The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-12
TINE ROWLAND Will CASE.

a Niece on Account of Family DiR-
cu1ties. H
& BosToN, October s-The "Howland will case"
is in the Courts again, and Is attracting good
deal OF attention, not only locally but publicly.
For more than httY years the leading firm in che
wealthy city Of New Bedford has been that OF
Isaac Rowland, Jr. Co., the Junior member OF
the nrm being Gideon Howland, son-in-law OF
1saac. The hrm was established IN 1872, and
with q capital OF less than 100000 invested in
the whale Mbery, the business OF the firm In
creased to dearly SO, 100000 They were agents
Tor large number OF ships. Whales were
plenty. Kerosene was then unknown and gas
was but little used, and consequently the profits
OF the firm were enormous, and fortune was
made very rapidly. In 1920 Mr.. Thomas Man
dali was admitted into the firm as a partner,
and at the death of the senior member the bust
ness was continued and conducted by gideon
Howland and MIR. Mandall. -,
In 1888 Mr.. Edward Mott Robinson married
Mise Abby s. Howland, daughter oil Gideon.
Mr.. Mott became a member OF the nrm, ana tne
business continued as successful as ever. In
1850 Gideon Howland, the only surviving part
ner OF the original house, died, leaving an
immense property, which was divided between
Mrs. Robinson and his only daughter, Miss
sylvia Ann Rowland. Following the death of
MIR. Howland, Miss Rowland became member
of the house, MIR. Mandall being at the head OF
the same, and doing all the business. He also
managed the immense property of Mrs. Robin
SOD, and conducted the business to her entire
satisfaction. Mr.. Mott was not generally liked
by all persons who came in contact with him.
He was universally known as hard-natured,
close, business man, yet he was some
times inclined to call all men dishonest except
ing Thomas Mandall." In 1861 Mr.. Robinson
withdrew from the tirm in New Bedford and
removed to New York, where he made busi-
ness connection with the drm of William L.
Coleman Co., shippers and commission mer-
chants. Before leaving the scene where he had
accumulated so much wealth from out of tue
deep waters and while member OF the firm of
Isaac Rowland, Jr. & Co., large portion of
hIC 10 po mi in 10 ch
business. Mrs. Robinson dled in New Bediort
in 1859, or some time prior to her husbands re-
moval to New York. Miss Hetty Robinson, his
daughter, continued to reside with her aunt,
Miss Rowland, in New Bedford.
MIR. Robinson died in the early part of 1865,
leaving property estimated at four millions OF
dollars. By the provisions OF his will he con-
/ emplated legacies amounting to $50, 600, and
gives TO his daughtet Hetty $1,OOO,OOO outright,
and leaves the balance to his executors in trust.
One would suppose that Miss Hetty would be
satisfied with being millionaire, but she is not
satisfied, and is now endeavoring by her lawyers
TO get the lions share.
Miss Hetty is about thirty-two years of age.
She is not only peculiar IN her habits, but de-
cidedly eccentric. The people of New Bedford
are highly indignant that she should take
measures to break down the will of her aunt,
Miss Rowland, thereby deprlving many worthy
and needy persons OF the legacies left them by
that good lady, as well as keeping number of
charitable institutions from enjoying the be-
The city OF New Bedford Is also interested in the
will to the amount OF 100000.
Miss Rowland, the aunt, died in June, 1865,
after long illness, at the age of tifty-nine. She
lett property amounting 10 between two and
three millions Of dollars. Her will is dated
September l, 1863 codicil is attached to it,
dated November 28, 1864 By the will she be-
queaths the sum Of 81, 100, 900.
The will OF Miss Rowland was offered at Pro-
bate Court, in New Bedford, on the 9th OF Au-
gust, 1865. The subscribing witnesses to the
will and codicil, DR.. Jacob Bigelow, of Boston;
Hon. Thomas d Elliot, of New Bedford; Hon.
John NJ. Williams, William G. Taber, ESQ.,, and
Simpson Hart, Esq, of Boston, were all present
At Court. On the occasion referred to the court
room was crowded with spectators, as the mat
ter was one of general as well as OF local inte-
rest. The counsel present were Hon. b. f.
Thomas, of Boston; Hon. L. D. Elliot and Hon.
I. NJ. Stetson, of New Bedford, for the executor;
Thomas Mandall, Esq, eX-iovern0r Cnhord,
oliver Prescott and William W. Crapo,
Esqs., of New Bedford, appeared for the con-
testant, MISS Hetty Robinson. Judge Bennett
presided. On motion OF the contestants counsel,
tor the purpose OF obtaining full hearing, the
case was postponed until September 70, follow
ing when, as before, tue courtroom was over
flowing with spectators, many OF them directly
or Indirectly interested in the case. AT this
time it was shown by the executor, Mr.. Mandall,
that Miss s.. HoTland, in her SICK chamber d az
every paragraph mentioned in the Will ana
codicil, including the residuary bequest TO MISS
Hetty. To this particular item she remarked,
THAT is right, Hetty will have enough" Dr.
Jacob Blgelow and Hon. j. M. Williams jointly
made q draft OF the will about week before the
deceased died and the copy which was signed
was written on the day of its date. After It was
signed she said il was q c0dlcn to her VIII, and
that it was in accordance with her wishes. In
evidence it was shown that there was no douo
OF Miss Howland's competency. Her mind was
clear, and she had keen knowledge oil al
events going on around her. At her request the
fact of the codcil was kept private, and 1t wa
unknown to Hetty. For the contestant, DR.
William A. Gordon her regular physician, SAT-
that he had read the will, and that Miss How
land had consented to its proVislons-thaC l
was lust as she wanted it. The testimony OF
both sides was in favor of the executor. M
arguments were offered on either side. Judg
Bennett reviewed the testimony, and decided x
admit the Will to probate, giving the contestan
thirty days in which to take al appeal. Mis-
Hetty Robinson's attempt, at this time, to brea
the win, on the ground OF unsoundness OF mln'
on the part OF her aunt, totally failed. Within
the time allowed by law, notice was given to tn
respondent, Mandall, of an intention on the par
OF the complainant TO file bill in equity. Eh
bill was duly filed, and it disclosed some fact
not before known to the public. It alleges tna
the complainant was the niece and sole heir-a
law of the testatrix, Sylvia Ann Howland b
whom she was brought up andeeducated, wit
whom she lived, and who performed the dutie
of mother to the complainant,
At the time she came into the possessio
OF properly from her mother, she was, to use
common expression, at swords-points wit
Edward Mott Robinson, the father OF the con
plainant, and did not disguise the TACT OF hi
intense desire TO prevent him receiving al
benefit whatsoever from the vast property r
ceived from her mother; and for the purpo
OF making sure thing of it, in case the col
complainant, Miss Hetty Robinson, to make
will, so that in the event of her decease beto
her father he should not in any way inherit al
part OF the property. She also aereedlthat II IL
.I.ll Al,