New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19
A FIGHT FOR 4 FORTUNE or 100000

Testimony in the extraordinary Watson will
concluded yesterday before Surrogate Tucker 1t
may be remembered that coored waiter named Robert
Watson. who resided in sullvanst. died last Summer
leaving property real and personal estate valued at
100000. He bequeathed to his wife and daughter tho
property The will admitted to probate and letters
Of administration were granted TO his widow. Two
months subsequently. two persons. named Polly Watson
and her Albert. appeared caimantsl The woman
Is genuine old Virginia negress, and her light
lato The Will OF the deceased had then been taken
cepon to by the man Albert Watson. who prayed that
probate might he set aside. Tho will drawn by
Joshua Colt esq and execution OF 1t proved by subscrb
lue witnesses Now, application Is made on the part OF
Polly aud Albert WATSON 10 set aside the probate tho
ground that tey ana not get notice H. lioohstaxer
aud A. NaIdcrpoe were counsel for the viii aud io
ner A. Nelson Secretary OF State appeared against IT,
From the evidence OF Polly Watson. would appear that
preacher named Nat johnson, many ago, and by
her husband had u children. Previous 10 the birth OF
her Albert, she asserts her husband was sold TO
Georgia planter. and taken further South. she
ceivcd one letter and then heard nothing more OF HIM
until tho fact OF his death 10 TINS CITY lasi
summer, reported TO her Sbc then. accompanied
kccpsic came TO NcwYork and had the corpse of her
husband cNbumed from the grave IN Greenwood Gene
tcy she idcnthed II by scar 90 tho reg WHICH watson S
received when very young; she therefore puts ia hoI
claim his effects. Against her assertions counsel
sanctioned by the slayeholders. Robert Watson, al
though no had wife ~ Virginia, may have had another
capped Mr. Joshua A. Colt New Haven aud Mr. James
MOhrnan, the subscribing witnesses TO Watsons WILL
enan deposes he knew the deceased from 1873 until the
time Of his death; that he was for many years walter ia
the employ OF his Cote broLhcr-ln-aw Pclaah Per
esq aud was well known as public caterer; no resided
in sullvan-st 30 years. aud owned several houses
since the purchase Of the Albert Watson states
that he saw his father but that he had heard ms
sided I'm Poughkeepso about three years Inc chlci Wit
nessess Yesterday were persons VINO hna pGen
Scott, extensive Virginia planter lie depoNed thht
he resided In Virginia since 1924 and knew c0l0red man
Rnl,a vi
the owner. sold In loJ0 To man named Coleman IN
fredericksburg Va Watson at the Time o. th@ SSo,
one son Albert about 1898 Watson about II. In.
I'm hight and his hair black While a slave he was called
| Major by white people, and Watson by ms own race.
Nath johnson. the coored preacher proved tins watson
| testant Polly Eliza Coursey dcposed she knew the
tesatOr, who told her he had wifo and child in the
south lie wished tho witness and marry her.
ms he considered he would never SEQ his former wfo
again; that about 25 years since Against this eyl
dcucc counsel for the bin produced Mrs Dubois, who
svore she knew the deceased before ho years
age NowIork. She was ut the time In tho service OF
insurance agent In Was The hrst wlie OF watson
was called KITTY Day. but although witness knew OF her
know his second wife YESTERDAY the case c3ssu
There were very important witnesses examined Tor
the will Eliza Graham an old eolored woman testlhea
that she had known the Deceased Robert watson VII o
| was "A boy residing III New York. man named warren
was acquainted with Watson when he Watson) was oy
10 years of age and was about TO DO hatIc VI nd
Murray knew Watson 81 years ago IN New DOR upN nnu
y%cv went 10 school together other witnesses testified
simary. DR.. Gaen ply slcan residing IN Forty ,sec.
| DIST,
said shc identified the deceased rs that OF her huspan
by a scar on his knee. no made post ortehl ehterh
examination and could not nd trace OF scar one OF
tho Grecnw cd Cemetery laborers VINO was present
DR. Callers examination cOrrODolatcd thht gentiS
Mr. Vanderpoo counsel for the WILL sad ho woua rHt
Lis ease ON The testimony given. Io remarked that
aiihongb i'm ali probability the would go against
The VIrnia coniestant and their expenses would havo
To be- pad out OF the estate, st Is satisfactory 10 KNOW
tIa III cnta could rest satisfied that their property
would neverdf Judgment in favor OF the VII De Even
hc In value. At THIS part OF inc ptocovu
| iug. shrrogate Tucker stated be would adjourn Ihe
ease nntI today at II o'clock, when he wouih ueNet
| Judgment.