The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-16
HEIRS AT LAW
FOR NANCY SMITHS FORTUNE.

FOX NANCY SMITHS FORTUNE.
FIFTEEN RELATIVES ASKING FOR JUsTIcE-AN
ALLEGED PLOT TO OBTAIN A GREAT ESTATE
THE WILL JOHN LAWRENCE SMITH DREW
UP.
This, from the Nav York Sun, will inter
est those who are living on great expecta-
tions: Fifteen disinherited relatives of the
late Nancy Smith, of Stony Brook, were in
Surrogate Hedges Court in Riverhead, on
Wednesday. They and their friends oecu-
pied the middle OF the court room, while on
the right, and apparently without sympa
thizers, sat Mrs. Louisa p. Norton, who be-
sides having received 100000 from Mrs.
Smith in the life time of the latter, has been
LETT by the viii about $3.50, 600 more. Mrs
Nancy Smith lived Ia the bandscmest
house in Stony Brook, and one OF the
finest honses in Suffolk county. Her hus-
band, Capt. Jonas Smith, OF the firm OF
Jonas Smith IL Co., shipping merchants of
South street, died in 1867, leaving about half
a million OF dollars to his widow. Capt.
Smith had requested his wife to provide for
the distribution Of the property after her
death, in tair and equal proportion among
her kindred. Having no children, the cap
tain and Nancy had at various times taken
nephews ana nleces to live with thsm.
AmcuS these were Sophia Rutland and
Louisa Smith, now Louisa p. Norton.
Louisa lived with her aunt and uncle un I'll
she was sixteen, and was soon afterwaTd
married to Mr.. Petit. The captains bust
ness was being managed by his nephew.
Jonas Smith, who still main tains the firm
flag In South street. Louisa's husband
DIED THROUGH DISSIPATION,
and the other members of the family hsv-
ing left Nancy for homes of their own,
Louisa went about May, 1870, to reside
with her aunt in Portland avenue, Brook
lyn, whence they moved back to Stony
Brook in June. 1t is alleged by the con-
testants that Mrs. Norton then formed de-
sign to obtain possession OF her aunt's prop
erty. Nancy was woman of weak Will
and no business capacity. She was afflicted
with q disease which made quiet ana repose
impsratively necessary for her comfort.
Mrs. Norton is woman of strong will ana
aggressive disposition, and she obtained an
influence over her aunt which resulted in
alternating that lady almost entirely from
her other relatives. According to the testi-
mony a Mrs. Lee, one of Mrs. Nancy
Smiths nieces, visited Nancy on one occa-
she would not loan the money, but would
give it to her. During the conversation
Mrs. Norton entered, and made some sign
TO the aunt. Then Nancy shook her head,
and said: "Well, Mrs. Lse, you will have to
get the money elsewhere" On another oc-
Nancy for $3.50. Mrs. Smith was anxious to
give the money, but Mrs. Norton insisted
that the widow give note for the amount.
This was done. Afterward Nancy expressed
a wish to her nephew, Jonas, that ths note
bs cancelled. But the paper could not be
found until after her death, when 1t was pro-
duced bY Mrs Norton. Mrs. Norton gained
her present nsme in 1873, whep she was mar
ried 20 Frank Norton, son of SidneyS. Nor
ton, formerly of the Insurance Age. Mrs.
Smith built q $50, 900 mansion, which was
decided to Mrs Norton, and in 1t the Nor
tons and Mrs. Smith lived. About this time
John Lawrence Smith, of Smithtown, was
taken into the counsels of the Nortons. He
spent whole day with Mrs. Smith and
Mrs, Norton drawing up viii, which al
most entirely
CUT OFF ALL THE HEIRS BUT MRS. NORTON.
The will recited various gifts alleged to have
been made by Nancy to her relatives as jus
tifying her in not giving them any more
1t made no mention, however, OF about
100000 given TO Mrs. Norton, and about
So, 900 given to Mrs. Norton's sister, Mrs.
Whitford, or of the fact that Mrs. Nor
toms first husband, Petit, had owed Capt,
Jonas Smith over 10000. This will prepared
by Mrs. Norton and John Lawrence Smith
was kept by Mrs. Norton in tin bcx at her
house until after the death Of Nancy. IL was
then handed over to one of the executors,
Capt. Jonas Smith, Jr., nephew OF Nancy
Smith, and who, though given nothing by the
will, has not taken any active part IN the con-
test. Nevertheless he declares the will to be
utterly unjust, and 10 have been procured
bv undue influence. The other executor
is John Lawrence Smith, who, although
not openly appearing as counsel, is the
manager of Mrs. Norton's affairs, and
guides the case for her. Capt. Jonas Smith,
who has for years had charge OF
Mrs. Nancy Smiths personal property and
real estate declared that he would not turn
them over until ordered by court, and an
agreement has been made that everything
snail remain in his hands until fiual de
cision is arrived at, all parties having conf
dence in his integrity. The names OF the
contestants OF the will are ex-Judge John
NJ. Williamson, ex-Sheriff VIM. 3. William
son, brother, and Mary A. Smith, sister of
Nancy; John M. Williamson, Jr., and J.
Harrison Williamson, son Of the deceased
brother, Seth Williamson; Edmond w.
rutland, Sophia r. Jayne, M. Q. Woodham,
s. A. Hawkins, and Nancy w. Lee, children
of Charity Rutland, a deceased sister; Wm.
L. Smith, Carlton A. Smith, Mary j. Sher-
man, and Samuel w. Smith, children OF
Maria Smith, deceased sister. Besides,
there are numerous grand-nephews and
nieoes.
THE CASE HAS EXCITED GREAT INTEREST
in Suffolk county, and popular feeling
seems to be with the unlucky heirs. Among
other facts going to show undue influence,
Mr.. Henry L. Clinton, counsel for the con-
lestants, mentioned that a few days before
Ihe death OF Nancy she asked one OF her
nephews to get her brother, Judge William
SON, to draw a bill OF sale to Richard s. Will
hanson, another nephew, for the stock and
implements on a farm which he had occu-
pied, and that the bill OF sale be brought to
her when she was alone. This was done,
and she executed it when Mrs. Norton was
not present. The heirs also say that Mrs
Norton boastsd that the will was SO drawn
lp that none of them would have the means
70 fight it with. Judge Emott is counsel for
Mrs Norton, assisted by John Lawrence
Smith.
A young man in OHIO, in a playful freak,
,he other day, cut off the end OF a young