The New York herald., 1877-02-27
HENRY SHIELDS WIDOWS.

THE CONTEST OVER THE ESTATE OF THE
WEALTHY FLOUR MERCHANT-A JUDICIAL
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILL SOUGHT FOR.
The litigation over the property OF the late Henry
Shields bids fair 10 occupy she attention Of the courts
for time TO come The testator. Henry Shields,
who died March IS. 1874, possessed Of large amount
of property estimated be worth upward Of 500 OOO
came TO New York from Ireland about ortynve years
ago. He obtained employment cartman, working
for two Quaker flour merchants carrying on business
In Broad street. this city, According to the story told
on the trials which have held within the past two
years, he made the acquaintance OF Jane Valentine,
and after brief period of courtship they were married
according the Quaker rites and In the presence OF
witnesses. The certificate OF marriage was lost, how
ever, and the witnesses At the ceremony are dead.
They lived together az man and wife TIL the year ls4s,
during which time his wife, Jane bore hm five chill
while she living In Graham avenue, Williamsburg.
and in November, 1S4S, he was married to Catherine
Shields, who then Miss Lawlor the ceremony
being performed st. Peers Roman Catholic church,
Barclay street, this city. His wife Jane never
TSoush he did no. 1--we with her again be gave her
house and frequently contributed TO her support His
children by the first wife visited him in later years and
CLAIM to have been recognized by him. From period
shortly before mis- second marriage Henry Shields had
prosperous and had entered upon new career
as a flour merchant His New York family moved in
the higher circles oil society becoming his wealth and
position Mr. Shields was at one time President of
proved in the surrogate's Court in April 1874 The
widow Mrs. Catherine Shields, accepted the provision
OF the will giving her certain sum IN
lieu Of her dover. II was not till the
will came before the Surrogate that
the New YORK widow who has seven children, but
three of whom Of age, made aware OF tho fact
that there another widow who had claim on her
deceased husbands estate Mrs. Jane Shields then
brought SUIT before the Supreme Court against John
Gelson and Thomas Dougherty, and Catherine Shields
and trustees OF the Will OF Henry Shields, to
recover her right OF dover. There were two jury
trials the first of which the jury disagreed On the
second trial verdict was rendered in favor OF the
plaintiff Jane Shields and OH May 26, 1875, Judgment
was granted her favor for $4,000 and
interest from that dato, amounting TO $1.25o
Fort Greene place, valued at $4,000
part Of the $4,000 The remainder was to be paid
out the proceeds OF certain property belonging to
the deceased This settlement did not recognize the
two surviving children OF June and Henry Shields.
Their names William B. shields and Catherine q.
Bonner, the latter being the wife OF Titus Bonner
They accordingly brought suit IN the Brooklyn City
Court their share OF their fathers estate
The latter SUIT is pending Yesterday the ex-
ccutors and trustees Messrs. Geson and Dougherty,
appeared before Judge DykemaD, In the Supreme
Court Kings county, as plaintiffs against tho parties
in The pending cause, and asked for u judicial
construction ol the will, and Tor judgment as
the respective rights and interests OF the defend
ants referred TO In their complaint under the last Will
and testament of Henry Shields, and that they may
have the direction OF the Court to their duty; and
that tho cost thereof may be paid out OF tho estate
Mr. Homer A. Nelson, who appeared for the executors
stated the facts of the length for the niorma
ton of the Court and exJudge Daley represented the
interests OF William B. Shields and Catherine j. Bon
ner The finally adjourned TO March TO-
when argument will be heard by the Court