The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-14
THE TAYLOR WILL CASE.
TALES OF A GRANDMOTHER
What VIII be Put In Evidence Against the Va
Ndity Of the Will-Mr. Taylor's Affection
for His Grauddaughte Proceedings
Before Surrogate Hutchines

hdity Of the Will-Mr. Taylor's Affection
for His Grauddaughte -Procsedingv
Before Surrogate Hutchings.
One Of the most important viii cases. perhaps, that
ever attracted pubic attention Is before Surro
gate Hutchings for adjustment. Several witnesses
have already been examined, and so far facts or q
most interesting nature, and which have already
been published In the HERALD. have been broughs
forward. Yesterday there was q further hearing
In the matter. Mr. Henry Cliuton, who appeared
or Mrs. Rowland, the claimant to the disputed
estates, addressed the Court In an opening argu-
ment As synopsis OF his speech gives history OF
the case Is unnecessary TO preface 1t by heightened
comment Mr.. Stoughton, MI. Andrews and other
associate counsel appeared for the defendant, mrs.
Taylor All the parties interested In the suit were
present In court and manifested lively interest LA
the proceedings.
coUNsEL's OPENING,
MFR. Clinton, addressing the Court said that tho
will presented to his Honor tor probate purportcd 70
be tnat OF james b. Taylor, who died on the ed OF
August, 1870. Search having been made TO discover
whether the deceased left WILL the papers now In
court were discovered In book In Mr.. Iaylors
office. Those papers were transferred 10 the Safe
Deposit Company for safe keeping. Just one month
after Mr.. Taylor died this VIII was discovered
namely on the 22d OF September--and then under
the most suspicious circumstances. Mr. Taylor, it
would be proved IN evidence, was most
PAINsTAKING AND PARTICULAR WITH HIS PAPERS
This WILL which is attempted to be put in probate,
was without an envelope or cover OF any kind That
was nor the way the deceased gentleman would
have left an important document, and certainly 10
never would have concealed II in such place as 1t
was found. Another circumstance. which at the
nutae he
fraudulent document, was that the Witnesses 10 ITS
signature were not produced In court TO prove the
facts alleged.
WHO DREW THE WILT
The person who did draw out the document and
prepared 1t for signature should be forthcoming
As there were exceedingly suspicious circumstances
connected with the case, he tthe counsel) thought
that that person should be brought forward to tes
THY to prove Its validity. IL was most remark
able circumstance that the defence did not make
any attempt to prove the handwriting In the win.
1t was acknowledged that Mr. Owens was that per-
son; but why was he not produced In courtf Mr.
Marsh was the legal adviser OF Mr.. Taylor and ne
knew nothing Whatever OF the Will now before the
court although he drew out tor the signature Of the
deceased gentleman
some years before. In July, 1857 In this alleged
VIII Of John b. Taylor an allowance OF $4,000 per
annum Is given Kate, his granddaughter, during
her natural ne and all his other property. amolnG
ing TO millions to his wife, Mrs. Sarah Taylor. In
the with drawn up BY Mr.. Marsh, in 1867, the OK
SIS, 900 per annuIn was Dequeathed to Kate ana on
her attaining the age OF twenryone the entire pro-
Mr.. Marsh and Mrs. Sarah Taylor were made admin
tstrat0rs OF that WILL These were Mr.. Taylers esa
mentary Intentions at that time. surely he would
not have changed his feelings toward his grand
daughter without cause. Counsei then rccited
the history OF Kate's (Mrs H0wlands) life from her
birth TO the death Of MIR. Taylor, showing how the
ADOPTED HER INTO HIS FAMILY,
treated her In every respect as daughter, lavlshng
on her the greatest affection. The house In Madison
avenue $685. In which MIR. Taylor died, he bought for
her. In this house Kate lived until her marriage,
and never once curing that time had there been tho
least difference between MIR. Taylor and his grand
daughter. 1t was otherwise, however, as to Mrs.
Mrs. Taylor began life in different way from Kate;
the latter was brought up III luxury and all the re-
nnemGn OF hg Mere mers oesdes t sae was
that the manner VI living, the tastes and incations
Of The young lady met with no approval from her
less nberally endowed grandmother. Counsel men,
toned incidents showing tnis divergence OF views
and tastes and said that on one occasion Mrs
Taylor told the young lady that she ''da not
street,n
REpRoAcH WHICH NATURALLY HURT
Hates feelings. Coming to the period in the his
tory OF the family when Kate got married TO her
present husband. Mr.. Aowlana, counsel explained
that 1t was Oh the invitation OF Mr. Taylor that Mr..
Rowland was received Ut their house; that Mr..
howiand was the acknowledged sutton for Kate's
hand; That Mrs. Taylor encouraged him. kissed him
when he asked for her good olilces with Mr.. Taye
lor, and was exceedingly friendly ana encouraging
to his suit. Matters had 50 Tar progressed toward
marriage that when Mr. ana Mrs. Taylor were going
to Long branch, Ill July, Kate felt justified In
declining 70 go with them her future husband
seem that ner disobedience is tins matter hurt
Mr.. Taylor much Mr.. Howlaod returned, aui
milling now matters stood, urged Kate to act for
herself The result was flight TO New Bedford ana
a marriage there on the 14th OF July. Four days
after that important event Kate returned to New
York. sought on her father VINO freely forgave her;
ana well he might forgive her-he mad done the
same thing himself. There was not word spoken
by MI. Taylor IN unkindness to his granddaughter
alter
THIS AFFECTING SCENE
but on the contrary, until the DAY he died he
gar0ed her as his daughter and treated her as SUCH
OF her husband, Mr, Rowland, ne spoke III the
warmesc terms Of commentator. The two families
constantly visited and exchanged courtesles. But
although Mr.. Taylor had freely forgiven Kate and
taken ner 10 has bosom, MIS-. Taylor, her grane-
mother, manifested towards ner great deal OF
| petty splte endeavorlng to ALLEVIATE her nus.
bands affections from her at other times throwing
| out unpleasant hints to the husband against ms
| wife and behaving In most singular manner. The
counsel recitcd numDer Of incidentsi in which MIS-
Taylor developed very queer cnarac. eristicS Tor
grandmother. This he did, he said to show That the
wa no foundation for the statement that Mr.. ray
lor's ailecuon Tor his granddaughter had suffered
| consequence OF her marriage. Tracing the move
ments OF the Howlands and Taylors rem this coun-
try to Europe and dwelling at great length on the
/ many scenes between Mrs. HoWiand and her
| grandmother ne read
LETTERS FROM Mr.. TAYLOR TO KATE
fun of the warmest expressions OF observation-disclosures
written about the same time the will before tho
| court signed. Notwithstanding the outbreaks
OF III temper or malice on tue part OF Mrs. Taylor.
botn families returned together rom Europe aud ar
rived just before the death OF the dece ised gentle
| man. The scene between kate aud ner grand.
father at the death bed OF TavOr was SAID coun-
! sell most afiecting, the dying III IN endeavorng to
| aay the frantic grief OF his enid. Immediately
afier the funeral Mrs. Taylor showed much anxiety
/ concerning her husbands will. She SAID she did,
not think he ne had left one, and Gald If q Will was
lett Mr.. Marsh would know OF H. A few days after
the funeral Mrs. Taylor ordered OF her Lkate'sj
| own house Mrs. HoWlgad ani her moth0 Why
was this Was 1t not TO obtain possession OF the
| house worth over $200,O00Y Colnsel branded the
will now before the court fraud before Mr. Tag.
Tors death and crime afterwards. After pointing
out
APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS
in the testimony OF witnesses examined the
other side, counsel cencud ID by promising %
stantiate by evidence all he had charged ~ lis
| lAcnc 49, Ia1A.o