New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-19
MR.. GREELEYS WILLS.

MR. GREELEYS WILLS.
ADDITIONAL PROBATE RoCEEDINGs-TEsTMoNY
OF A SUBSCRIBING wITNEss-Two RELEASES
STATEMENTS OF NATHAN b. GREELEY AND
THOMAS n. ROCKER.
At the opening of the Surrogate's Court or
westchester County, yesterday morning, proceedings
were resumed In the matter OF proving the last VIII and
testament of Mr.. Greeley written and signed by him.
self Nov. and executed the evening OF Nov 49,
short before his death. The proponents called to
the stand Reginald Hart No 80 Parkrow. New-York,
who testified in substance as follows:
TESTIMONY OF REGINALD HAT.
/ reside at Mount Kisco Westchester County; am
over years old acquainted with Horace Gree
ley during his lifetime; was acquainted WIN AIM Tor
period Of ten twelve years; am familiar with MS
handwriting the paper shown beng the will dated
Nov o. 1922 IL in Horace Greoleys Handwriting 1nclud-
ing the signatures I Of the subscribing WIT
nesses that instrument it was executed on Nov 20 at
the house OF DR.. Choate Miss Lampson was the other
subscribing witness; 1t was signed by mysen
and Miss Lampson; 1t was between and 6 O'Clock IN
the afternoon when first the will there reached
the house of DIR. Choate about o'clock on thai DAY
was let into the house by Dr. Choates attendants the
next person saw was Mr. Stuart; there were several
other persons at the house whose names do not now
recollect; I saw Miss Ida Greeley, ana told her
wished IL Mr.. Greeley IN ut condition TO ex
ecute the will went into the with Mr.. Stuart and
Miss Ida Greeley Mr. Stuart asked Mr. Greeley he knew
me; Mr.. Greeley opened his eyes and said Yes; MI
Stuart was sitting by the bedside at the tlme Mr. Stuart
then held the will up before Mr. Greeley, and asked him
II he acknowledged that to be his last will and testa
ment at first he said Mo-" then said, 1t is the will
you wrote, Mr. Greeley :" he then said Yes;" Mr. Stu
art asked Mr. Greeley Mr Hart should witness the WILL
and he said Yes " Mr. Stuart next asked II MI Haines
should witness the will, and he said "No Mr. Stuart
then asked II he should witness the will, and Mr. Gree
Al rotfH have
Aunty Lamson for a witness, and he said Yes Annty
Lamson aud myself took the will TO table or bureau
and we both signed it in each others presencei L
ninx the bureau stood from eight to ten feet from inc
bed. t-..s
q What heard on that occasion; did
Mr.. Greeley 10 understand what ne was dohS' "A
As clearly as possible to my mind.
Crosse xamined by Mr.. WilliamS-rhe attestation
clause TO that will, think, is in my fathers hand
writing; first the paper on Nov 49, between ana
O'clock at DR.. Choates house, it was in Mr.. Stuarts
hands, 1 went there that day to see whether the will
had been executed; I was sent by my father; Mr.
Haines accompanied when first let into Dr. Choates
house saw Mr. Stuart, and had few moments CONVEX
saion with him. but cannot say what the nature OF the
conversation was; 1t took place in the hall; the hrst
person whom spoke to Miss Ida Greeley; after ex
changing salutatiOns with her. think inquired the
condition Of her father; impressions are that she
said that appeared comfortable think then asked
her whether win had been signed or executed and
that she said mo-" think then asked her II should
20 into the room and whether her father was In mt
condition acknowledge the will; she left me for few
moments Ia the hall when she returned went into the
room with Miss Greeley Mr.. Stuart and Mr. Haines; up
TO this time had not seen the will; when entered the
room found Miss Lampson and Mrs. j. Il. Stuart
there; there were six OF altogether In the
room; I went up TO the bed and looked at.
Mr. Greeley; Mr.. Stuart asked Mr.. Greeley II he
knew me- and he said Yes;" Mr. Stuart had the will
in his hand at the time; Mr.. Stuart held the VIII before
Mr. Greeley and asked him il that was his last will and
testament; at frat he said "No;" then said, hr.
Greeley it Is the last WILL which you wrote he raised
up his head little the pillow, looked at tho will
long enough to recognize It, and then said "Yes;"
think Mr. Greeley answered the first time Mr.. Stuart
asked him II he knew Mr.. Stuart first said, Mr.
Greeley" and Mr.. Greeley replied, WeH; Mr. stuart
then said Mr.. Greeley, do you know Mr.. HartP' and
he said Yes" think the third uteranee made by Mr.
Greeley "Do you acknowledge this TO be your last will
and testament, your signature and sealr MI Greeley
Greeley ~ he then raised his head opened his eyes,
looked the paper, and Yes the NTH utterance ny
se r Wisnessi and Mr. Greeley SAID !" cam
NOT say his open at the time or mott
subscribing witness !" and Mr.. Gieeley said "Yesi.
the question not repeated before Mr. Greeley said
Eyes Mr. Stuart then asked, Do you request me TO
be a subscribing wtnessp Mr.. Greeley said mo :, Mr..
Stuart then said, "I mean me, John r. Stuart" and Mr.
Greeley said NOS" Mr. Stuart then asked Mr. Greeley.
DO you request Aunty LampsonP and Nj
Greeley said Yes" / am satisfied that MT.
:or the purpose u being witness to the wl had not
been Dr. Choa,es before; saw Mr.. Greeley two or
aud myself had signed the will folded up and handed
It to Mss Greeley and think she requested mo 70 take
care IT. put II In envelope ana handed II to Mr.
Halnes; cannot say where next saw IT. whether In
my fathers office not; have not the slightest idea
where my father wrote the atestation clause cannot
Say whether told Dr. Choate that intended or desired
t. get will executed; while was in the room WITH MT
Greeley Mr. whiteaw Reid came in and walked up 70
the bed; Mr.. Stuart asked Mr. Greeley II nc knew MI
Reid and he said Yes" and put his hand out and shook
haRas T y Attention. Ms ha & Rsa would
como IL l had thought could nave done any
II no was M pain and Mr. Greeley replied " Yes re-
manned in the room about u minutes ter ,n9 WI xns
with mel tlink Mr. Reid remained there Mter let
the ROOM; think some one asked me what 4 thohght
noI see ne IA bright as was think Dr. Choae
asked me whether the will had been exeented and told
hnn that it had; think knew the fact that Dr. Choate
made tue treatment OF insanity q speciality. "a -
'i THE RELEASE .. ID.
release from the brother and sisters OF Mr., Greeley
"a Misses Ida L. and Gabrielle OF which the following
embraces the essential points was offered by the pro
ponents. aud placed on file: ,. .-..-,.- t..c.
We particularly hereby release or discharge any claim
or right which We or either OF may have under any
Will at any time made by the said Horace Greeley aud
stimulate aud agree not TO contest the viii OF said
Horace Greeley made on the Goth day Of November
ls72; and VIC hereby consent that the same may be
proved by the Surrogate of westchester County NJ VI
aud ge renOunce ali right interest under any VIII OF
said Horace Greeley. t.t ........
NATHAN Is. GREELEY, ESTHER GREELEY CLEVELAND,
AkMIspA GREELEY, MARY b. GREELEY.
TESTIMONY FOR THE CoNIEsTASTs
The proponents here proposed their tho
present whoroupun Mr. Williams, counsel for contest
lnts, con,endod that the testimony adduced was not
See Flfth Page.