The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-06

tell him or anybody else what the document was,
because we did not want anybody to know that We
were engaged: IL would make such gossip. MY
father lived here at that time he minister In
the German Lutheran Church.
R.-What became OF the will after il had been
sigRedV
D,-She put It in an envelope and handed it to me.
She gave me the win herself, and said that might
have property after her DEATH but she wanted to
control It herself while she was alive.
THE following is a copy Of the will referred to by
the prisoneT.-R.l
], Maria M. Stennecke OF the city OF Baltimore,
State of Maryland, being OF sound mind memory,
and understanding, do make and publish this my
last will and testament hereby rcvokng and making
avoid all former wills by me at any time heretofore
made.
AS to such estate as it has pleased God to ntrust
me with, dispose of the same as follows VIII
give and beaueata to Paul Il. Schoeppe, M D., to
his own use and benefit absolutely, my whole estate
and property, whatsoever and wheresoeyer, OF what
nature, kind, and quality the same may be; e:,,,o
State OF Maryland, will give nearer information
over my estate and property. .., ..
Paul Il. Schoeppe, NJ. D., sole executor OF this my
last will and testament.
Testatrix, have to this my will written on one sheet
of paper set my hand and SEAL this the third day OF
December, A. ID. one thousand eight hundred and
sxty-eight Signed, sealed, published and declared
by the above-named Maria NJ. Stennecke, as and for
@ nef asu % w av aIa IN se & 0l US
request, as witnesses thereto in the presence OF the
~ NJ. NJ. srENNEcxE.
DIR. SCHoRPPE.
L. SCHOEPPE.
Rat the time this will was made out did she say
anything about the existence OF another will2;
Dyes; she told me all about the other will, and
said that she did not mention in the will she gave
what her estate was, but said would find it all
mentioned in her other will-the will she had made
first.
R-You were present when the first will was pro-
duced, were you not?
D.-Yes heard it read by Mr. Miller.
R.-Did you say anything about the will which you
had in your possession?
D.-Not then, but went to a lawyer afterwards,
and told him that 1 wanted the will, which pro-
duced, attended to at once. He said there was no
use of my doing anything in the court here, but tolu
me to 20 to Baltimore to Mr., Webster and lie would
attend to the matter for me. think the conduct OF
my counsel with this case was not proper When
the body was removed to Baltimore went down
with 1t, and stopped at the Utah House. rms was
on Friday. On Saturday called to see Mr. webster,
and showed him the will. He consulted number
of books and then told me that could only claim
the personal property. We talked little while,
and were gong up to the court when gentleman
came in and said it was too late that the court had
closed for the day. Mr. Webster then told me to call
again on Monday. On Saturday afternoon went
to the funeral of Miss Stennecke, and on Monday
morning called at Mr. Websters Office. 1t was late,
and when we walked into the court we met the
lawyer who had the other will coming down the
stairs-he had been there before us and
put his will in; so you see the first
will was ahead of mine. The result was that the
Judge, who was friend of the other lawyer sent
for the lawyer and when he came in told him that
there was second will, and handed him my will to
read. The lawyer took it to the window, read it
did not say it was forgery, as he did afterwards
but only said that i could claim the personal pro-
great noise was made about my will, and they said it
was forgery. This was about the time the post
noTteIn examination was being made.
CThe objections made to the will produced are set
forth in the following articles taken from the records
of the court at Batmore.-RcPorter.l
"First. Because the signature thereto appended
is not the handwriting of said Maria NJ. Stennecke
deceased.
Second. Because said paper is admitted by the
petitioner to be in his own handwriting, and the
names Of the two subscribing witnesses thereto are
admitted by him to be his own name and that of his
father, and Others he alleges, present at the
making Of said Will.
"Third. Because if the signature of said deceased
appended to said paper, was proved to be genuine,
the same obtained by fraud and by the exercise
Of an undue influence over her by the petitioner who
was her physician and to whom everything she pos
sessed was 10y said paper-wrlting devised and be-
queathed,
in the handwriting of the deceased, showing that
sue may have contemplated some slight changes or
alterations in her last will of November H. 1865
sition of her property as that contemplated by the
said paper-writing dated December 3, 1S6S.
"Fiith. Because the said petitioner presented
check at a bank in Carlisle for fifty dollars and re-
CeiVed payment OF the same, and presented another
check for one hundred and eighty dollars at the
National Mechanics Bank of Baltimore, payment of
which was refused both Of said checks being dated
January 81 1869 he day before her deaUh) and both
purportlng to be signed by deceased; and these re
spOndents have reason to believe that both said
checks C and the paper-writng dated December 8,
1865, were signed by the same person, and simulta-
heously and that the said signatures were not those
OF the deceased.
"SiXth. Because said petitioner. by paper called
by him contract for marriage, has expressly re-
nounced and given the testatrix If she were other
wise prevented from doing So the right TO dispose of
all her property as she saw proper"
R.-What happened after you offered your will
D.-I returned to Carlisle, and leaving my lawyers
to manage my affairs in regard to the will went
about my business. | read what the papers said
about the matter, but did not pay any attention to
it, for knew was innocent of any crime. / might
have run away very easily If had wanted to, but |
knew If examination Of the case was entered into
that no medical man could say that this had been
administered by me- and felt no alarm.
R.-You received checks and money at different
times from Miss Stennecke, did you not?
Doh yes, she gave me one thousand dollars in
Missouri bonds, at one time, and different amounts
at other times.
R.-But how about the other checks that were
offered at the bank by you and refused?
Dwell, the lady was sick and couldn't write
wel-or as usua-and when the trial come on, they
said they were forgeries. Also, that the will was
forgery.
R.-Did you sign the checks for her?
Doh, no. She signed them herself.
R.-What was this for?
Dit was for my professional services and In
consideration Of the fact that we were TO be mar
ried. Our relations was very intimate as you will