New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-16
THE TAYLOR WILL CASE.
MIR. STOUGUTON's ARGUMENT FOR THE PROMO
NENrs-r1 nSr OF TILE pRnCE EnINGS

uine signatures Mr.. Taylor wrote with his pen 10 the
T CHIT, the signature 10 the will made with the pen
more over the shoulder. Proponents expert Mr. Sitml-
SON subsequently agreed with contestants experts ne
testified that the wilsignature was made SLOWLY ana
with restraint. All tho experts show that u was maze
with care and restraint Mr. Mudget stated that If Mr.
TAYLOR tried for six months, he did not think ne cOu
write his signature in the manner described ,
Mr. Clinton then called attention TO the lawn the case
quoting from the revised statutes ana summaries ms
whole argument Counsel concluded as follows: rms
with it, 1t is important TO the prepayment who as her
counsel informed you Is an aged lady trealhg uo ot
by of the consequences involved 1t is Important
to her account OF the haowed ana endeang assoca
lions clustering around the name OF her grandiatheTa
will ever he watercd with her tears MS memory VIII
be garandcd with her affections This case Is mo
ant to YOU sir Just entering upon judicial career DIES
tined TO be OF long continuance-destmed 10 De uslid
and distinguished ability The case Is important to
counsel-impOrant that they see to IT, on their part
Of their respective clients that it he conducted with
whatever Of ability they possess, with sound dis
nve The a ear of duty Violated No power on earth
can rob the counsel Of this contestant OF the CON
whenever this trial shall your memory whether
the blazing light Of day or in the silent watches OF
upon which you just entering, or whether II be stu
further on in LIES pathway when OLD age WIN an US
when you shall feel that the thick shadows OF death are
fast closing around, may You he enabled from 5 inner
most depths of your heart to say, Thank Cod dld Inv
duty"
Nh stoughton then summed mp for the proponents.
The case he said, had occupied much time ana atlen-
ton, and the testimony filled large volume but Whch
the judicial mind came To act upon The mass OF oy
Instrument propounded was the last will and testament
Of James b. Taylor He had listened 70 the speech OF
bis learned friend with amazement. II was eXIIaGt-
dnaTly unjust the motives and characters o the Wit
for the proponents. who stood before the Court
sconndrels swindlers aud forgers, and had been at
tackled by HIM with such harshness and viruence that
lie feared the power OF counsel might he turned INTO an
instrument Of calunny aud scandal especially III case
like this. With this privilege OF counsel was coupled the
attacks and they should not be branded elon unless
the evidence warranted Their only fault IN tins case
been called To the stand testify in relation to them
The case in one Of its aspects was more IGyoing 'Hdh
any other that had ever come to his knowledge
An aged lady Mrs. Taylor. for 40 years the honored
wife of James b. Taylor, who was proud TO ackh3%GaSe
ni in lis crave forged viii of his estate True
they said they did not accuse her; but in the
same breath they talked OF those who were behind
SfGrSe coDd Sgv be nv Mrs Taylors act Let them
look AT the gratitude due the cOnte stant, which
should have prevented her from permitting her hus-
band 10 control her to this SUIT Mr.. aud Mrs Taylor
in their early years had daughter to whom lucy de-
voted their hOle purposes They educated ana reared
her In an evil hour she yielded to one altogether unWOr
thy Of her. The results Of that marriage he should mol tG
low They separated The husband went the pain 10 uars
ness and the wife Oheir daughter) filled an carry grave
II was enough TO say that Mrs Taylor took their orphan
daughter and brought her up she was edicateu IN te
best way Then She went away and secretly married
whom her grandfather describes as me last man ne
would have liked 10 call his sOn-in-aw This man was
clerk in a cottOu-hrOkeTs office. He knew her cXpccta-
tons of great wealth. and his efforts to secure her were
But supposng there was no ground Of complaint against
the graudchd, not this natural Will MIS- Taylor
two OF his most trusted friends that to her he owed his
fortune To whom should he leave the cont oil OF his for
tune Read the tribute paid by him 10 MS Wlie III inc
uuexecuted will. In that he made his granddaughter
dependent during his wiies life on her bounty IN inns
later Will be proy les that his granddaughter shan be
paid monthly, guarding her 50 far a. he can rom the
graspngucss Of the husband who he believed had mar
Mr. stoughton briefly reviewed the career Of George
Duryea. showing the important trust eoniided to hm
directly by the deceased, and COnded 10 MN III the
superncndence Of the Post-OGce and its import
ant interests. He was he claimed loved and trusted 10y
Mr. Tayor more than any one except his wife grand
daughter To him he left not generous bounty, but
scant remuneration for his long, faithful service 80 .
The will above criticism being the only VIII MI.
TAYLOR could have made under the circumstance of his
relations with the HOwlands. lie was sLrcWd man,
,Sith hardy spicy nature firm In his friendship, but
unrelentng in his dislikes The attempt of the How
lands TO effect a reconciliation between Mr. Taylor ana
them proyed abOrve owing to this latter trait In his
i'm the extreme. The Howlauds Mr.. Taylor never
forgave The date of will the 2Oth Of June, few
after TAYLOR received the letter from Mrs Taylor at
ohlentz which she complained OF the conduct OF the
nj the receipt of the letter. well going settle
INV affairs and the HOwlands never shall have dollar
of my money" The last expression OF MT Taylor re-
cardng these people was, AS for the rest Of them
meaning the fiowandsl they may 20 to ="
II was said that Mrs TAYLOR had favored this match.
The Court had, when Mrs Taylor was placed on the
stand excluded the testimony in view OF the new aspects
of the case Mr. Taylor far his nature would per-
nit forgave his daughter Mrs Taylor forgave her
freclv Mr. TAYLOR never foreaye the Howlands. A din
per was arranged Mr. Tdyors house and he, staying
only so long necessary returned the courtesy He
advanced money 10 Mr. Rowland but on his note bearing
Interest. This was evidence of bounty to him.
one OF the expressions OF Mr. Taylor In his last illness,
his hOusekeepcr whom he enjoned to take care OF
Katie and stand by Mrs. Taylor and she will be good
friend 10 you; as for the rest they may go TO -. In
this connection he called attention to the conversation
with Mr. SpnOla about the WILL in which Mr. Taylor said
IS 900 was all the loafer (meaning Mr. HowlaDd) de-
served have the conversation with Mr. shaTdlow,
he said that the HOwlands should not prOt by ms
death. Mr.. Piper an Examiner in the Treasury De
partnent and before that bookkeeper at hotei both
places Of trust; man whose testimony was unln-
peached, friend Of the family. To him Mr.; Taylor
spoke in the same sense, calling Mr.. Rowland that
Young man." To Mr.. Courtney he spoke OF Mr.. How
land, btistling up. as the man who stole Kate; Did
would not allow dollar Of his money 10 pass under
their controli There not witness who testified
that after her marriage he proposed to give his Gaug
After Mr. Tayor's death Mrs Taylor surrendered MS
keys 10 Mr. Tracy and the examinations were made ana
the will eventually found. Counsel appeared 10 think
that George Duryea would pick the lock OF the safe and
take a will out II he was capable OF that why did he
Will withinl It was not to be supposed that
Mr.. Taylor was careful with his papers:
He gave his orders 10 his confidential clerk who filed
them and put them away, and was not infrequenty
that left valuable documents loosely III his drawers
ing the body OF the Will Counsel Head the stat ute pro
dng for the execution OF Wills and declared that unless
It's provisions compiled with will could not
he made The witnesses Witherell and Jackson we're
not Interested in the estate Jackson knew Mrs.
Rowland and had been but short time acquainted with
Mrs TAYLOR. If wills 20 be overturned on such
slight evidence had been presented, one could go
10 his grave with the knowledge that his property would
be distributed he desired. Was IL any reason that be
the scrVener who wrote the body OF the will could
not be found that the testimony of those who attested
lie viii shouid not be believed
The nrononents here rested their case The Surrogate
did not announce when he would render "a decision
ERIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. "sCANDALOUs" AFFI
DAVITs AGAIN