The New York herald., 1875-11-18
A SOCIAL EPISODE.

THE WILL OF THE LATE HENRY SHIELDS, Ex.
PRESIDENT OF THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE,
CONTESTED BY TWO wIDows-AN INTEREST
ING PROCEEDING IN LAVA TALE OF TWO
CITIES.
The time OF the Supreme Court Circuit Judge Tappen
presiding in the Kings County Court House has been
taken up during the past two days the trial Of in
terestng suit involving the right OF estate
worth $500 00o the property being that Of the late
Henry Shields former President Of the Produce Ex
change New York. The plaintiff who contests the will
is Jane Shields, who born 1890, and married
to the deceased according the Quaker rites 1885,
She gave birth several children while they lived to-
gether as man aud wife in Williamsburg. In 1s4s he
deserted the plaintiff and her children, and married
estimabe and cultivated lady, Miss Catherine Lawler
who together with eight children survives him. Both
widows were present in court
Mr. W. f. Robinson testified that he had known Mrs
Jane Shields thirty years; she living at No. 10
North Second street. in 1s47, with Henry Shields in
1s4s witness got money from Mr. Shields for Mrs Jane
Shields; he then asked how his wife and children
for five years he had taken money to Mrs Shields
from her husband; deceased spoke about buying
place for her. and gave witness check for 5000 pay
for house he had selected the price $1,000, and
5000 was to remain on mortgage; the deed was made
out in the OF Jane Valentne that her maiden
name the house on the corner Of Wyckon street
and Graham avenue deceased said he was not in po-
sition to do anything for the children, but tho
time would come when they would be substantially
acknowledged; his Henry Shields) went TO tho
war killed there witness at later period
children whom they called Brown, at Mrs Shields
house; did go to the house while she lived with
John James Brown; witness wife was the niece OF Mrs.
Jane Shields; never told deceased about Brown.
Rachel Robinson, wife of the proceeding Witness
testified to the Of Jane Shields her aunt aud the
deceased living husband and wife; Kate Shields their
daughter, learned the trade of dressmaking and de-
ceased was in the habit OF calling to his child, My
little Katy as he called her. On the -examna-
ton witness said she said "anc Valentine needn't
hold her head high, she had lived With two men
and been married TO neither"
Mrs Sarah 2. Lockwood testified that Henry Shields
| visited her house frequently in Williamsburg and
| dined with her there's witness frequently heard HIM
stephen Valentine, Quaker. seventy nine years OF
age testified TO having been flour merchant for hfty-
three years in the city OF New York; the Friends
marriage ceremony was merely q declaration Of the
persons in the presence OF wtnesses-they promised
TO be husband and wife, and through Divine assistance
to be faithful he knew Shields when baker and suose
| quenty while carman for Rowland Brdsa 4 Jones,
Quaker firm; witness helped him into the Board OF
/ Flour Inspectors; he never knew any Mrs, Shields
other than the rich widow; he never heard OF mar
rage certificates being signed by less than fifteen wit
nesses; he had forty nine names on his certificate;
there was specified number OF witnesses
I Mr. Bonner husband OF Mrs. Shields daughter
Kate testified that he had Henry Shields before
his marriage 1859 and frequently OF late years had
called him il Dey street and obtained money; de-
ceased had asked about his daughter Kate Mr. Shields
once asked III be had said anything to his Second
avenue family about the folks in williamsburg wit
ness said mo- and Mr.. Shields said. That's right;
IL is better for person TO mind his own business
Catharue J. Bonner, pretty and stylish matron OF
thirtynve years testified that she the daughter OF
Henry aud Jane Shields her father left her mother
when she witness) eight nine years old; he al
ways called her mother ''wife' and spoke 20 witness
as his daughter after he left she did not see him
years her mother cried and retted very much
left his home six years after his departure she
heard at SO Dey street, and went there TO see
hun IN company with young lady friend; on meeting
him she said, my father' he said, "My daughter, =
aud threw his about her; he asked If her mother
was dead she asked him If no had left her mother he
SAID Don't fret she did not worry she asked him
1 II he had married again. he said, mo, who says
am ~ after this he visited her in Williamsburg and
helped her along until she married; he frequently
used Quaker expressions; witness was baptized by
kather Malone her fathers request and IN his name
william Shields, brother of Mrs. Bonner testified
that his father in January 1874, in his Office
at No 13s Broad street. deceased knew him his
asked HIM for 5000 but his father told him no
was under great expense and could not let him have Il;
in the March following father died and he followed
the the grave; the body inferred in Cal-
vary Cemetery, Brooklyn.
The trial will be resumed to-day.