New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-28
MIR. GREELEY'S WILLS.
RESUMPTION OF THE PROBATE PROCEED.
INGS.

The nroeeedngs in the matter before Surrogate Coffin
were therefore resumed at White Plains yesterday.
At the opening OF the surrogate's Court Joseph n.
Choate stated that he had been requested by the Misses
Greeley tn appear as counsel with Judge Hart and Mr..
Nelson for them but owing 10 the brief period which
had since elapsed, he not then prepared
70 do them JUSTICE besides he was ANXIOUS
10 see whether arrangement could not DS
agreed upon advantageous and Satisfactory ~
both sides He thought there might. 1t appeared n
him that there hardly pecunary interest now at
stake for that it seemed common duty 10 CONS
IN term. He was bold enough TO believe that II one OF
o weeks time were allowed, he would understand ths
whole case and what still more desirable, bring tins
matter 10 a peaceful and amcable settlement Mr..
Williams counsel for contestants objected 10 any posi-
ponement and alluded to the delays which had sready
taken place in the proceedings, In order To 81
ford opportunities for compromise OF IN
terests in the matter without any satisfactory result
Mr. Choate remarked that the case had asslnen o"r
ent phase from that IL had at the last nearing ID tn'
Court He read letter from Mr.. Williams, 1rea-ursr
Of the Chdrens Aid Society setting forth that the lr
tees Of that institution not contestants to the i''s
will Of Mr. Greeley and were not represented by counsel
in the matter Mr. Choate, therefore, commended That
inasmuch all OF the legatees named in the Will OF 1911
declined TO press claims upon the estate OF nr
Greeley no had any light to do 30 IN that Court
The Surrogate decided that the title OF the estate VIZ
tuay went the control OF the executors named In
the will They had the right TO appear there Inc ioi'
lowing witnesses then called by the contestants;
TESTIMONY OF OLIVER JOHNSON.
oliver Johnson examined by Mr. Williams, testified In
part reside in the City OF New-York; am the man
aging editor Of The Christian Union; was previously
the editor Of The WEEKLY and sEMrWEEKLY TRIBUNE.
have been engaged on THE TRIBUNE at different times
for about years; on the editorial stan OF Tet
Ideped.n for some TINE KnG% s r ,1S erned
10 IL IN 1851 for short time; then Ielg II. ana
returned 70 it again in 1870 for brief period; tnen
rnad tn aqaln
the close OF 1874 while upon the TRIBUNE was nearly
In daily intercourse with Mr. Greeley met Mr. greeley
near the death Of wife; him once or twice I'M
mediaely preceding her death. also on the day follow
Greeley again the day OF his wiie funeral he met
my attention. he shook my hand and held IL 9r hail an
hour without speaking 10 me anu az, WIS.,, w.er
az an utterly ruined he said nothing to me about
his wife, spoke OF himself his pecuniary AFFAIRS ana
The TRIBUNE he reproacned himself with having Ut
terly destroy ed IT, and said that he utterly ruined
ho seized my hand in peculiar manner as ne mad never
was very peculiar he !spoke about being ruined
man. told HIM that he was mistaken, bat the ONLY
expression over and over again he WONG
keep repeating , rDI am fuih hss All eon.
TO the dogs" told him again that ne was MISTAKEN
that The TRIBUNE was DONG wen ne 'non SnDon 1
upon him. there great deal OF wildness ia MS dp
nsarance winch occasioned Apprehension and alarm
IN regard TO the state OF his mind and remarked
hat wished lie dead instead Of his wie ne shd
In response TO question from the surrogate witness
said mat 1t was 8 that Mr Greeley or The fRIB
Witness continued; It was impressed upon my mind
at time that Mr. Greeley deranged that be wa
not rational this was the day OciOte Sis. uIoeiey
funeral again talked TO me- the next morning ana
his conversation or the same nd. and 1t made ths
same impression my mind on sunday preceding ms
death OF his wife, his conversation was OF inc same
tenor, it Sunday, Oct. b. when dined with Dr
Greeley my conversation Win nlnl thag d@y nas CON
sderablY less than usual but 1t awakened an anxiety 10
Mr.. Greeley on the day OF his wife's funeral
after the funeral was over ana ne had fetatnes
to the residence of Alvin j. Johnson entered
found him seated away from all the other
people directly III the center OF tue room; as aP
not attempt hold any intercourse with any one ms
manner quite unusual; his lace appeared vacant
and de.pairlug | him the house OF Dir. SIN
clair; think 1t was on "Wednesday Nov IS; there were
number stockholders OF The TRIBUNE tnere for con
sulta,iOn with regard the affairs THE TRIBUNE As
sOciatiOn nothing was said by Mr. Greeley about the
death the OF conversation; the
meeting at Mr. Sncair's a formal one; hardly
know who called it, Mr.. Greeley opened the oonyorss
ton about THE TRIBUNE affairs; cannot undertake 10
state all said to his feet TO speak, and among
other things he said that he had ruined US all
but he did not know why he had done 1t,
he knew he had done 1t; that everything be
had done that afternoon was wrong he had been ruin,
lost the thread OF his DISCOURSE became incapable Of
speaking. and sat down; the whole tenor VI his speech
remarks entirely different from his usual manner.
he said be had tried to WRITE but no found everything
he did there was no herceness about hun 40
seemed full OF amentau0n ana sorrow the whole ex-
preston OF his face was unusual and wild my
ranged have more doubt ON that point than that
am here this moment; next saw Mr. Greeley at tho
into parlor found Mr. Greeley lying the sofa
| weut up to him. took his hand and expressed hope
that he was better; he said he better; after
silence he turned toward me with wild look and
said under tone or whisper, Where did you come
from Z" | replied that L only short time ago
from THE TRIBUNE office be then said, How did you
here :" told hun in the usual way by the horss
cars he looked at wildly and then said " How ID
they get the papers IRON h The IEBUSE once ao%5 e
TO that matter and saw it done; no then inquired,
What does 1t cost" l saw that he was not IN con,
dition TO talk and therefore left HIM felt convinced
that he was deranged entertained doubt whatever
but he was insanei Mr. Greeley was benevolent
with his means; should say remarkably 50
have heard Nr. Greeley say that CAB, as he used
to call Gabrielle, was his girl and Ida was Mrs Gree.
as being his fayorite daughter; know Of no real "a
imaginary reason why Mr. Greeley should have left hn
daughter for distressing the capacity OF his youngest
daughter take OF her property after arriving
AZ the age of 81 years have heard Mr. Greeley say
several times has his eldest daughter was educated At
Crossexamned by Judge Hart-The first time
noticed anything strange IN the manner OF Mr. Greeley
was On oG Sag bse @ for S s o. 5
say whether Mr. Greeley much attached TO his wits
had been intimate with him without being intimats
with his family on the day previous 10 the IMMORAL
that he wished he was dead instead OF his wife, 10 was
an informal meeting held Mr. sncair's house 1 am
together as persons Interested the affairs THR
TRIBUNE; Mr. Greeley happened to be present.
Mr., Greeley, who had been IN the parlot.
was invited By Mr.. Sinclair to come into
the where we don't think that Mr. Greeley
another MR. Ripley, Mr. Rocker MIR. Fitzpatrick. Mr..
Runkle Mr.. sinclair, Dir. Greeley. and myself vera
present. properly speaking no business was transacted
st the meeting until Mr. Greeley went out the whole
sderation; Mr. Greeley had the candidate OF the
party which he had always opposed; am not aware VI
raV 81 fTs TRiRrsE think the circulation Of tho
WEEKLY Increased from $4,000 to 10000 subscribers;
large portion ns there The %ss ss run ,U
ing of IN the circulation Of Tue pAtLx