The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-20
TWO GREAT WILL SUITS.
INFLUENCES TH1T SURROUND THE
DEtTH BEDS or THE RTCH.


On-prina Discnrdcd bv Dying Pnrcpts-A Very
strange scene ut n Euucral-Tricky Tom
and the Kich Undcrtnker-S1OO.OOO
PROVIDENCE, Aug. 18.-An Interesting
will contest recently brought to settlement In
this State-though all the litigation connected
with It Is not yet over-was that OF Mrs. John
O'Rourke, the daughter Of Almoran Harris,
against Edwin Turner aud William Elsbreo,
the executors Of Harris Almoran lived In
Cranston. and owned large amount Of real
estate near the city line. besides a valuable
stone ledge. His real estate was worth about
S235,OOO, and hts personal property about $4,000
Ike many rich Rhode Islanders, he lived in an
old house, In style not at all commensurate
with his means. About twenty years ago
the wife OF Harris obtained n decree OF divorce
from him, Abraham Payne, well-known law
yer OF this city, being counsel for the wife,
circumstance which caused Harris to conceive a
violent dislike TO Payne, whom lie frequently
ana most bitterly denounced. The divorce SUIT
was followed up by a contest for the possession
Of the daughter. then about fourteen years OF
age, and living with her mother In Connecticut
Pending the contest, Mr. Harrts's house WIS
taken care Of by a respectable old woman named
Harvrea,es. who had long been In the family;
MIR. Harris suddenly, In the year 1888, dis
missed Mrs. Hargreaves and took Into his house
ms housekeepers or servants two females, Mar
about twenty-iour and Agnes ABOUT twenty
eight VEINS - age An arrangement having
been arrived at in regard to the daughter the
latter went homo to her fithers. She could
not agree with the females In charge Of the
house. and as they seemed to have greater IN
flueuce with her parent than sh" had, she again
departed. this time forever. She partly sup
orted herself 10y giving music lessons, and was
assisted by her fathers and mothers relatives
all Of whom sympatnized with her Being at
tractive shs made the acquaintance OF u stall
% S9uppE msn na nf rsS SV as
scent, ana an active local politician. Okourke
had boen AN actor and liquor dealer, ana Is now
AN agent for an English chemical nrm, receiving
a comfortable salary. lie was temperate, made
AN honest living, aud the onlv obi ctions to the
mHrr age were his name aud lack uf means.
Harms was Intensely enragcd when he heard OF
the uui IN, and no effort was made by his cont
dants TO soften his growing ill-will toward his
daughter, or to better his opinion OF her hus-
band.
earnings. and IN ode no effort to get acquainted
with has flther-in-law, whose domestic al iirs
continued under the man cement OF he Misses
Nevns.
THE FATHER FALLS SICK.
In the autumn of 1873 Harris fell sick. and one
Or, 4. q: Potter was called In TO attend nim.
william El-hree. now senator from Crdnston,
and Edwin Turner, an Insurance agent I'm this
city. seemed to be active ADVISERS IN Harrls's
Misses Neyins. | should At tie here that the
name Of these women Is said to have been modi-
nd. like that Of the Hon. MunsOn Pierpont, to
Nlyin. hut "a NcVns was the paternI name,
will continue 20 use It.
During the illness OF Mr. Harris. Mr. Abraham
PAYNE was surprised ono DAY bN call from his
friend, MI. william El-bree, who told hun that
Almuran Harris wished TO Nuke will. Payne
mentioned the trouble between himself and
Harris. OF which ElsOree had been ignorant; but
the latter urged the former t. ~ along, a. II
nepris arst turned hia ice To- The wall; but
after a few mOments conversation ne proceed cd
| 10 dictate IN ius1Iu ent. Ine WI was very
brief one. lie LETT all his property OF every name
aud nature TO "his two friends. Margaret and
Agnes Nevins.' and appointed Eisorse aud iur-
a YEAR ,i to the vile ~ joins o Rourke, win The
/ express provision that, should she make any
attempt to break the wall, she should lOse tue
/ annuity. The Witnesses t. the VIII were Abra
| ham PAYNE and DR.. Potter. MIR. Payne took
/ the viii with him To bis ONCE. few days
aiterwafd he Was visited by Margaret Nevns,
/ VITO said That MIR. Harris had sent her to see the
! Will. Mr. PAYNE read the paper to her, and he
said; fnat Is all right, MIR. PAYNE. Ihat Ia just
rs Mr. II IRIS wants It." Mr. Pavne's nil for
services Ia the matter OF this Will Is $50. The
| Harris homestead In Crauston Is not more than
/ one hours drive from the business centre VI
the city.
WANTS TO CHANGE THE WILL
Harris afterward svinced desire to change
tn" will. DR.; Bieelow Of Boston was sent for,
! aud consulted IS To whether Harris was In q NJ
mental CONDITION to change IT, Inc Doctor a
/ frank, outspoken man, said. why does
he wish - change his WIFI IL ID he made a
will7"
/ The reply VS.; "Iio has made good and
ne Da'ioT then asked "wny does he want
( to change IL 2"
The answer wAa He t7iks about charity
and churches, aud the Rhode Island Hospital.
De- bigelow sad thlt II IRIS WIS a weakly Gil
/ liting man, but that n LETT Atom, aud uninh l.
/ encrd, he lnignt make Naiid VAL.
lhe Will was not changed.
Harris died, and thu executors took charge Of
/ tue funeral arrangements. When Mr., . ROuikd
/ ana his Wifo arrived at toe house, they found
the room ~ winch tie services we're being con
Quoted iuil' aud tue late Gardner SwHts, the
wealthy undei taker. standing with his md
across tue door. . hourke quietly raised Swarts :,
/ hand. aud put his wife Inside the room. Air
/ q RDuTke then askei Swart, wuat place he
would take IN the funeral procession. Swarts
answered No place that | know Of" Mr.
George Johnson, Of this city, that Swarts had
sid I'll tue daughter, ms the nearest relative
ordered bis driSert 10 the first Place behInd tue
hearse. They had proceeded hardly "a hundred
! yatds, when MISS Agnes Neyius got out Of hsl
carriage on the road, and IN loud tone and
| very decided words declared that she must have
tue urst place. O'Kourke tod hi, driver - keel
his position, hat IN difference TO tue entire ites VI
| his wife, he consented 10 give place to tue two
females.
THE WILL CONTESTED.
When the will was presented. ex-SpeakeI
! Miner appeared for the daughter. and protested
! against the PROBATE. After "A long hearing, the
case was settled, Mrs. Olto lrke agreeing to ac-
cept three-eighths OF the estate. the rest To be
divided net~ecn the two Nevinses.
SlIJO Egyptian mau,oleum has been erect.
ed Over tue ZONES of ii irris, on which the mid.
die name Of his father Is spelled Mooney, IN
! stead Of, rs It should be- Mawnry.
MIR. - Iourke, wnom me SUNS CORES pond.
ent visited. expressed a decided opinion TIA At an
inquesl should have been held ON tie reinain-
OF Alr. n iris and The cause OF his Death ascer.
tlined by pOst-iaurtem examination.
THE swARTs CASE.
Gardner i. Swart-, the wealthy UNDER ak 81
/ mentioned In the above Sc, was himself in
/ duced, wnen ON bis deatabed, to cut OH MS chill
dren without "a cent. Swarts was first IN the
/ shoe-blackiug business, afterw lrd b .ker. and
/ then sexton Of the Second Baptist church,
from which he WIS introduced into the
/ undertaking business. He amassed Tor une OF
| not less than seven hun ired thousand dollars.
/ lie had three children by Tai, first wife Ella, a
/ son named benjamin =. SWnrts, another sou
| named George T. Swarts, who died leaving two
] children; and a daughter, who married Mr..
/ Leander DecAer. by his second wife he b adj
] one child. wnO dieI, and hi, thiri wife, who
/ survived him, was named Harriet Beul ann
was an active assistant IN MS fathers business =,
/ hut was Of very weak ch rncfer. Mr.. Swarts
! had made a. viii dividing his nrnpertv eqlltaOly
among his ou-prlng-. Durns ms last illness, IN
the early par Of l,1j, he WIS freq Ieutly visited
/ by Mayor luOma7 4. DOYLE, who had long been
/ In confidential business relations with nm
| Mayor Doyl,'s carr we used 10 arrive at
Swarts's door twice "a day. After Swarts's death
"A very brief VIII, in the handwriting Of the
/ MAYOR, was presented. IN which Swdrts devised
all his property to MS wife, her heirs and a-signs
! appointed ner sole eXecutfiX, ami desired that
] h. eltult ilfpI L bond.