The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-28
Mr.. Greeley Possessed with the Idea that
He Was Beggared.
Testimony of Oliver johnson, @. A. Runkle
and the Bosom Friend of the Phi
losopher, A. ]. johnson.
THE SAD WRECK OF A GIANT INTELLECT
Curious Revelations Concerning the Tribune As
sociation-The Meeting Of the 18th Of Novem-
ber-Mr Greeley Denounces Himself as q
~"Black Fraud" and States that the
Tribune is rlayed Out and It's
Editor Without Brains.

The testimony in the contested Greeley will case
which adjourned from January Is, was agar
resumed yesterday morning at eleven O'Clock, In
the Westchester county Court House, at White
Plains, before Surrogate Coffin. The building is O
stone in which the examination was had. and the
room in which the case was resumed is thirty by
fifteen feet indimensions. The Surrogate is sharp
featured, keen-faced man, with ron-gray wills
kers and hair, VINO wears spectaces and who
seems to deem his Office very responsible anC
weighty one. The room was plainly fitted up, ant
to witness the fight over the property earned
during lifetime by the whom
half OF the Union was shouting hosannas to foul
months ago there were just seventeen men and
one aged woman present. None OF the relatives
OF Mr.. Greeley were present. not even the
daughters, Miss Ida and Miss Gabrielle, the latter
being at the convent school OF the Sacred Heart.
FIGHT FOR POOR MR. GREELEys PROPERTY.
The counsel present were Judge Hart a sOdly
built, gray-nared gentleman, who appeared for
Miss Ida Greeley; Mr.. Nelson, a plain, farmer
looking man, who appeared for Miss Gabrielle
Greeley; Isaiah T. Williams. an old, pugnacious
and obstinate lawyer, who Is fond of late dinners,
and who appeared for the contestants of the will
Of 1872 there being two wills in question, made
in 1871, which has not yet been reached, and the
will of 1872 which is now being argued; Mr.. Joseph
II. Ch0ate, well known in the Union League Club,
the Committee OF Seventy and the New England
Society, a tall chestnut blonde. with an intellectual
face, Tor the two daughters Of Mr. Greeley, against
Manning, Storrs and Sinclair.
THE LAWYERS LOSE TEMPER.
Among the witnesses were Mr.. Runkle, lawyer,
husband to the celebrated Mrs. Lucia G. Calhoun,
who appeared in the Mcfarland case; Oliver John
ann Oue time editor Of the Indenendenf also hfp-
long abolitonist and now a trustee and stock
holder of the Tribune and Mr.. Alvin j. Johnson,
the bosom friend of Mr.. Greeley, who was
always styled by the latter "A. J.,n in
q familiar sense, during the Philosophers life.
There was a great deal OF sparring between
the lawyers, and the chief aim OF the counsel for
the contestants seemed to be that the alleged in
sanity poor Mr.. Greeley should be proven at the
time of his making the will OF 1872, which gives
Miss Ida half Of her fathers property for herself
and the other half also to her to hold in trust
her sister, Miss Gabrielle, who is minor, and
10 whom nothing but a gold watch was lett by her
father until she should become OF age to take care
OF her hall! The chief object of Mr.. Nelson, coun-
sci for Miss Gabrielle, seemed to be 10 bother
Isaiah r. Williams as much as possible in his fight
for the contestants. So
Mr.. Cnoate, who had appeared for the children as
was not quite prepared to 60 on, and said he
thought it was due TO the public as well
as to himself and his clients, to have
an adjournment IN order to make proper prepare
ton, there much interest taken by all
parties in the CASE Mr. Choate believed that II an
adjournment was had for two weeks an ad-
justment might be made between both parties that
would be satisfactory TO all concerned. He asked
for mutual satisfaction and without prejudice to any
one.
Mr.. williams opposed the motion, and the Surro-
gate stated that he thought the case should pro-
coed forthwith, as the case had been pending be-
lore him for months and he could see no further
':DoN'r WANT TO GO on"
Mr. ChOate-l have very, very strong objections
TO going now. AT this stage OF the case the pO-
sition may be SAID to have changed. He then read
aletter from the Children,s AID Society, signed by
letter from the trustees, both OF which letters were
to the purpose that the society had resigned any
claim against the Greeley estate, regardless OF the
Request made In ayor OF the society by Mr.. Greeley
in the will of 1871.
Judge Hart stated that they had no right to ap-
pear In the case on the application for admission
to probate OF the will OF 1872.
The Surrogate ruled that they had right to ap-
pear. The executors Of the will of 1871 have right
to appear II the former Will holds good.
AN OLD ABoLIrIoNIsT TEsrIFIEs.
Mr.. Olver johnson was the first witness called
by the contestants. He is a spare built, studious
looking man, with bilious face. He said u am
was editor OF the weekly and semi-wceky Tribune
for two years: was connected with the staf Of the
Tribune for six years, not con tinuously; was the
editor OF the Independent for five years resident OF
New York for Ave years; knew Mr.. Greeley for
twenty-nine years; first got acquainted with him
in 1874; was closely related with him to 1s4s; took
charge OF the paper during the absence OF Mr..
Greeley at that time; left The Tribune In lsis and
went back to 1t in 1851 LEFT again and was there in
Is7OIs7 and part OF 1872 in daily intercourse
with Mr.. Greeley while on the tribune: met Mr..
Greeley at the time OF his wiIe's death.
IE
Saw Mr.. Greeley on the day OF her death and on
the SUNDAY preceding saw him at his home, at
Alvin j. Johnson's house. 1913 West Fiity-seventh
street, in the afternoon was with him half to
three-quarters OF an hour; did not see him alone
on the morning OF his wlie,s funeral; he met me
in manner which arrested my attention; he met
me ard shook my hands and held on TO mc Tor fun
half minute, and did not speak for that time
when ne did speak he spoke OF himself as an utterly
ruined man. said nothing to me In regard 10 his
wiies death: spoke to me or the tribune, and
tribune; tnat was the substance; what impressed
me at FIRST was the manner in when ne
seized my hand; he had never done 1t
lie did not alludc his wfe's dccease except to me
ON reply; had never before seen such IA look on
fls Iace; ne replied TO me over and over and said
ING same tning again and again; nothing that |
said could stop him
he repeated over and again, IL am a ruined
man and nave ruined the Tribune and its all gone
TO tne dogs" then told him that he was mis-
taken, That the tribune twas doing well - he said
"You are all wrong; you know nothing about it ~
Ills lace had wild look; his EXPRESSION was
intense; he said 81 wish was deadr instead OF
his wife more than once
Mr.. wnliams-Mr. johnson, from what YOU saw
OF Mr.. Greelcys expression and wildness of eve ala
you form an opinion OF his unsoundness OF mindY
Mr.. Choatc-i object, Your Honor the ground
that the witness IS not professional, and should
therefore not be allowed 20 give an opinion
Surrogate Conin--State what he SAID in regard to
the fact OF the Tribune being ruined.
Witness--It was not a TACT That the Tribune
war ruined IL was TACT wen known TO the stock
holders that the tribune was tnen prosperous
The iLopregs.op coayeyed to PIC by NJ. Glesleys