The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-07
A GHOST IN COURT.
Its Evidence Gives a Woman her Prop
erty.

Its Evidence Gives a Woman her Prop
erty.
In December, 1871, one Sylvester
Sudler, a farmer estimated to be worth
S150,000 and residing in Poplar Island
Greek Neck, in the Second Election
District of Queen Anne's. Nd, where
he had very large farm and hand
some residence, was taken very sick
with pneumonia. After a few days
severe illness he improved and became
convalesoent, but exposing himself too
soon, had relapse, and on the 18th of
January, 1872, died. In the interval
of cenvalescenee between the two at
tacks of illness Sylvester Sudler sent
for his brother, Emory j. Sudler, a law
yer living upon Kent Island "a part of
Queen Anne's county,, and got him to
write his will. This was duly executed
in the presence of three witnesses on
the 18th Of January, and delivered into
the custody of Emory j. Sudler, who
was understood to be named the execu-
tor. On the 18th Emory Sudler went
home, and did not return to Poplar
Island Greek Neck until the 21st of
January, when Lie was summoned to be
present at his brothers funeral, which
took place in Centreville the next day.
On. the 23d of January, Emory j.
Sudler, by request, read the will in
presence of two of the witnesses, Rev.
John Fleming and Mrs. Hannah Ed
wards, and the widow, Mrs. Mary Ann
Sudler, and the only child of Sylvester
Sudler, Emory J. Sudler, Jr., boy of
twelve years. The will, after naming
Emory j. Sudler, ST., sole executor,
and devising some small sums in the
shape of legacies, gave directions
that the real estate should be sold, and
out of the proceeds $500 should be
paid to Mary Ann Sudler, while all the
rest of the estate should become the
property the decedent's brother, Emory
j. Sudler, whom he recognized as his
universal and only heir.
The widow and both of the witnesses
present declared that the document
I'D was not the will of Sylvester Sud
The executor insisted that it was,
defied Mrs. Edwards and Rev. Mr..
Rg to deny their signatures. He
kpuld prove the will, and if it
ted he could show the court
Is why his brother Sylvester
such devise of his property.
lotice also that he would on
|day apply to the Orphans
Court at Uentreville for probate of the
will.
This he did; but the widow, appeal
ing likewise, entered a caveat on her
own part and as the next friend of her
son, Emory Sudler, Jr. The court ap-
pointed day to hear testimony in re-
gard to the will, and on that day all
three of the witnesses to the will were
fA,ofbou Ill ,,ofn
ested. Mr.. Matthew b. Merit, the
third witness, swore positively to his
own signature and to have seen the
other witnesses sign. He identified
the document by its shape, the envel-
ope containing it, water-mark in the
paper, and an ink blot upon one corner
of the folded sheet. Mrs. Edwards
could not swear that it was not her sig
nature to the paper, but was not will
ing to swear that it was. She had been
in the house during all of Mr.. Sylves-
ter Sudler's illness, helping his wife to
nurse him, and had repeatedly heard
decedent declare that he had left all
his property Except certain legacies
which she named, and which were in
accordance with the terms OF the will
ready to his wife and child. The will,
after it was written and before being
executed, had been for two days in the
custody of the deceased. He had kept
it under his pillow had read it him,
self; had made her read it to him, and
had got the Rev. Mr.. Fleming to read
it to him also. Hence she was able to
speak SO positively as to its contents.
The Rev. John Fleming corroborated
Mrs. Edwards statement, and testified
further, that before sending for his bro
ther, Mr.. Sylvester Sudler had men
toned to him how he intended to leave
his property, and consulted him about
giving ths administration to Emory.
Emory, he said, was little wild, and
he was afraid that giving him such 6