The New York herald., 1876-12-14
Mr. PARISHS WILL.
Second Days Proceedings Before Surrogate
Peter Dorland.
OPENING ADDRESS OF COUNSEL
Alleged Undue Influence Of Young Woman
in the Case.

to-day and the crowded with listeners
The counsel present were Thompson Weeks for
mrs. Thomas Parish, the widow; Hon. Homer A.
Nelson for Mrs Lcason Holdridge, niece of deceased
Judge Charles Wheaton Tor James Parish, nephew OF
deceased; Hon. u. Platt Carpenter for Susie Hayt
Parish, the adopted dauehtcr, and Mr.. William J.
fhorne for Nathaniel and Peter D. Hayt, executors.
Among those present directly Interested in the
outside counsel were Mrs Mary Parish, tho widow;
Lcnson Hoidridgc, merchant; James Parisn, Mr. and
Mrs. David Harris, Mr. and Mrs Richard Titus. Mr.
and Mrs shndlcr, Of New York Mrs. Henry Muford,
Mrs. Pcs and Mr. Augustus JerrctL
OPENING SPEECH or COUNSEL.
Mr. Thompson opened the follows :-"May It
please the Court, before entering upon examin-
alton OF the witnesses conicstation OF this WILL
will DO proper that should present ontline OF the
case understand It, from tho parties in in
tercst Thomas Parish, whose will is propoundcd
for probate died in this city the 3lst day OF
bcr 1916. the age OF iorty-four. He was son Of
james Parish respectable and upright man. who
died several years snce leaving Jacob, and this
son Thomas with their mother since surviving; the
properly, left by his w in part disposed of d.
rectly TO his widow, 10 Thomas, ana (hs
jacob having deceasec), to his two children, MRS.
Holdrid2e and James Parlsh-but the larger part or
his directed TO be held trust, tho interest
TO be paid to Thomas and the two children of
Jacob in equal shares during their respective lives,
with power in trust TO them to dispose Of the
10 any person they fit by last will and tcsta-
ment halt by Thomas and one-quarter by each OF
tho other lcgatces, providing, however, in
no such will was made that the fund undsposed OF
should be paid to nine benevolent societies ana
benenciarics named by him in his will This und IL
sposcd of constitutes the principal part the
estate in controversy
Thomas Parish at the age OF TWEEN ty three
rcd to Mary Harris, his present widow who tour
his junior Indy every way worthy OF his devoted
affection, pure hearted woman graced tho
house Of husband, making u the business Of
life please him, to add TO his comfort happiness
by all those nameess attentions and services which
devoted wife only knows how renacr and he. gen.
erous by nature impulsve and open hearted in those
early years returned her anectonate fidelity with
Kindred reciprocation.
He had been educated TO no profession but after his
marriage he lived IN the ncighbornood, sometimes
rupyiug a iarn, and sometimes boarding. and NJ
time attempting clcrkshp in New York city, and
later entering into a partnership with Mr. Joseph G.
Frost OF tins city, during all these fifteen years, the
happiness OF their domestic lie was undisturbed not
, ripple OF dscont passed its surface;
was happy IN his love and confidence; she
to him both wfo and child and IL
danger menaced their domestic lille from any
quarter, II WAS feared only from increasing
fondness he manifested Tor the social cup when
grew upon HIM gradually owing the want OF rcgu-
lar occupation, and his Keen enjoyment OF boon
companonship; often ana often du he confess his
and folly THIS respect, aud his letters to her
when away were u 0. tender pathos and promises Of
amendment he confessed how her love and fidelity
all In oil to him and he would abandon all
evil and dssoaie courses and be more worthy CT her
ana TO his manhood. These letters and
expressions OF afec lion continued by him up
and during the years ts6e-7o. No happier couple, to
all appearance lived tho town city OF
Poughkeepsic. II any seeming interruption
witnessed II came from the ADDER in the cup and
instantly beaed as the poison lost its maddcnIng
power This aicctonate feeling between husbsnd and
wife up to the date OF this VIII constitutes the
first point We shall establish IN this investigation
Our second point viii be made by showing that his
testamentary dispositions made accordance
with what wotld be Just and natural In this of
his domestic affairs. We have tue evidence, as We
suppose o. he' execution OF three wills prior 1871
BY the first he gave everything TO hswiie and made
her sole cxccutrx. BY the second he remem.
bcred some of his moro intimate friends with
legscies, and lett the balance to his wife.
BY the third no made equal division
OF mis- estate between his wife and the person
claiming tno whole substantially. And so lar
third cv.ietaton The OF sad unortu-
nate e,,s npa rndae influences, in which ana of
which crgena,cd tho Infamous document now pro-
pounded.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE
The old story OF the serpent IN Eden and its sad
sequences reenuctcd IN the worlds history and
thousand timcs, aud will bc 10 the last syllable
OF recorded time In an evil hour Tor the peace OF his
household this schemlng and ambitious gir was IN
jectcd into this family. 1t SAID in ono OF our
prints that she delicate child to crafty his
affections. and grow up under his eye 10
secure tho wandering tendriis of his heart that
were feeling after some appropriate object on
winch TO cling and fasen. Thomas flesh aud
blood; IL was dangerous experiments; tho intui-
tons OF the wife were prophctca; she wanted n babe
to fondc and hold 10 her motncrly bosom, TO grow
up under her eye ana be pure AMI virtuous. Thomas
wanted buxom lass TO sit his lap TO lay her rosy
lips TO his; I'm linked sweetness long drawn OUT
TO ride by his side IN solitary night ramoes 10 travel
with HIM alone all Europe, IN Italy in Paris
In Rome, where no prying ana curious and
speculative eyes need be avoided. and no wiic
or friends at hand TO forbid and warn.
And so Florida and California were v,s-
itcd by these wandering innoccnts, all
conscious in their sweet simplicity that character was
he ter mon and hat Nlo n pu RAJ a
proprices of social HE must meet the penalty social
condemnation. tribe over SIX months at school,
clothed like princess covered with jewclry by his
fatheriy and broodlng tenderness ruling him and the
household in the minutcst particulars. IN SIX months
after her graduation she had supplanied tue wito--
and baied in her nrst project OF visiting Europe with
him alone. Tor which she had made ample preparations
hurrcdoT without her as much Tor the purpose OF sep
aratng the man and vile, as TO place enccual barriers
in the way of their reunion on his reurn and tins
without word ol quarrel. difficulty dis
agreement between them up TO this hour, except her
remopstrancc with bin on the mpropricty OF gong
Europe for two years and travelling with a girl OF
eighteen years alone, and which seems 10 have de-
ferrcd the original arrangement. IL needed yot
tighter grip hs wall to effect This desired
plishment, and which she altcrward effected her
hearts content and dining with the arstocraoy OF
Europe at Nice and Mcntone, IN the number o her
horses and tho gorgeousness OF their equipments
Well sir, orbear TO 90 into the particulars OF that
machinery by ana through which she secured the
great object Of her ambItion--the possession OF his
property and the utter abandonment Of his
faithful accompanying wife Her efforts
directed in Two channc.s-irst, to possess her
and she could hold present g,it, without power of
reclamation. This she effected to such extent that
all his moncyod income placed her credit the
bank She actually submitted 10 pay his debts with
her cheeks as her agent attorney she would
trust him disburse his money. HIS habits may
have rendered him Incompetent but hardly to such
extent lie bought her the old homestead paid
for II at $40 900. Ne sold real estate, aud
turned the money into her pocket
of 10000 In all he gave her $4,000
He gave her horses, carriages furniture, a house In
the city paid $40 From 1871 tlmo Of
hts death, this girl lived with him. managed aud gov
erued HIM with rs absolute despotism If he
her slave or sbo had keeping which
he dare not provoke her to disclose. How they live
fthe wife cxcudcd1 tuppantcd shall leave Tor the
witnesses develop. Tho cnDfmay OF bis nLltua-
ton the abb cctncss with Itch he followed her dica-
ton, Tho wonder and mystery OF all VINO had
known him in better days.
The wife, abused and outraged by tins upstart who
was in no way TO her her husband waited
and hoped that the moral insanity of her husband