The New York herald., 1874-10-31
THE HARDIN ESTATE CONTEST

In the Surrogate's Court, before Surrogate
Hutchings, yesterday, ex-Judge Jonn X. Porter
resumed, on behalf Of Mrs. Hardin, the summing
up the great legal contest over the 81, 900
lett by the late George Hardin, the well known
linen importer. The court room was crowded.
Alter reading the testimony or several witnesses,
which went to snow that Hardin and the claimant
widow were known as husband and wife; that
he called her, In the presence of friends, ac-
quaintances and strangers, his wife and she
called him her husband, counsel said in
George Hardin we have q unique and well
defined character. Cool, calculating and hard
headed outside in his business and secretive as TO
MS business transactions We md MIN ut home
as proved by scores OF witnesses whose character
ana testimony were above suspicion-open-
hearted, generous with strong connubial and do
mestic feelings, loving. cher1shing and bonoring
the woman whom his relations now seek to make
out fallen woman Tor the base purpose Of getting
tbsr " to ge tnn money! aaa ~ 10
blacKen the name OF the dead as well as the living
Counsel then strung together number OF tender
incidents which occurred IN the Hardin home re-
lated by witnesses on che stand, and said they
could not occur except In the home of happy mar
but confidence and love Of their Creator. lie read
the testimony OF lady witness, who said she had
Hardin and nad seen Mr.. Hardin there. He spoke
20 her as his wlfe, and went with them and put
them IN age Mr.. Porter referred to the inso.
lent and brow-beatlng manner In winch counsel
on the other side had treated this, well other
witnesses for Mrs. Hardin, and said IL seemed to
be he opinion oil the counsel that witness en-
titled TO respect except produced from Detective
Pinkerton's olice, or bringing q certificate from
Tom Crow "a witness on the other sde), 'who was
unearthed," said counsel. ION one OF the neignbor
ing lslands.o
MIR. Porter proceeded to explain why MIR. Hardin
was known at home as Mr.. Walker, the chief
reason being TO avoid the large amount OF per-
sonai tax winch he would have to pay II he was
known TO the tax gatherer to be the millionaire
merchant, George Hardin. He had made his
money by hard, honest business, and did not want
to have part oil 1t squandered by the corrupt and
pro nlgate officials VINO ruled this city. The test-
mony OF Mrs. Connolly widow 0! Patrick Connolly.
Mr.. Hardin's store, showed that she had known
Mrs. Hardin for over eighteen years as the vile
OF Mr. Hardin Every time she met Mr.. Har-
din or saw him in his store which was fre
quenty, she asked Tor Mrs. Hardin, and he would
answer tShe vel, - or .tShe has caught a cold,"
or "She has gone to the country &c. She had
always been spoken oil by Mr. Hardin as his vile.
The testimony OF Mr.. Putnam, of the dry goods
firm OF E. d. Putnam Co., whose store. in $780,
street, showed that Mrs. Hardin called frequently
at Hardin's store, He saw tnem walk out OF The
store arm-in-arm. He asked Mr.. Blgelow, clerk
In Hardin's store, who the lady was as he did not
know Mr. Hardin was married, and was surprised
to see him walking out OF the store arm-in-ar
with lady. Mr.. Bigelow replied, THAT IS Mr..
Hardln's wife," "Do New York merchants" +" said
counsel walk out OF their stores In broad day
Light arm-in-arm with thieves and prosttutess
firm next door that his employer was married,
and point out his wife. unless 1t were so?"
Counsel had not concluded when the Court
adjourned.