The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-12-20
glisfellaileuu's
MR.. GREELEY'S PROPERTY
His Last VIII Contesfed-Texts OF the
Two Wills.

III
His Last VIII Contesfed-Texts of q
1lI Two Wills.
n The proceedings hetore Owen
Y Coffin, Surrogateoi OF estchester cou
\ ty, n. Y, to prove Mr.. Greeley's la
4 will and testament snd-procurelettel
of administration On the estate, vel
Y to have commenced at White Plain
on Monday morning at half past min
o'clock, but at the time specified
Telegram was received from Isaiah
Williams, of Chappaqua, reqesting
! Ipostponement until eleven O'Clock
when he would be present to contes
1.-THE will. The Surrogate deemed
! proper to comply with the request, a
the same time remarking that MI
. Sinclair, of the Tribune, and q MI
Manning, of Long Island, had waitet
upon him on Friday last, handed in
will made by Mr.. Greeley, January 9
1871; and would he on hand, hut no
before half-past eleven AN.
| There were then present in the Sur
rogate's Court, Miss Ida Lillian Gree
lley, Miss Gabrielle Miliam Greeley
Miss Susan II. Lampson (the latter an
old and esteemed friend of the family
and subscribing witness to the will
ayoung Southern lady friend of the
family, Judge Robert S. Hart, Mr.
Reginald Hart, another subscribing
witness to the will William 81. Skin.
ner, guardian of Miss Gabrielle Gree
ley; George 2. Nelson, counsel en-.
gagged by Mr. skinner to protect the
interests of Miss Gabrielle Greeley in
the proceedings; besides number OF
citizens attracted to the courtroom
on the occasion.
THE CONTESTANTS COUNSEL,
MIR. Williams, rose and offered some
remarks in regard to the painful duty
which he had been called upon TO per-
form, and recommended that the pro-
ponents of the last will should not at
tempt to get it admitted to probate,
but quietly acquiesce In the admission
ofa will made by Mr.. Greeley in Jan.
uary, 1871, in its stead, intimating
that the will executed by Mr.. Greeley
shortly prior to his deatha did great
injustice to Miss Gabrielle Greeley by
giving all his property to Miss Ida,
and that some relatives of Mr.. Gree
ley would be deprived OF property
which he idtended for them.
THE DAUGHTERS SURPRISED
Judge Hart In reply stated that the
remarks and proceedings of Mr.. Will
hams were very surprising and extra
ordinary, and entirely uncalled for !;
that there exists the utmost affection
and devotion between the two sisters;
that Miss Ida had voluntarily offered
to assign over to her sister one-half of
the property left by their rather; and
also grant to other relatives named in
the former will of Mr. Greeley suita.
bic annuities, in fact more than the
amount specified for their benefit
Considerable feeling was manifested
by those present in favor ofthe Misses
Greeley, and indignation toward any
who should reduce the amount of their
legacies single dollar.
THEY DECLINE AN INTERvIKW.
Mr.. Richrrd Fl. Manning and Mr..
Chas Storrs, two of the executors of
the executors of Mr.. Greeley's will of
1871, having made their appearance
in court, Mr.. Williams, after conver-
sation with them, suggested that a
conference be held by those executors
and the Misses Greeley, with a view
of arriving at an amicable understand |
ing in the matter without any oppo-
sition before the surrogate. Judge
Hart, after consulting the Misses Gree |
ley on the aubject, stated that they
imperatively declined such an irtsr-
view as was proposed. The will of
November, 1872, being opposed on
the ground of incapacity of testator to |
execute a will, regular proceedings of
proving the will were commenced by |
the examination OF Miss Susan Limp
son, who deposed as follows:
MR. GREELEY AN HOUR BEFORE HIS
DEATH.
Ireside at East Poultney, Vermont;
| knew Mr. Greeley; | knew him
from the time he came TO Poultney |
to learn his trade; he has visited me,
and / have visited his family ever
since 1858; my acquaintance with |
Mr.. Greeley commenced either in
1926 or 1927; I cannot say which;
[ have seen him write frequently, and
am well acquainted with his hand
On being shown the will
purporting to have been writt"n and
signed by Mr.. Greeley, she said. l
know that to be Mr. Greeley's hand
writing, including the signature, and
cannot be mistaken about it; two
pages of the note paper (c0mu eacial
size) are in his writing; one OF the |
names to the attestation clause is in |
my handwriting, and the other in the
in the handwriting OF Reginald Hart ;
those signitures were made on the
evening thst MIR. Greeley died was
quite near to Mr.. Hart when he sign |
ed his name, so that | could see him;
I was in the same room Mr. Greeley
me TO sign the will it YVES
in respect to what Mr.. Stewart said
to Mr.. Greeley, or at his suggestion
that 1 signed it; Mr.. Stewart held
the will up in front of Mr.. Greeley
and asked him, in my presence it
that was his last will and testament,
and whether that was his signature
and seal; Mr.. Greeley said eyes,"
Mr.. Stewart then asked if he would
have Mr.. Hart to witness The will,
and Ea said "Yes - Mr.. Stewart next
asked Mr.. Greeley if he would have
Mr.. Hainse for 8 witness, and he
said "No )" Mr.. Stewart then askde
him if he would not have John IL
Stewart as q witness, and MIR. Greeley
again said "No;" Mr.. Stewart then
asked Mr.. Greeley if he would hsye
Aunty Lampson to witness the Will,
and he said Yes this was betTeen
five and Elk O'Clock in the afternoon
there was no delay in signing my
name after that; l arrived at DIR.
Choate's between two and three
O'Clock of the same day.
Judge Hart From your observa loa
state what was the condition oil Mr
Greeley's mind at the time Of The
publication and acknowledgment of
this instrument A. He seemed 10
be concious and rational; be WIS
asked questions which he answered,
and shook hands with friend attsr
the acknowledgment OF the VIII;
there was a recognition of myself ~
him previous to the Introduction o,
the will, Mr.. Stewart held the VIII
before Mr.. Greeley's eyes and asked
him the questions alluded to IN re-
gard to his signature and seal.
Mr.. GREELKY's wILL-ExECUTKD JAN
UARY 9, 1871.
!, Horace Greeley, beng nearly
F