The New York herald., 1870-05-25
eoLoRED CLERICAL ARTFUL DoDGgR.
Wolf in Sleeps Clothing Unniaslked-Hovy
"NIinster'' Carried on a Dead Mans
Estate In His P0cket-A Righteous Verdict.

A Wolf in Sleeps Clothing Unmaslked-How
"IIinister'' Carried on a Dead Mans
Estate In His P0cket-A Righteous Verdict.
For the past two days the entire attention Of the
Circuit Court OF Essex county, N. j., presided over
by Judge Depue was engrossed In the suit OF Sarah
A. Hedden ct al VS.. "Rev." Elisha Weaver all col.
ored and residents OF Newark. The suit was brought
by the plaintiff In behalf Of the heirs OF the late
Francis Hedden, an oct0genarian descendant Of
Ham, TO set aside will In which the "Rev.n Elisha
was named as sole heir. 1t appears the old man
Hedden prior TO his decease had not been on the
best OF terms with HIS children and lawful heirs
and on his dying bed last fall was attended in his
last hours by Mr.. Weaver, with whom he had had
no previous acquaintance. Immediately after his
demise Will was produced purportng to be He'd.
denis last will and testament. In II the dying mans
clerical c0nsOer and soOther was named sole neir
II was alleged at the time that the will was In n
measure
That, In the first place. 1t was will signed by
Hedden, but void Of names regards heirs, that
the name OF Elisha Weaver was filled IN subsequent
the tesatOrs death, it is easy TO infer by whom
and In the second place II was charged that even had
the Will been properly drawn up and attested, the
name OF Weaver couid not have been inserted IN it
unless the mind OF the dying man had been outrage
ously influenced. However, ON the 4th Of last
January the win was regularly admitted to probate by
Surrogate Moore, OF Essex and Weaver entered into
POSSESSION or THE DEAD MANS PROPERTY.
Able counsel was employed on both sides in the
suit before the Essex Circuit. In summing up the
Tor Inc ueIenuant Yesterday colonel Abee! ar.
gued that the will had been drawn out according 10
the expressed wishes of the dy Bg man, who did not,
he said, desire TO leave any Of his property to his
mai ufai heirs, and that undue influence had been
exercised over his mind. on the other hand, Mr..
John p. Jackson, In his argument for the plaintiff,
HANDLED ELISHA WITHOUT GLOVES,
and alluded decatey yet orcibiy to his well known
reputation for sgallantries, In which female mem.
befs OF his congregation figured unpeasantly. Here,
en- pdssu, 1t is not amss TO state that just previous
10 The death OF old Hedden Weaver was "hauled over
the coas BY the elders OF his church IN relation TO
charge preferred by a female members OF the flock,
In which Elisha was accused Of having, while ESCORT
ina her home nigh after meeting, assaulted her
with criminal intent. At the meeting OF IN
qury ne presided, and the charge was not
sus aimed. lis connection with the church
ceased, however, soon after Continuing, coun-
sci for the plaintiff said that Weaver was
called in to administer Christian consolation to a
dying man eighty years OF age, who was alleged TO
have had hostile feelings towards his grandchildren,
but instead OF eudeavarBg in his ministerial ofce
to change the old mans feeling, succeeded in three
interviews each OF an hoHr and hairs Duration In
carrying of in his pocket the entire estate" Sensa-
! ton In court)
| In his charge to the jury Judge Depue said rhat
When minister Of The Gospel was named In Will
under such circumstances IL was only Jast and pro-
per tha tue matter should be scrulnlzed carefully.
After BRIEF de,beration the jury gave verdict In
| lavor 0f tue plaintiff.