The New York herald., 1871-11-02
TIE BELDEs VILE CASE,

Fierce Flight Over the PossessIoss or the De.
ccascd-The 6trugsles or a Niece.
Samuel A. Belden, Q wealthy old gentleman Of
Brownsville Texas LED life Of single blessedness.
He travelled about without encumbrance, wher-
ever he pleased, for business or pleasure Last fau
he sojourning In this city, where he died, ct the
fremont House, ON February IL OF the present
year. He left much money and many broad acres
In Texas after him. the total Of his wealth being es
timsted at about $ls0, 900 He made wfn bequeath.
ing hts riches TO his brothers, sister and niece He
had two brothers, Frederick y. ana Henry y. Belden
sister. Ann Maria Belden. and his niece Is Mrs.
Harriet p. Leichardk The brothers ana sister now
try TO disinherlt the niece py contestng tho win
against her. s sipn 'st t~N i&s- 81
The case was on yesterday before Surrogate
Hutchiugs. Mr.. Winchester Britton was counsel for
Mrs. Lcicnardt, the nseoe and proponent OF she WILL
Mr. Horace Graves was counsel Tor the contestants.
ars. Lcichardt nne looking woman, Vas &C.
l companied by her SISTER. sstl er aefst -
s TESTIMONY FOR THE PRoPoNENr.
i Mrs. LeichsrdL being sworn. said that. although
she had previously stated. ON looking at the will,
she thought 1t had been altered, she thought now
she was mistaken, and thas the will was not
alter ell. She continued her testimony as follOws:-
NY uncle t.he deceased) had two brothers Fred
erlck e. and Henry s. Beiden. and SISTER; at
srssier % part oi each dsy and was there every
night; when he went to Waenington 10 the early
part OF OCTOBER i went Win n1ms ne Ql0 not need
any close attendance az that tmei he and stopped
at the same hotel; and my uncle went directly,
without stopping, from New York to Washington,
0nd back In the same manner; visited Washington
alter my uncles death; my O0ject was business; it
was my own business; It was not for pleasure.
@. Who accompanied your tOb]ected toy don't
know whether am on friendly terms with my
Iaiher or not; do not correspond with my father,
except to write some merely business letters; am
seventeen years married; was not married nom
my iathcrB mouse.
Q. Why dbl you leave your fatncr's nouse (Ques-
tion excludcd.) 1 do nOS remember ever having
said TO any person thai II had pleased could have
than was; am now very positive did not to Mr..
Qulgiey or any one else; my uncle was sixty-two
years old. th.nE, the August before he died; the
symptoIls OF my uncleis Illness were general de-
bnitY: don't know whether my father is = wealthy
man or n0t Mr.. Belden was man OF resolute dis
Undergone any change after hls sickness; my
mother ls alive, but was not IN attendance ON mr..
Beden curing MS ulncsa y $3.50 in4t6l.3dE
Al the close OF Mrs. Lclchardts testimony connsci
for the contestants made motion that the prObate
bc denied ON several grounds, among which are the
The Iestator never declared the viii IN question
to he ms last Will anu testament a#f ntfrf
The document offered as hts will appears by the
testimony OF the prop0nent herself and the wit
nesses not to express the last Intentions OF the
tatOr. e.0 mfs a4.e4 l5 a8se 4n .s f.ts.~
me VIII appears net TO have been read over to the
testator, when the iact was that at the time Of
maxing 1t he was totally bind and unaDie to read.
Under the circumstances fraud has been shown
by the wltn,ss to the will not having been al
lowed to read 1t over 70 tile testator afler nc had
siyneulL sssfs f.tsN
Surrogate Ilntchings reserved hls decision on the
motion against probate, and the case was ad-
jourucd. wMHf fMM Hf