The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-30
A MILLIONNAIRE'S ROMANCE.

rHE CONTESTED WILL OF JOSEPH II. LEWIS,
wIDow-A NEPHEW TURNS UP TO CLAIM
THE EsrATE-wAs JOSEPH L. LEWIS MAR
RIED MAN?
Tho quiet miniature city or Hoboken is Just now
highly excited concerning the elements OF story about
to DO divuged before Surrogate McCogue The dcvel-
opments promise to furnish insight into the
personal career Of Mr.. Joseph l.. Lewis, the miscr
millionaire, who died recently. bcquea,hng, alter
small leguces amounting $40 O0o his million
and more TO the Treasury of the United States.
MRS. LEWIS STORY.
The will hos yet been offered probate nor the
issue between tho woman claiming to be his widow
and the executors named in tho will been formally
Joined, but the counsel for both parties collecting
every scrap OF evidence that have any possible
bearing on the case. The actual amount left to tho
United States is about 81, 100000 The story told by
Mrs. Lewis, who claims her third OF the estate under
the laws Of New jersey, Is that she was married to
Mr.. Joseph L. Lewis in 1857, and lived with
him one year his wife ut his residence in
Hudson street. Hoboken. At tho expiration Of about
year they separated In consequence OF ncom
Of temper. The witnesses who might possibly testify
to this statcmcnt-Mrs. hanson, who was house.
keeper for years at the Hudson street mansion, and
Margaret. the servant-aro both dead; but inquiry
among the residents in the neighborhood fails TO
bring to light any recolcctions that such a person
lived at the Hudson street establish
mentf tho wife Of It's proprietor
marriage certificate is however, tho pos
session OF Mr. q. II. Winfield, OF Jersey CITY,
counsel for Mrs. Lewis, which ccrtifes ceremony
performed by Etherdgc NJ Fish, justice OF the peace
IN West Ho6okcn. who elected 1904 aud died In
the city OF Brooklyn III APRIL 1873 The signature
this document has been compared with exfant genuine
signatures OF the latc Justice Etheridge NJ Fish and
pronounced by experts not to be forgery, while Mrs.
/. d. Goddard, surviving daughter OF tho Justice,
viii also give her testimony to ITS undoubted genuine
This document purports To be witnessed by
George Bowen and George II. Bradford, who mis-
sing, and havo been advertised for during tho last
week In tho personals OF the HERALD by Mr. VIM
field Diligent inquiry by reporter yesterday after
noon at West hob0ken failed TO ind any vestigos of
The two persons named In tho certificate any
races by which their subsequent movements can
b. ascertnincd report IN circulation TO the
effect that a copy OF the document had
BEEN found on record in the County Clerks
ofice. was also ascertaned TO DO with
out foundation At present. therefore, The WIDOWS
claim II she really Is, appears 10 hinge upon the
discovery tho other OF these witnesses but II
ought DO difficult In playing Tor high stakes 10
10 meet the cxgencics Of The stuaton to hnd tho
real parties II they arc still living. Such Is
tho substance OF Mrs. Lewis case, while
tho other hand, although there are par-
ties In HoboKcn who whisper That they have
doubt that Joseph L. Lewis had vito somewhere,
% Is positively denied by gentleman who Tor years
acted honme d'aGdi,cs that no vas ever merricd
This gentleman, who has claim against tho estate
nnosntng 10 about $4,000, was very intimate with