The New York herald., 1875-12-02
THE SINGER WILL.

UNEXPECTED COLLAPSE OF THE DEFENCE-THE
TESTIMONY CLOSED ON BOTH srDEs-LEGAL
ARGUMENTS NEXT IN ORDER.
The proceedings in the Singer will case before Surro-
gate Coffin at White Plains, terminated in an unex-
pected manner yesterday forenoon. 1t had been gen.
orally believed that the formidable array OF legal talent
retained in behalf OF the and the English Reg.
aztec would produce 'scloud OF Witnesses" and offer
such a'quantity of evidence in rebuttal would IL
possible leave the contestant without any standing in
Court AS it is however, the counsel for the defence
who guarding estate valued at $4,000 900, for
reasons best known to themselves have concluded their
case after placing three solitary witnesses the stand
1t win be recoected that Of these called for the
purpose Of proving that marriage took place between
Isaac NJ Singer (the testator) and Catharine Maria
Haley, at Palmyra, In $780, while the other two test
fed TO the authenticity Of marriage certificate setting
forth the fact that John A. Foster and Mary Ann
sponsler phc contestanD were united In wedlock
during the year 1863 in the CITY OF Boston, circum-
stances which counsel for the contestant acknowledged
and admitted from the commencement OF the proceed
ings II will thus be that the defence rests solely
on these two transactions
When the case was called yesterday Mr. Carter coun.
sci for the executor addressed the Court saying that
after consultation with his associate, ex-Judge
Porter they had arrived at the conclusion that the
case was now substantially before the Surrogate He
said they had but little more testimony TO offer, and
the remaining witness which they expected TO call to
the stand Unexpectedly absent Mr.. Van Pelt,
he added, OF the same opinion, and the latter
had. decided not TO offer any rebuttng testimony, Ii
seemed 10 him that regarded their side IL E1ght be
considered as being substantially closed
Mr. Van Pelt, for the contestant coinci1ed with tho
views expressed by Mr. Carter and consented that
the be considered as closed reserving the right,
however Of introducing the judgment record divorc-
ing the testator from Catharine Maria Haley, If the
other side offered the certificate Of marriage between
Isaac NJ Singer and Isabella Eugenia Summerville
Counsel for the executor said that they did propose
introduce the marriage certificate mentioned and
which, he supposed, the other side would object
Mr.. Yam Pelt intimaed that he would object to the
admission Of the document in question: on the ground
OF rrelevancy to the issue
Surrogate Coffin expressed himself as feeling in
cned TO take the paper Indicated but OF course under
the objection OF counsel for contestant He would
the that he had admitted other
which it also claimed was irrelevant
The certificate in question sets forth that Isaac NJ
Singer and Isabella Bugenla Summervile married
by Rev. Edwin r T. Cook, rector OF the Church of St
John the Evangelist, corner OF Hammond street and
Waverley place. in the city Of New York, June 13
1863
Counsel for the contestant admitted that this
mony of marriage was performed, but denied that Is
was a legal contract
With consent OF counsel both sides the Surrogate
designated Friday the 18th inst for the hearing OF
arguments the part of counsel There Tumor
current some days since that Mr.. Charles 0'Conor
would up for the detence but the present illness
Of that gentleman will doubtless prevent him from ap
pearing the day namod