The New York herald., 1875-12-28
THE SINGER WILL.
INCREASING INTEREST MANIFESTED IN THE
cAsEc-AReuMEET oE Ex-JUDcE PoRTRR FOR

INCREASING INTEREST MANIFESTED IN THE
cAsE-AReuMEET oV Ex-JUDcE PORTER FOR
fnR DEFENCE.
Every seat devoted to the use OF spectators in the
surrogate's Court at White Plains Westchester
county was occupied when the counsel both sides,
with the contestant in the Singer will case and her
friends arrived there from New York yesterday.
spectacle altogether novel in judicial atmosphere, and
which called forth expressions OF curiosity formed
by two large oil paintings Of Isaac NJ Singer the tesla.
tor and Mrs Mary Ann Singer (now Mra Foster) the
contestant hanging side by side in apparently loving
unison.
Mr. Van Pelt for the contestant offered in evidence
the judgment roll in the divorce suit for adultery OBJ
tanned by NJ Singer against Catherine NJ Singer, in
January, lS60 and which prohibited her from marrying
again while granting that privilege to the plaintiff He
also placed evidence daguerreotype likeness Of the
testaior and the contestant taken the plate.
Mr. Carter for the executor having read portion Of
the Revised Statutes of Massachusetts, touching the re-
cordng IL that State of births, marriages and deaths,
bearing on the record Of marriage proved between
the contestant and John H. Foster in Boston, ex-
Judge Porter commenced his argument in behalf Of the
English widow and legatee.
After aludpgt TO the unusual interest attaching to
the from the magnitude Of the involved he
said that the question al issue lowered above all consd
eratons OF mere property He reviewed the life and
OF Mr.. Singer, who he said though born OF re-
ligous parents was led in early life to entertain an ex
traordnary feeling for the other OF strong
passions he most susceptible the destinations Of
women, often TO their benefit and frequently TO
their shame After showing how the had pro-
vided for children his will than the
majority Of men leave behind them, and how he also
handsomely provided for the children Of Mrs. Foster
leaving them about tcnth Of his estate, counsel
said that the question to whether the will duly
executed has not yet arisen. Whether this who
had the control and management OF vast busn
plications able to make this will is question that
may arise If the contestant is admitted dispute it,
He commented severely on the contestant who, he
said, comes into Court TO place her veto the
will, under which her children are entitled TO
ST. SOC, 600 He dwelt the spectacle of
mother coming into Court TO proclaim
that she rs bgamist and sand that the with whom
she is living is not her husband Her object, he
continued, money, and If she succeeds she will be
in position TO claim onethrd of the estate, to the
exclusion Of every child named in the will and who
not born in wedock. Counsel reviewed tho testimony
OF Mrs Foster at length, and after citing
thorities in support of his position viz that her
relations with Singer, although extending through
a period or many years, not OF
a matrimonial character, proof of their marriage
existed made eloquent appeal in behalf Of the widow
in England, whom 1t sought by the contestant TO
reduce the level of concubnage and the brows of
whose innocent children intended TO be placed in
the same manner the ine0aceabe brand OF legtmacy.
The above but meagre outline OF exJudge Porters
able argument, which occupied about hours in
its delivery To day will be devoted to the argument
Of counsel for the contestant