New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-08
TIE HARDIN WILL CASE.


4 SERVANTS ACCOUNT OF THE MuuoYAEEs HOUSE
KEEPER.
The hearing of the testimony Oh behalf OF
the contestants in the proceedings in relation to the
estate OF George Hardin resumed last Saturday IN
the surrogates Court Among the witnesses examined
Mrs Bridget Powers, who formerly the servant
OF the alleged widow and who gave an account oil hei
habits OF theft and intoxicaton large crowd was in
the courtroom during the whole examination. Robert
Walker, who claims to be her husband, was present.
Michael Martin of No. % West Broadway had known
Robert Walker and had his wife frequently. the
photograph of Mr. Iardn's widow, housekeeper, was
shown to him, and he said the face seemed familiar
one. although he could positively that it was
Mrs. Walker. Col. James Lee merchant, who has
been in the city since 1915, rccOuncd ciden u his
life in these words:
IN 1894 and 1895 had considerable business in Glas-
cow Scotland, and remember receiving letter from
hero about 1885 or 1896 concerning young Scotch
who had come to this country without me
knowledge consent Of her parents. requested
md her. The letcr from her friends in Glasgow
and il stated that she had here in ship alone
have not the letter now and my books and papers were
burned up the great FIRE In this city in 1855. found
out where she and called upon her at boarding.
house in Jamess aud tried 10 persuade her to go PACK
her home went there twlce and she refused eoth
times. afterwards saw her on street three OF four
streets back OF Broadway Think II was Ih0npsOnst
and While was there came IN and said that ne
her husband. do not remember the young
womans name, aud 1 never sass her except IN james
ana Tholnpson-sts.
Mary Ann Shedding. who has lived No. % Cornelis
ST. for IS years. and Mrs. Auna BOwren Of No. 51s
Beecker,t., had both known the widow when she was
living with Mr. Hardin under the name of Walker. Mrs
Bowren related several instances in which she thought
that Mrs Walker had acted dishonesty. Mrs. Bridget
Powers gave the following testimony:
lived with Mrs. Walker at No. ~ Cornca-st: first
there IN May, 1880 and left in August, 1853; she
had other servant except myself while there;
| her by the name Of Mrs walker; there was an
old gentlemau, porter ia the store VINO used TO cal
lart Mr.. his plfnn nj
heard Dr. Van Pet call her Mrs. Hardin; l knew her
brother William saw him several times at No y Cor
neliast the last time saw him Ia Bellevue Hos
pital. whore he died; at her brother Williams
iuneral he was buried at Greenwood Cemetery; this
took place about IS months after went 20 i've with her;
think saw William about iodr or nve times AT tnc
house; Mrs. Walker told me that she had lived IN
that her maiden name was Elizabeth steele
! knew Robert Walker, but have heard her
talk about him; i nave heard brother William aud
Mr. Rusk talk about Robert Walker; William told Mrs.
Walker bat she ought To and live with her husband
Hardin and she told William "you ought not TO talk so
before Bridget" MIS- Walker told me she thought Rob
er Walker in Brooklyn, and That lls BROTHER kept
shoe store there; she told ule that she dd not know
whether Robert Walker was living in Brooklyn or New
York upon occasion gentleman came TO the house
inquired OF me at Tie door Tor hts Waker, anu sue
being sick at the time told him she not at home,
and he said that she had stolen lamp Saturday ana
II she dd not pay for 1t he wond nave neT t'ken w.
when Hardin home that night told MN aDout H.
and lac went to the store TO see about IT, ana be Iod me
afterwards that she had not stolen the lamp at all
George Taylor, liquor merchant on Dnanest ahd West
Broadway used to visit the house he came mere abo
every other week about 10 a. NJ, ana stayed u aoou,
D. M and generally TOOK his meals there and ueve+
saw Hardin the house while Ty Tor was there nave
been TdyOrs store several times To look after MIS-
Walker she went away day and not coming home
at y. III. / went to Tayioi's store TO ind her; irdn
asked me TO do II ana BRING hcr nome aDOul OF r. W.
she came home with a small pitcher III her hand hlltd
with brandy ( know James McCarrol Tor MeAdanl
hu kept an oyster saloon IN Sx-a"e near Fourth 81
have seen No. % COrnena-st where he came To
see Mrs. Walker brought Mrs Walker home from
there upon OCCASION between and 10 o'clock, when
she had only her night-clolhes and was III hquoi