The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
wELL-KNoWN NEW YORK FA1ILxEs.
The Mnson-J onescs.

vowed the ownership ana OlstFlOutlOn VI ptop-
erty valued at many millions OF dollars, reads
Ike n chapter OF romance. The singular cir
cumstapces surrounding the instructions con-
nected with drawing the will, the source whence
these instructions emanated, the rare race with
death to secure the execution OF the instru-
ment, and the long litigation resulting In the
overthrow Of the alleged will, would furnish
abundant material for q thrilling sens ational
novel. In 1895 Mr.. John Mason, upon the de 18th
of one Of bis sons, cancelled will which he
had previously made. and which had been
drawn by and deposited with Vice. Chancellor
McCoun, saying that he would at some future
day call and get the Chancellor to draw another
will for him. This he never did, Subsequent
TO the destroying OF this will, and previous to
his last illness, In September, 1889, MIR. Mason
had several convers itons with his friend and
relative, John Q. Jones, now President OF the
Chemical Bank, IA which tho litigation upon the
Lorillard Will. It's result, and the difficulty OF
making a will that would stand legal tests were
the topics OF conversation. Mr.. Jones suggesting
that the Revised Statutes made a good enough
will for any man.
On the 10th or 12th OF September, 1880, Mr..
Mason took to his room and bed and remained
there until HIS death, which occurred on the
10Th OF the same month. Previous to the spring
OF 1889 Mr.. Mason freely expressed his convic-
ton OF bis sons want OF business capacity and
oftheir propensity to spend money, and as free
ly proclaimed the high estimation In which he
held his daughters, and the estimation In which
he held his different sons-in-law. The evidence
In the case OF Aston and wife against Jones and
Others. which In one form or another was
pending more than thirteen years, from 1910 to
1853, established that as early as the
10TH or 18th OF September 1889, John
wa at ha In
soon, and that he might die at any moment.
That the subject of making will was thought
OF by him, and down to aud including the s2l he
hau determined not to make one, that he was
In full possession of his intellect down to that
day, after which his condition. physical and
mental, was much impaired.
After the 2,d MIR. Mason WIS seen by no per-
son except his two daughters. Mrs. Isaac and
Colford Jones; his two soDs-in-aw, Isaac and
George Jones; DIR. ID rger, DIR. Van Rensselaer,,
MIR. Strong, the lawyer who drew the will, aud
the domcstics. After the 22d and before
the afternoon Of the 2jth OF September. they
were obliged to raise Mr.. Mason to a sitting
position upon hts bed, with pillows and a chair
behind him, and with rope or board In front
OF him to prevent his leaning over forward. lie
wandered in his mind, talking and muttering to
himself about "horses and chemicals" In this
decaycd state OF body and mind he executed the
famous Mason will. Lot Us now see under what
influences, aud by whose instru ctions, this will
was procured To be made On the 18th, at
o'clock IN the evening, Messrs. Isaac and q sorgc
Jones called upon Mr.. George W. Strong and
asked him to draw will for Mr.. Mason to exc
cute. They stated they bad not received
the instructions from Mr. Mason, but had
received them from Mrs. Colford Jones' who
said she received them from Mr.. Mason,
On the morning OF the 18th OF September the
Messrs. Jones called at MIR. Strong's once at Z
o'clock, and had the draft will read over 10
them. They approved OF 1t. Great exertions
were made to procure It's immediate enaross-
ment. When the engros sed will at length was
finished, Mr.. Strong. the lawyer, who had never
before seen Mr.. Mason on the subject, hurried
up with the important document I'm a carriage
between II AMI Il o'clock on the sane morning,
the 26th OF September, not to submit II, but to
have II executed by the dying man. On enter
ing the house, such WAS the sense Of urgency
with which the Messrs. Jones had i'm
pressed him, Mr.. Strong, accompanied
by one OF them, actually ran up stairs
to the sick mans room, and commenced
the reading without a moments delay. At this
dying hour, between IL aud IL o'clock, ia The
midst Of severe paroxysm, braced up by pil-
lows behind and rods or cords before, tho ear
Of the patient is sauted for the fret time by
the voice OF a lawyer announcing that he had
prepared Will for him. 1t was read with much
iapidity Mr.. Mason signed II Immediately, ana
died In less than 1fteen minutes thereafter, Mr..
George Jones taking the custody Of the in-
strument.
Gould anything be more dramatic7 On
reading the instrument In question We fnd
that the rites chiefly Interested to uphold It's
validity bore no relationship by blood to Mr..