The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1843-01-27
MiS@csli1tgeoGg.
LUCY CRAWFORD
OR
TIE FORG WILL.
CON- NJ E D.


have KEEP, close"
Bolton attempted 10 sne, but his lip quivcrcd
and ,whched and the express on Of his face be-
came perfectly ghasl'y.
Be mani will you? mu,tered IIiggs, savngcly.
No nonsense now lfyou be'ray us you'll have
to reckon with me. Your lawyers looking at you
aud YOU say he's not in the plot. Laugh man,
laugh believe he half suspects something
glance showed Bolton that although Mr Whit
man seemed engaged in pcruslns paper which
he held in his hand, he was in reality wabhins
him. He mu,tcred few incohcrent words 10
llggs, and walked or with n loud laugh As he
did so he met Mr. Fisk, who at that nomen, enter
ed the Office with Mr. Cubil at his heels, carrying
Two aw-books under his arm, and a pen over his
ear. Mr. Fisl, glanced at Bolton, and passed on,
withoa, speaking to him; and so did Mr. Cuihill.-I
Mr. Fisk nodded TO the surrogate. who answered II
by an inclination of the head; and Mr. Culhlll be-
ins in doubt whether he nigh, venture on the
same familiarity wilha surrogate, bowed to the
the man in afri2zled wig
Mr. Fisk placed his In, on the table, and threw in
it bundle of papers, which he had in his hond'
and then nodded to Mr. Iawlcy. Mr. Culbil there
upon placed his ha, on the table; laid his two law
books by the side of il, and advanced and shook
hands with Nj Rawey sociab'y; and finding that
Mr. Fisk had seated himself, he immediately fol.
lowed his cSnmpe.
Ifyou are ready, gentlemen, we will proceed,
said Mr. Jaeger.
Il am ready, Sir said Mr. Fisk, untying his pa
pcrs and spreading them on the table, Mr. Culb'!l
forthwith made three pens, tore several sheets of
paper in halves and prepared to take vouminOns
notes. Mr. Whitman, after few moments spen,
in looking over paper which he ncIG in his hand,
rose on The opposite side Of the table, and said that
he appeared on the part Of Reuben Bolton, To ask
that the last will and testament Of John Crawford,
late of this city deceased, be admitted TO prob,tc,
and letters ieslamon,ary granted to him us the en-
ecutor, ramel in it, The proper order, he said,
had already been entered, on pccn heretofore
made by the executor, who at that time had
furnished due proof Of the death Of the tcstalor.--
The ,es,alor he continued had lett but one chi'l,n
daughter, surviving him; who could properly GENE
neither under the head of heir-Ht. law, ror next of
kin, she being Legitimate. A citation had never.
th,ess been served on her, notifying her Of the
time appointed for Probate of the will; so that she
might appear and make any opposition she thought
fit. lie understood that it was her intention TO
rcsis, this application of the executor; but Of the
position assumed b; her in such opposition he was
ignorant, lie would proceed 10 prove due service
Of the summons, and wonld then produce witness
ses to show the cxccnlionol the will.
After reading an affidavit, proving the service
of the summons; he sat down, and whispered
few moments with Bolton, who was seated II, his
elbow, aud called William lirgs
1t was II moment of intense anxiety TO Eolion,
when llsss took his stand. Tic fixed keen
hawk-eye on him, as the oath was administered To
him. But there was nothing 10 fear for liggs was
II man whose nerves were of iron; and Of the two
the Attorney was the most ogi,ntod liggs seem
ed TO be Of the same opinion; for us his eye wan
dered around the room, il fell on that Of Bolton
with n look fall Of stern warning and menace. 1t
But the Attorney understood it; and leaning his
head forward, to hide his face he pretended 10 be
engaged in reading.
What's your n1me' asked Mr. Jaeger. drawing
Shoe, ofpapcr 10 him, and dipping his pen in n
large stone ink-sarJ.
William iIiggs, replied the witness
The Surrogate took it down. Gentlemen, pro-
coed
Mr. Whitman rose, and taking The WILL unfold
ed it and placed i, in llgss hands, he then walk
ed deliberately back 10 his seat, pnt on his spec
tacles, took up II pen, and prepared to make notes
ofhe answers of the witness.
In whose hand writing is the second signature
to the a,eSialon- clause Of that viii, aud By whom
was it pu, there'' said he.
1t is mine, and wrote it. replied iIggs.
On villa, occason' asked llr Whitman, without
raising his eyes from the paper on which Ilc was
writing.
At The time that the vii WIS signed by NIr GRAVY.
ford, replied Iliggs, in lim, clear voice.
lie good enough to state 10 the court the man
ner in which it was executed, and how YOU came
to attest it. Raise your voice
I!Is' paused IL moment, and then slated that he |
together with Wilkins had gone 10 the oiice of
Bolton TO transt ct business Of their own. On
arriving, they found Nr Crawford also there with
Bolton lie was reading paper which he after.
ward informed them wns his vi When lie had
completed the pcrusal Of it. he was DESTROYS Of
executing ii on the spot, and proposed to Wilkins
aai himself 10 become the witness TO lis execution
On their asserting, he declared j, 10 bc his las; /
will and testament, subscribed it in their presence,
and they witnessed 1t in his.
Not SO fast, interrupted Air Fisk, who was Ia