River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-11
singer. wife ON ,ss witness stand.

White Plains, Westchester county. when
the Singer will case was called on Thurs
day afternoon. Among those present
was Mrs. Mary Ann Foster, a well-pre-
served matron of middle age, who alone
contests the will, claiming to be the only
legal widow Of Isaac NJ. Singer. and, as
such, entitled TO her dowry, which would
amount to about $i,000,000, out of the
Sl3,000,000, at which the estate is valued.
That she was the companion Of the tes-
tator when he was battling with the
world for humble livelihood, is placed
beyond doubt by her testimony given be.
low. AS a further proof Of this, the fol-
lowing letter was received by her counsel
few days ago. This miSsive is dated
Terre llaute, Ind, Oct. %, and is as fol.
lows:
"R. w. VAN PELT, Esq: read to-day
in the Cincinnati Commercial, copied
from the New York Herald Of the 2lst
inst, proceedings in the surrogate court
Of Westminster county, in the Singer
will case. In the year lS43 or 1874 |
kept hotel in the town of Piqua, Ohio.
Singer, calling himself Merritt, with his
wife and two children, came to my hotel
and remained nearly week, giving reci-
tatiOns mostly from Shakespeare plays;
they giving their entertainments in the
ball room Of the hotel. remember my
wife gave up our family room to the "dis-
tinguished elocutiOnist" and his family
while they remained. My recollection Of
Singer is that at the time he was very
poor in pocket, shabby in person, and
disposed to be rough and unkind in his
manner. Mrs. Singer was quite the OPP
posite; refined, amiable and courteous
The children, a boy and a girl, were
bright, well hammered children. They all
left my hotel in a common two-horse
wagon, and their whole baggage would
not have brought $40. ! gave him SO
TO pay his way to the next town.
p. +. TUTTLR."
Tho wife mentioned in the above is she
who now has placed bar against the
administering of the colossal estate.
The first itne.s called by counsel for
the contestant was Mrs. Mary Ann Me-
gary, who testified that she was the wife
of a retired banker, who for several years
London. Her evidence went To show
that she had formed tho acquaintance OF
Isaac NJ. Singer and his wife when they
lived on Fourth avenue, many years ago;
that she had been intimately acquainted
with them both from that time up to the
period Of their separation, and since then
had kept up the intimacy with Mrs. Fos-
ter that the testator had al.
ways. until the time named. treated
the contestant with the utmost kind.
ness, especially when the latter happened
to be i'll; that she as well as many other
men and women, whom she named, prom.
inent in New York social circles, had FIRE.
quently met Singer and his wife, both at
their home and elsewhere, and that he
had invariably acknowledged, both by
words and actions, that the contestant
was his wife and tho mother of their
children.
A rigid REORGANIZATION did not shake
the testimony Of the witness in any ma.
terial part. Counsel for the contestants
then called Mrs. Foster to the witness
stand.
Mrs. Mary Ann Foster was here called
to the witness stand and sworn. After
being formally recognized by the proceed.
ing witness as Mrs. Singer, the wife Of
Isaac NJ. Singer, she deposed as follows:
was fifty-nine years old last January;
my maiden name was SpOnsler; was born
in Carlisle, Pa; knew Isaac NJ. Singer,
deceased; first became acquainted with
him in the spring Of 1886; was then living
RAJ trafh faN h., nj
deceased paid his addresses to me and
asked mv hand in marriage.
Invent with Mr.. Singer from Baltimore
to New York to have our marriage con.
tract fulfilled; from October, 1885, to
1860, we lived together as man and wife;
had ten children by him, eight Of whom
are still living; during the period mem
toned we always lived together as man
and wife.
We continued to live together as hus.
band and wife down to the period Of our
separation, which took place on August
!, 1850; his business from 1860 to the
period Of separation was the introducing
of sewing machines; he remained in that
business until his death; IN 1850 we resid.
ed IN Fifth street, New York; think we
went from there TO Fourth avenue; we
were about seven years on Fourth ave.
nue., II IS seventeen years since we went
from Fourth to Fifth avenue; we lived on
Third avenue previous to our living on
Fourth avenue; we first went to live on
Third avenue in lS49; previous to that
We had resided IN Pittsburg; two wears
previous to our living at Pittsburgh we
lived in Ohio; we travelled thirteen years.
For three years Mr.. Singer played re
ligious pieces in churches; while playing
he was only known by his middle name
Of Merritt, | was also known then as Mrs.
Merritt and always as his wife: the chill.
dren travelled with us; always had the
immediate charge and supervision of
them; deceased paid the bills for the chill.
dren's outlay, and also paid doctors bills
for attendance on me; Mr.. Singer, before
strangers, always addressed me as Mrs.
Singer" or "my wife," when we were
alone he always called me Ann" when
we would be together called
him father" and in company
"Mr. Singer always spoke Of
him ana addressed him as my hus.
band have frequently visited his place
Of business in New York, sometimes to