The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20

4 Contest iorthc Mchiin OF ,:eorge j ohn-on.
Late oil sixth Avenue.

4 Contest for the Mchiiu OF t.e0rgc j ohn-on.
Lac oil sikh Avenue.
George johnson came TO this country
from England atty years ago To seek ms for
tune. He settled ia Salem. Mass, and hired out
as a twinc spinner lie subsequently learned
To weave sail clotn. and moved 70 this city.
Then he went into the marble trade. but lnally
settled down to the business ~ which he made
bis money. namely. tho preparation OF ourled
hair for mattresses. lie made over $JO0,OJJ In
this business. lie started In small way In
Rivngton street 10 lsii. aud subsequently
moved to sixteenth street ard sixth avenue a. a.,
erected large building there. Green and Lang
don were his partners. Ihey sold out to Edward
II. Faulkner clerk and protese OF Johnson's.
In lss0 Mr. Johnson, being then ~ years old, left
his business In the hands OF his nephew. John
CawOod, and went TO North Allerton, York
shire, England, his native place, ~ die lie was
much attached 10 his nephew. and before going
away tod him that he WAS literally provided
Mr. johnson died in April ISL, and was buried
MthDlt nptlce 20 ms relatives IN this country.
Jr., was disslpated, aud part OF MS uncle's
ess1te, ailot, , nun ~ NE VII was put "a Trust
be naHc,,y., appear TIN the uncle died intestate
thls nephew would. under Ihe E9slish law, In
merit al; the real estate III Euglaud " when tAe
a I'LL, uie1 seed amountin. to fJnJ He
would also share In the DrOperty in tina city,
estimated al over SJlJ,u0O. No will was found,
ana B!cAhanl, smales \ Walker, law lrm OF
thiS CITY, reprcs enting The heir at low, johnson,
had Rufus r. Andrews appointed receiver OF
George Johnsons property in New YORK
When Dir. Cdwoud heard Of his unclo's death.
and that no will could be found no sIsncctcd
foul play. and tho failure 10 inform the relatives
~ thl, country OF tue death of Sir. j ohnson con.
nrmed hls suspicious, He went 20 Engaud and
traced INTO the hands OF one FOWle, a Young
LAWYER ~ North Alerton, an original draft Of
viii executed by his uncle aud signed by two
witnesses; After some litigation he had this
original draft admitted. ON tho death OF MIR
johnson the heir al law Dranuhed out In waste
ful extrayagauce and fast living on the strength
OF his supposed inheritance, and became heavily
involved IN debt, He even supported his coach
ahd SIX with footmen In livery. The neignbors
looked up to him rs II person OF great wealth,
ana business men werc re1dy II credit him in
any am ount. Ills cousin CawOOd was viewed ns
an adVcn1urer. anu was scolfod ut by the people
for awhile the heir at law had II oil his own
way, The "original draft" was considered
nev foWle good Tor nothing but tobacco
paper The proceedings la court were called a
Iartc and everybody pro?hesiei that the "bill"
At length young Cawood won his case. and
The creditors OF the OK .ravdgant heir" seized
and sold his furniture. wood hid some OF 1t
lence, and the crowd ran away from the auction
stand, CawOod, previous 20 THIS had had uetec-
yves shadOwlng Johnson, and once, when under
the Influence Of wine, he said that "John,"
meaning CawOOd, would never Ind that will
that II was buried where no could never ind IT."
This led CawOpd u suspect that the will had
been buried In the colin with the dead BODY of
his uncle. and al midnight no ana live Others
aug open the grave ana took the colin contain
Ing the body into the church and opened II. The
corpse was lifted out and tho coffin and winding
sheet were searched, but no will was found.
The original graft ot the Will was brought to
this city. and Surrogate Hutchings admitted ID
10 probate IN july, lal3. motion IN relation to
the paper that has been admitted WAS made
yesterday, aud Surrogate Van scAaick took the