The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-21
THE SINGER WILL.
Extraordinary Disclosures at White Plains
Yesterday.
A LATER TESTAMENT DISCOVERED.
Startling Admissions by the
Executor.

Mary Ann Foster whose clam us widow OF the tesla
TOR, was disallowed the Surrogate Court OF West
chester county last January. Within the past few
days counsel Tor the claimant has made discoveries of
extraordinary character, embodyng the existence
OF later will than OF 1870, which admitted
10 probate by Surrogate Colin; also the fact that
English widow married TO Singer under AN assumed
name which renders the ceremony void under the law
oil England besides other ugly developments rejecting
on tho executor. his counsel and the Surrogate
II will be remembered that the will Of 1870 contained
clause which reads as iollows-"A the rest, resi-
duo and remainder OF my estate OF which snail die
seized possessed, both real and personal of every
kind and nature whatsoever, and whercsoevcr situated
and whether now in my actual possession, which
may hereafter purchase acquire divide Tor the
OF distribution, and to Indicate the proportion
TIC Same gvc 70 EACH into sixty equal parts or
portons and give, devise and bequcah ami direct
my said executors to apportion and pay those several
parts portions us follows" In the petition for the
probate this VIII (now on lille the Surrogate Office
White Plans David Hawley the sole surviving
executor, makes oath that it is tho last viii
and testament of tho tcstator-such oath being
taken before Surrogate Coffin. Mrs Foster sought TO
Intervene the widow of Isaac NJ Singer tho pro-
bate OF this document, Ginning that tho lcgacies be-
qucathed to Isabella Eugcnia niger in lieu OF dover
and right OF dover would be VOID in the event of the
establishment Of Mrs Fosters claim 10 be the wife and
widow OF The tesator The Surrogate's decision was
rendered January 10 against the validity OF her claim
and favor OF the English widoye An appeal to the
Supreme Court promptly taken from this decision
which argued at the last General Term OF that
Court at Poughkecpse, and is awaiting decision
Several actions have becn instituted in the SUI
prone Court by Mrs. Foster to enforce
her dover right in the valuable real os-
tac OF which the iestator died possessed situated
Yonkers One OF the principal issues these actions
md upon which tho turn, is whether Mrs Eos
ter in fact the vile of Singer Since The
closed before the Surrogate Mr. Van Petit counsel
Mrs Foster, has been interchangeable in probing the
transactions in connection with the will and the
la England to the core, and from which the following
hcts result
Mr.. Hawey the executor, who had been the attorney
and agent for Singer in this country during the last few
years OF his lille, Tor In July last go to Eng
land. The cstator was then lying very low, with
prospect OF recovery From
CONFIDENTIAL CORRESPONDENTS
TRANSPORTING between Mr. George T. Woodruff, agent for
the Singer Manufacturing Company IN London Mr.
Easily solicitor, at Torquay, England and Mr. Haw-
ley, the following extracts taken. On July IL
1875, Mr.. Woodruff wrote to Mr.. Hawlcy as iolows:-
,d0 Sa%s to question "s h that have Al
soanry Il being shown that there was eol'uson when
and by which si' married under assumed name. in
law they mere NOT married at ho am told mus.
When the name under which Madam was mar,
ed and possibly describing her further the daughter OF
and
On the same day u uly II 1885, the solicitor wrote
10 Mr.. Hawicy as ioows:-
have interview Mr. Woodruff this afternoon
and BY his desire write you day 90 That the deed
w S sd o s Ss Se e .ss IT, Nj
quito for Mr. Singer to make will whereby he shall
trusts those the deed 90 The eject
sucn VIII viii be- that assuming the deed to be valid
nnger possessed Of a, the time ne executed il.
rqured since the execution Of the trust deed which
Jason to be invalid Mr. singers property VIII nevcrhc
in me direction contemplated BY the deed but
personal property. a., The viii should confirm any
sn in England aasd Win Win, rsn'
Woodruff before writing this 70 have my opinion confirmed
he has lett his chambers and time presses with
i my opinion be not e"narmcd viii Telegraph YOU ""'
Under the same date the same solicitor further wrote
10 Mr. Hawlcy:-
conversation to-day Mr. Woodruff mentioned to me that
there nigh, be some question raised as to the presen. Mrs
LEGITIMACY OF HER CHILDREN
by him. In England u marriage in false NAME with the
knowledge Of both parties would be valid invalid,
aae would be- void Assuming that '1 there '" +
any doub, upon the subject il is very desirable
describe Ms. singer and her children ,Sarsheir
Mrs singer daughter aud such persons
the children in some particular way having the same object
e view avoiding by ~ means describing them class ny
rnder OF July Is, 1915, the solicitor further
wrote TO Mr. Hawioy:--
Referring letter you of yesterdays date have
opn,on upon all points But It occurred to that such
may contain covenants 70 grant or assign or licenses
seize aeqursd which might some effect
The object with which they inserted ought have
added ~ the end OF third proposition Ia letter
land 'S" ''''s'' '"' "''"' :" Eng
Under d,tc of July 10, 1875, the same collector
further wrote to Mr. Hawlcy-
II any technical parties not according
law. husband vito any settlement
concerning property here would DO aside being
IMMORAL CONSIDERATION.
namely, concubinage. A will Identifying the dividual
parties 10 10 benchcd is, from this point Of ve~.
la pursuance OF the suggestions Just given and Tor
The purpose Of carrying out the provisions OF
tccd executed IN 1874 and preventing the property
conveyed by the trust deed. il the aside,
aud tho subsequently acquired property-anountng TO
Millions dollars--from passing under viii OF 1870
which all the cgatecs therein named and Mr.. Eos
er also on tho establishment OF her caim would iart
sipatc the latter viii was executed IL seems 10 have
part OF the programme OF the managers OF the
estate to advance the interests Of the English branch
Abe dctrimcnt Of the iesa,ccs In this country Tor tho
execution Of tho last Will has been Kept profound
secret until us existence discovered by Mr.
Van Pclt, alter the decision Of the Surrogate.
Mr.. HswIcy, rs executor. IN ms petition Tor the pro-
bate of tho VIII 1870. as beng the last wii states
that tho said will relates to both real aud personal
estate the value OF which, m he opnion Of the pc
tioncr would not exceed the 50, 200, 900; aud
his inventory. Tiled With Surrogate Collin embraces
assct this country alone 70 the amount IS 900 COO
No mention whatever Is made OF any properly In
England II now irsnspires that while Mr. Hawlcy
was procuring the probate Of the VIII OF 1870 beng
tho last viii by the cs,aior his co-cxecutor IN
the viii Of July last, DR. prdhanl In rotquay
doing like other Ia reference To
last mentioned parliamentary document
In the action al present pending IN the supreme
Court and instituted 10 enforce Mrs. Fosters right Of
flower IN tho Yonkcrs property. Mr.. Iawics was yes
tciday examined ~ witness by Mr. Van rclt in
tuprcmc Court, Chambers, ut White rlans, before
Vh..