New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-01
THE COURTS.
TIE TAYLOR WILL CASE.

EVIDENCE OF GEORGE DURlBA ANb Vii""N'
A crowded Courtroom greeted, yesterday
the reopening in the examination Of the mayor VIII ~s0
before surrogate Hutehings Charles W. Baker tesfed'
1 knew Mr. Taylor for so years he resided al inc
Carlton House when became acquainted with him. my
relations with him intimate; am Deputy l"N
Commissioner; before Mr. TayOr's death saw MN Two
or three times week at his house ana oicei hau money
with him durng the last years OF ms me;
saw him frequently in the Summer OF $50, when MS
family was in Europe: during July and August saw him
two or three times week; and breakfasted with him
Oh the Monday preceding his DEATH after breakfast we
adjourned the sttiucToom he told me he had made
his will and that he left the bulk Of tho property to his
wife who had helped him TO make it, and VINO was the
best custodian Of Its he said lie did not dn what
became Of tho property after his death; this Monday
morning he said he left Kate 5000 in her right am
familiar with his handwriting; Of the opinion the sig
nature TO the alleged will is in Mr. Taylors handwriting
have no doubt Of it.
Crosse xGmincd-Whcn we became acquainted,
were both the Ward Committee of the Sixth Ward;
interested with Mr.. Taylor IN several companies
called Mr. Taylors house during his last illness 10 in
qre after his hcaith did not him, as did not wish
20 disturb him; between and 1865 received numerous
letters from Mr. Taylor, perhaps on an average,
week; between 1868 and 1870 also received letters per
hapS 10 the same extent; frequently received checks from
hip, signed James r. Taylor never saw the alleged will
Before this moment; not subponaed; l appear
witness az the request Of Mr.. AndrswA
George Duryea tcsfod-I reside at No 20 East Forty
nnth-st am married; am Fight Superintendent of tile
PostOhcei Lave charge OF the PoStOmce from p. IN.
James b. Taylor knew him IA years went into his
poy clerk continued there till the Summer of 1861;
whoa went To the war as private IN tue S5 Volunteers
and served until 1862; was then discharged by the War
Department at the request Of Mr. TAYLOR returned to
Hewl cr retntcrcd the employ OF Mr. Taylor ana con
tuIgd win hm until his death am more familiar with
Tns than any Rag StG a OtRl Ge a9 w wS
was in his emplOyment I've sat at his desk for hours
unstcadness his hand; have seen whole pages OF his
signature owing 20 this fact the signature OF the will is
The lodi Of the viii, in Mi TayIors Handwriting first
raw TIE will the day it was found by James NJ. sweeny;
writing in the body Of the will it IS not mine.
mined 10y Ar CntGn 1 about ~ years Si
think il was in 1856 or 1851 / don't remember where
Lived tuCn; cid not place thereafter and live for
several years; between the time went into Mr. TayOrs
No Great Jqncs-st for two years did not go there
employment; lived also III Twonty-thrdSt; in 1858 OF
1859 went 10 TwCnty-thrC-St. and was boarding there
Joucssi., think went TO Eeyenthst; lived in half
House h the spring of $50: became ConGdentiI Clerk
TO MI i[ Tor in about 1862 1868; when first went
Phcst my salary was 81 200 and pelQuistes; kept his
t nUoEs lney we're an Irregular ret OF books
Dol books; these memoranda were kept in
& was o % m once IE G eyerv M y9r Sce snf s1 1c
ia! AID the an at the office nearly every day IN Au
Off MS name On Mr. Tayors ofice-door for about
~ years previous 70 his death between the ed of Au-
or Ar Jackson between the death Mr.. Taylor and
tcc weeks ago dd not see either Jackson Witheren
st r. Toy Ors Office don't remember any special rea son
thai lcpt mc away from Mr.. Tayors Office for week;
seen jackson at the POsOHice do not remember any
Csnyersa Ons with Jackson between Mr. Taylers death
AID the I'd of September; I've recollection Of having
p % 10 TIE Vii 1asts"n IVA vas sn 1ict t r., pIsr I
he and was Hnder my dreeto5sy cI erso an
Wa not socially intimate with me; jackson and L be-
came acquainted in the Summer of 1861 after year
Rgo he generally came to the office every day;
The day OF Mr. Taylor's death don't think |
days after Nr Taylor's death don't remember having
MY conversation with Jackson about the VIII every
week within the past lew years have seen Mr. Taylor
whiting pages OF Signatures; he had the rheumatism in
is Ssatre 90 not recognize the handwriting in tile
bouy OF the will shown me; John Owens, the lawyer
ord tla i ossd like MI U owe s G handwtng MR.
Wan schock asked me in whose writing was come to
ing; continued in the belief for month that John
Owens wrote it, tie will that is until within tie last two
weeks; have not said that know that paper not
Mr.. Tayors viii, ana was not intended by him for
will; will not swear that did not say could have
turned the whole property over TO Kate, as well
a to Mrs. TAYLOR could have done ,, 50
bral the will well not, oT ANYTHING to that effect
within the past two weeks cannot possibly be mistaken
@ During the past two years Of his life did Mr.: Tay
a sconutrei. id scoundrel. and one unit 10 be
trusted Excluded, AID exception ts iI, oo,..
you OF stealing books from his object Excluded, and
Between 1866 and 1863 Mr.. Taylor had key to the
portion OF the SAFE and had the key 10 the inner
could mo- get IN without each others KEY gave
M lny key Mr.. Taylor IN the Spring Summer Of
lsG9; have had no consultations with Wthereu and
Jackson in reference TO this case.
lOr; intimate viii him and his family; know his
haudUIitg and have no doubt the euGtue to the will
Is his have followed tie sea, but not since 1906 since
then have dealt IN rcalestate prior TO my present
business was a general merchant, and lived In VIII
mineton, y e. haye HtSd IN NashnSlon ana Tor the
past 10 years IN NcWNOrb; have had business udnSac
tions with Mr. Taylor and have received letters from
him. the alleged viii last Saturday the first
iu0. I uqq nat Gub-
penaed; here by the request Of Mrs. Taylor, the
"Quecn;" have known her the Queen" for . years
Edward II. TacyI re- idc the Zion Place Hotel;
Chief Engineer OF CrOt0n Acqueduct Depart
gent and Board of Public Works; knew Mr.. Taylor
hst Athe,ouIa st"lN&Id at the Carton House
IN the last three years Of his life weI very iendy
] have occasionally seen Lin write; somewhat
familiar with his handwriting; have dOnbt that the
signature T. the proposed IN is genuine; first saw the
viii when Was found AZ hle Office; air. Van Setback,
Robert Murray, Orgc Duryea, George Jones' and MI.
sVeeny were present; Mr.. swecny found the Will he
opened he bookcase, TOOK out a book, and the viii
5fVpped from the book was DentOns "Ihiity e5ats
III toe United States Senate :" Thursday previous TO
Nj lay ors death, he asked had any more 9on Tor
books; said my were full; he said he haI
some books thGt a. wanted TO give me; ne askt M ii
Lad BcuOn- Thirty Years IN the Jnlttd states senate
and said he wOuld give volume OF II on the hlEht
Mr. Taylor died, Mrs. 1ay or gave ne the Key 10 Ills
sac; had conversation with MI MARSH, ana We CON
olnded that next morning We would go 10 hr IL! lOs
Office ana zee II everything Was sac M MdIsh ana
met r. Well there and Got tue JaInGi' ana Went mo
he Office then got my erotbeT Ci4l,es lr%Gy' the
lace my brother. and self unlocked The sefe AZ
sisted by another; took cut papers IN the Gae ana
Gesk We searched more particularly Tor a VIII; We
searched carefully In tho safe, opening packet of
papcrs, but found viii; found nO parrrs Cf
Urtr value on the second examination; found The
unexecuted will under loose papers II drawer; ri
Sweeny upon beginning 70 CXami tie EO.E-cas,, taoE
out several books 10 loosen the rest, End orc Of th
was opened, and tine viii dropped oui about twenty /
pages were turned down to marx tie place NhDe ,ns
viii Wa Inserted