The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-17
ITGHTING ron 4 MILLION.
Joseph Lewi,'s WIN Contested by q Woman
who Processes to he his Widow.


Cornelius S. Ice, Master in Chancery OF
the State of New Jersey. began in Jersey City
on Monday the taking Of testimony in the suit Of
Mrs. Jane Hastings Lcwis. who processes to
be the widow Of the late Joseph L. Lewis. the
deceased Hoboken millionaire. Whom Mr..
| Lewis died last fall there was not person in
| lIobokcn who believed that he was married
He was an eccentric. irns 'ible man Of eighty
| years who lived alone with his servants sol
| dom went out. and made few friends To the
executors OF the will he said nothing OF his be-
| ing married and having accumulated all his
wealth i'm this country. he declared that he
would leave every dollar he possessed to tho
| United States Government. ana he did 80 ia his
| will.
Noclamnnt appeared until two months after
the death Of Mr. Lewis. and then the executors
were startled by mott e. that IL the will was adj
miued ~ probate a cryoat would Dc flied bv Mrs
Jane Hastings Lewis. who profcssed to havo
boon married to Mr. Lewis in November. 1858.
hyJusticc FISH Of liohokcn. Mrs. Lows placed
hcr ease in the hands of Senator Winfield Of
Jersey City. anl he at once began contest OF
the will EN-Aitornov General Gilchrist. on
behalf uf the tutors filed the will. and Clan
color kuuyon referred the rlse to Mr.. Leo. as
Mn-ter IN Chnnrery. to takc the testimony Of all
persons in opposition to tho hequrst
Inc lrSt witness Yesterday was George Drnd-
iNFu. lie trsfliNi mat IN NOV 'UiNNr. lNlS. he
WIS visiting lIohokcn to purchase a horse
While he was in otto Cottage Garden. Justice
FISH. with whom he was acquainted. called in
and told him he was to perform u marriage
ceremony in the afternoon. and requested him
To- be present the witness attended the mar
dence He identified the signature, and was
certain that Mrs. Lewis and the woman ne saw
married ,wers one and the same person. He de-
scribcd Mr.. Lewis the bridegroom. aud tho do
s'ription wua an accurate representation Of the
IA q, y n
fled tngt IN tho fall 81 1879. the Lady protesting
to hc Mrs. Lewis called on him in relation H. n
suit against her husband for maintenance. She
retained him. and he served notice on Mr.
lewls nt his place Of business. He requested
MN to DE prs nj at o'clg X the next Afternoon
t. confront Mrs. Lewis. The defendant lid np-
p.nr and mot Mrs. Lewis On coming into the
nln'e he WIS very much excited. He declared
that there was no need for such "A suit; thnf he
MAJ gwen the woman money and that he was
willing 10 give her moro money. After n lively
scene that lasted several hours. Mrs. Lewis and
Nlr Lewis given 10y the witness differed slightly
from that given hy Mr. Bradford.
Mr.. Alynh ). Smith. a liquor dealer Of Pearl
street. New York. testified that ia The fall OF
1858 he visited Mr.; Lews's house. He remein-
h"red seeing the claimant In the room with Mr.
Lewis. She was introduced 10 him as Mrs
L,,Wis. she VA, then auto young woman,
res led in Hohokcn from 1913 u 1879. Her
husband. like Mr.. Lewis was an En-li shman
Ih'y wore quite intimate while Mr.. Walton
alter Nr.Lcwls'- marriage that "" was married.
AMI Intended To joke him upon it when he
visited the house again. On one OCCASION he
rrmnrkod 60 witness. What nice. cosey
home you have" You could havn ns nice "A
home she replied. " II you would bring your
wife INTO H. am one OF the unfortunatcs."
he r.oincd. who have wives but cannot live
with them"
senator Winfield then called his client 10 the
stand. She worr a widows weeds She is u
iill. graceful blonde II forty ycars. with gray
blue eyes, AMI oppressive features. She n pos
s''ssrt of remarkable GOODNESS. and she gave
her testimony distinctly. She testified in sub-
stance that her fathers name was Lionel
Hastings and her mothers Constance Percy
Hastings. She was born In Southampton Eng.
land. She came to this country when she was
two years old. and with her parents lived in
Boston. She resided in Bost, ii until the death
q h"r mother In 1850. Her father died later
BY HE will she WAS left $4,000 In cash Alter
her arrival in New York she lived in the Frank
IN House. She subsequently resided in ST
Marks place and in other streets. Tho Ger
tihcate Of her marriage with Mr.. Lewis was
Irorured she said, at Justice Fish's ofllcc. and
was filed in at Mr. Lews's house when the
marriage took place.
The examination was adjourned until We'd
ncsday.