The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-05-03
Joseph Lewis's Million.

/ A contestant to the will of Joseph L.
Lewis, the Hoboken millionaire who
left his money to the United States Gov
eminent, has appeared in the person OF
Miss Jane Hastings, otherwise Mrs.
Joseph l.. Lewis, and now about SO
years of age, who claims to have mar
ried the old engraver on the 18th of
November, 1858. She has secured the
services of Mr.. Winfield, lawyer OF
Jersey City, as counsel, who will object
to the probate of the will. Mr.. Win
field declines to give his clients adj
dress or any other definite particulars
about her, but says that she lived with
Mr.. Lewis but short time after mar
riage, and having obtained separation
from him ON the ground of incompati-
bility of temper, went to Tarrytown to
reside, and afterwards returned 10 this
city, where she now is. Who she was,
what was her history prior to the al
legged marriage, and why she received
no maintenance from MIR. Lewis subse-
quent to the separation, could not be
obtained from Mr.. Winfield. He ex-
hibits, however, the following certifi-
cate:
This is to certify that the holy rites of
matrimony between Joseph L. Lewis and
Jane Hastings were celebrated by me at the
residence of Mr.. Lewis, in the city Of Ho-
boken, under the laws Of the Safe Of New
Jersey, on the 18th day OF November. 1858.
(Signed) ETHRIDGE NJ. FISH,
-. r..- Justice OF the Peace.
George Browne (witness).
George r. Bradford (witness).
Inquiry was made by the World rep
resentative as to the probable truth of
this claim. 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Gillespie, of the Manhattan Bank
ing Company, a lifelong friend of Mr..
4 he will, said that he knew Of no posi-
BILE heirs to the estate. Another gen.
tleman connected with the institution
said yesterday that he did not believe
there was any foundation for the story.
He knew Mr.. Lewis intimately for fifty
years, and during that time that gen
tleman never even mentioned the sub
ject of marriage. Doubtless, had the
marriage taken place and the two lived
together openly as man and wife, be
would have known of it. "Mr Lewis's
penurious habits" he added, "if moth
ing else, would have prevented him
from marrying. -ra
| At Hobokenssa number of persons
who had known the dead millionaire
although he lived in such secluded fash
ion that very little of his home habits
was known-were questioned as to Miss
Hastings's claim. Nothing could be
learned of Fish, the magistrate, who, il
he ever lived in Hoboken, has now left
the place. Neither did the older inhab
itants remember that any such persons
as the two subscribing witnesses
had ever lived in the town. Mr.. Gil
christ, formerly Mr.. Lswis's lawyer,
had never heard of the two men, and
added that Mr.. L.wis had never men.
toned to him the fact of his marriage
A lady who had known Mr.. Lewis per.
haps better than any other person in
the neighborhood remembered that Mr.
Lewis told her at the time he made his
will in favor of the Government (about
three years ago), that he had no rela
tive in the world who could lay claim
to his property. The old man lived
alone in his little house with only q
housekeeper and one servant. 1t was
reported at one time that he had mar
ried this heusekeeper-a Miss Hansen
but at her death some years ago thi:
supposition fell to the ground.
It is understood that the Government
has selected counsel to attend to its in
terests, and will, doubtless, vigorously
contest Miss Hastings's claim. NJ
record of the alleged marriage is in thu
files of the court, but Mr.. Winfield say'
that the certificate may nevertheless b.
genuine, as the New Jersey magistrate
were very lax in such matters 20 year.
ago. The contest in any event will b.
an interesting one.--Neao York World