The New York herald., 1877-03-16
How the Growth of the City Brought
Wealth to the HerriOtS.
FATHER SUING SON.
Fighting for the Smaller Pickings Of the
New Court House Job.
PENALTY OF TALKING TOO MUCH

Many years ago. before our city began extending its
uburbs into westchester county, Mr. George Herriot
was the owner OF farm bordering upon the Hudson
and acrward embraced within the of the present
town OF Yonkcrs. Immigration from this city and Sc
lection this locality for suburban villas gave to the
property great value Mr Hcrriot lived to become an
octogenaran, when as he alleges, one oi MS sons
Jonn Groshon Hcrriot, and his own brother, Warren
Herriot, told him that there was conspiracy among
ais other children obtain possession OF his property
Il was represented he SAYS to him that the prctext
20 bo put forward was that on account oil his ad-
vanced years ho had become imbece and was
no longer 1T 10 be trusted with tho
management OF his large estate Oid as he was, this
made tho blood tngle through his veins at somewhat
wrathful ebb and no determined at once to revoke a
will he had made dividing his property equally among
his children OF whom five, and disinherit
the conspirators This Will, by the way he had made
come years before owing to the urgent entrcates
OF his wife, who was then living. AT the time, how
ever when this alleged conspiracy was brought 10 his
knowledge which was in the early part OF 1875, his
wife was dead and consequently he lost the benefit Of
her advice which all through his lie he comedies had
been OF very great service 10 him. Meantime, us no
further in his complaint his brother warren
who was President OF New York Produce Exchange
ana Empire Fire Insurance companies, and his own
son. John Groshon, worked upon his feelings to sucn
an extent that he gave TO the iormer MS
the value ol Sl0O, 900 and power OF attorney
to take general charge OF his estate Not satisfied
with act OF liberalty to his son. whom he ~ the
time, he says. supposed was the only one oi MS
children who remained faithful 10 him, he drew up
second WILL revoking the previous one, anu IN This
second one made this his principal lcgatee. AT
length he discovered he claims, that he had been
grossly deceived In the whole matter, and thcreupon
revoked the power Of attorney gwen To his son, and
demanded OF his brother the return OF bis first VIII,
meantime destroying second one, and wound up by
insisting that his should return to him
the bonds and mortgages referred to above. The
return of these bonds anu mortgages was refused,
and thereupOn a SUIT was brought by Mr. Herriot
against his for their recovery.
The to the foregoing certainly very unusual
complaint is equally singular The denies Tho
accusation of practice OF fraud on his part, and
says the bonds and mortgages were gwen 10 him
tho better cqualize his financial condition with that
OF tho other children. Ho says that his brother War
500, 900; that one sister had married wealthy hus-
band that another without prospects OF marriage,
and therefore in no great need OF money,
and that his other brother had been long regarded
by his father unthrilty aud likely to got
rid OF property If he had IT. whereas he was married
and had children, had not been successful IN his
profession and greatly in need OF money which his
iather knew TO give him good start Tho case came
TO trial yesterday before Judge Van Brunt, holding
Supreme Court, Special Term Meantime since the
commencement OF the SUIT tho pianun has died and
the suit being prosecuted by hls administrators.
Mr.. John s. Lawrence appears Tor the plaDtn and Mr.
A. J. vanderpoel Tor the defendant Nearly all the
members the family were present, and altogether
singular family quarrel has rarely been developed
In the courts. The trial promises to occupy several
days