained Policemen John Connor and ex- Alderman Richard Fennis, was smash- ed. and both were thrown to the street and severely iniured. The members of the dead man’s family jumped from their carriage and ran into a house. Men pounded the brutes on the heads with clubs and stones. but were una- ble to separa‘n them. Thev ran against the hearse and almost unset it. All the mourners and people on the streets were frightered. and several of them had narrow escapes from being tram- pled to death. A large number of men made a ruSh on the animals. which were finally drivcn away. An Iowa Colony In Alabama. Belle Plain, Ia., Aug. 5.——A ‘number of Iowa families have secured a con- cession of 6.000 acres of land in Shelby county, Ala, 30 miles south of Bir- mingham. The tract is to be laid out on the colony plan, but each colonist will own his own property. The tract of land is in the great fruit and dairy belt of the state. Each colonist will get a 30 acre home for about $350. Energetic Burglars These. Oneonta, N. Y., Aug. 5.——Burglars broke into the store of V. I. & A. R. Hoke at Morris and blew Open "the safe, securing nothing of value. They broke open the First National bank there, where they stole two revolvers, but were frightened away before attempt- ing the safe. They also stole a horse and buggy belonging to S. D. Wing. which was found today. A Great College For Shanghai. San Francisco, Aug. 5.—Dr. John Freyer, professor of oriental languages and literature of the state university. has arrived from China, where he has been in consultation with high govern- ment Officials about the founding of a great college which will soon bebuilt at Shanghai for the education of Chi— nese in Western art, sciences and liter- ature. France Expecting Favor. Paris, Aug. 5.—Le Gaulois today pub— lishes an interview with the minister of commerce, M. Boucher, in which he is quoted as saying that it “should not for a. moment be doubted that President McKinley will spontaneously grant France 20 per cent tariff reduction, as permitted by the Dingley bill.”- Tilak Admitted to Bail. Bombay, Aug. 5.———Gangadhar Tilak. the native member of the legislative council and publisher of The Kesari. who was formally committed for trial on Monday last, charged with inciting the natives to disaffection, has been ad- mitted to bail in the sum of 100,000 rupees. One Day's Government Receipts. Washington, Aug. 5.—Nationa1 bank notes received today for redemption, ' $313,594; government receipts from ‘in- I ternai revenue, $254,080; customs, $394,- 645: miscellaneous, $19,084. THE MUTUAL LIFE IINSURANL‘RIIU. ‘ OF NEW YORK. ‘ RICHARD A. MCGURDY, President. Statement III the Year Endint Ilacemher 3lsI, l89. According to the Standard of the Insurance Department of the State of New York. ' INCOME, Received for Premiums - - - _ From all Other Sources - - . , , - $ 39,593,4l4 20 l0,l08,28l 07 ——_—.—._. .— -—_ $ 49,702,695 27 _ DISBURSEMENTS, To Policy-holders for Olaims by Oeaih - - - - To Policy-holders for Endowments, Dividends, eIc. - - - For all Oiher Accdunls - - - . - - - ASSETS. United SIaIes Bonds and other Securiiie - - - - FirsI lien Loans on Bond and Mortgage Loans on Slacks and Bonds ’ - - - - . Ileal Eslaie - - Oash in Banks and Trust companies - - - - . lccued Inieesi, IIeI Oefeed Pemiums, eIc-‘ .- - - - 3 I2,595,I|3 39 l2,842,456 ll IO,18|‘,OOS O4 $36,2IO,515 I4 I I I O,I25,00Z I4 II,543,929 ll,09 22,161,656 so I2,BOO,39O on 6,535,555, 06 $ 231%?48—8—2 Reserve for Policies and oiher liabilities - - - - - ZE’ELOEPMJE Surplus - - - - - - - - - S igililifilifll Insurance and Annuities in force - - - - S 9|O,698,338 45 I have carefully examined the foregoing Statement and find the same to be correct liabilities calculated by the insurance Department CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor. From the Surplus a. dividend will be apportioned as usual Report of the Examining Committee . Office of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York T 0 THE HONORABLE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MUTUAL LIFE IIISUIIAIIOE OOMPAIIY OF MEN YOIIK The undersigned, a Committee apppointed by your honorable body on the twentv- third day of December, I896, to examine the Annual Statement of the Company, and verify the same, respectfully REPORT That, pursuant to the power and authority thereby conferred,.the Committee have at various dates betweent . ate of the said reference and the date cf this Report attended at the cfiice of the Company, and have been waited on by the Treasurer, the Comptroller, the Auditor and and the Cashier, together With the the respective aSSIStamS or such officers, and have care- fully gone over all,the items contained in the said Statement, and have found the same to be correct. They have examined and counted every certificate of stock, bond and other obligation held by the Company, and compared the price at which the . same are carried in said Statement with the market quotations and find the same not exceeding such quotations—in fact, in i manv cases below them. They have examineo and counted the bonds and mortgages on real property held by the Company, and find the same to be as stated. They have also verified the valuations of the Company’s holdings of real estate and have verified the deposits of money in the various banks and trust companies, and have counted the cash on hand held by the (2881:1313 the Committee certify that all the books, papers. documents and evidences of title of every description necessary in such examination have been freely submitted to the Committee by the said emcers and their aSSIStants, and that the same are accurate, in good order and well kept. _ . .. And the Committee further certify that the investments of the Company are of a high order, and that the system and methods adopted by the Company in recording its transactions and caring for the assets are entitled to commendation ROBERT OLYPHAN'I‘ J. HOBART HERRICK JAMES N. JARVIE CHARLES D. DICKEY, JB. JAMES C. HOLDEN CHARLES R. HENDERSON All Of which is respectfully submitted NEW Y’OBK. J ANUABY 25, 1897. The company has issued an order whereby women can be insured without the extra charge heretofore required. More definite information on the subject will be furnished by the local agent, Mr. A H. Camp. , . Board of Trustees GEORGE G. HAvEN ADRIAN ISELIN J R: GEORGE S. BOWDOIN THEO. A. HAVEMEYER WILLIAM C. WHITNEY - WILLIAM ROCKEFELLER JAMES N. JARvIE CHAS D. DICKEY JR. ELERIDGE T. GERRY HENRY H. ROGERS J No. W AUCHINCLOSS THEODORE MORFOBD WILLIAM BAECOCK STUYVESAN'I‘ FISH AUGUSTUS D. J UILLIARD CHARLES E. MILLER WALTER R GILLETTE H. WALTER WEBB FREDERIC CROMWELL JULIEN T. DAVIES ROBERT SEWELL S, V. R. CRUCER CHARLES R. HENDERSON RUFUS W. PECEHAM J. HOBART HERRICK WM P DIXON ROBERT A. GRANNISS ROBERT A GRAN NISS Vice-President. WALTER R. GILLETTE, General Manager. ISAAC F. LLOYD, 2d Vice-President. HENRY E. DUNCAN, JR, Corresponding Secretary WILLIAM ‘J. EAS'I‘ON, Secretary. ALBERT KLAMROTH, ASSistant Secretary FREDERIC CROMW ELL, Treasurer. . JOHN A. FONDA, Assistant Treasurer. JAMES TIMPSON.,2d. Assistant Treasurer. WILLIAM P, SANDS, Cashier. ' EDWARD P. HOLDEN, Assistant Cashier. EMORY MCCLINTOCK, Actuary. JOHN TATLOCK, JR , Assistant Actuary. CHARLES A, PRELLER, Auditor. WILLIAM W. RICHARDS, Comptroller. 0. CLIFFORD GRETSIN GER, ASsistant Auditor. HENRY S. BROWN, Assistant Comptroller- ‘ " JOHN C. ELLIOT, Superintendent of Domestic Agencies. ED WARD LYMAN SHORT. General Solicitor. MEDICAL DIRECTORS: GRANVILLEflMWBITE, A; 2 J SAMUEL D, BABCOCK RICHARD A. MCCURDY JAMES C. HOLDEN HERMANN C. VON BOST LEWIS MAY OLIVER HARRIMAN ROBERT OLYPHAN'I GEORGE F. BAKER DUDLEY OLCOT'I‘ ELIAS J. MARSH, M. D- GUSTAVUS S. WINSTON, M. D. JOHN W. N 10301-5 "" ""'-"’ "”s'lil'.‘.‘i'l'.§i".‘.u..I-_ .Locai Agent. .. I / A. H. CAME. i . >, . ~. it x . . , l.
Norwalk Chronicler