The New York herald., 1878-07-03
A SPIRITUALIST'S WILL.
Trouble About the TWO HuS-
bands Of a Medium.
A BOSTON CELEBRITY
The Deceased Mrs. Hardy and
the Lawyers.
BosroN, July Q, 1878.

Mrs. Mary NJ. Hardy, the notorious medium and ma
teriazer Of spirit forms, before passing to the
land OF shadows from which she had mmoned many
festive spirit left two willis, as she did
two husbands. Tho former ned in the
PROBATE Court OF Suffolk county, and the
latter appear contestants for some OF the
effects OF the deceased. 1t Is queer story. Some
time ago Mr.. Ezra G. Perkins, rich contractor. who
lived In Hyde Park, lost his WIFE He became gloomy
and took zpirts, not OF the extract OF
corn or grape, but spirits OF the unknown land.
Mrs. Hardy was then wel-to-do mouder
In parafnne, living with her lawful hus-
oand John Hardy, in substantial mansion
on Concord square. Mr.. Perkins through hor held
frequently sweet communion with mis- departed spouse
aud derived thererom much consolation. He also
derived much reireshment from the palpaole
material intercourse with the fair materiaizer. A
strong affection sprang up between them, and
there seemed to be barrier IN the way OF
their complete happiness except Mr. John
Hardy, who had claims on Mrs. Hardy's
affections that could not TO gainsaii. They did not
ieel disposed to Kill him after the style OF some
wicked conspirators, SO they chose to buy him OIL
Accordingly, about eighteen months ago, an arrange
ment was made with Mr Hardy whereby, on the pay
ment OF S50OO waived all claims TO the allegiance
Of Mrs. Hardy and allowed her TO obtain a Western
divorce, and thereafter she was married to
Ezra G. Perkins by Rev. DR.. Van Keck then
tor oil Christ Episcopal Church, Hyde Park, whose
name IS now famous tho Court Of Hymen, he
having also oniciated at the Lord-Hic wedding
in New York After the wedding tour Mr.
and Mrs. Perkins returned to Concord square,
where tho IN ystic circle was formed daily, and mani
fcstations sought and given IN regular routine
During the Moody and Sankey excitement Mrs.
Hardy visited the Tabernacle on a raw and chilly
day and contracted severe cold, which caused her
Nm dnu of lam
Perkins, as she was called alter her second
marriage. was the posssssor OF considerable prop
erty and in December, 1871, she made w in whIcn,
after bcqueatning lcgacics to her father mother,
Eza G. Perkins This will bears the Endorsement OF.
tue approval OF Mr.. Perkins, and was made with his
knowledge.
Alter the funeral services Mrs. Hardy Perkins
were Mr. Perkins astonlshed 10 hear that his
dear vie before her death had made another will
dated January 1875 in which all OF her real estate
conveyed 10 her sister, Orissa j. smith, in trust
Tor The other members OF the Iamily One-half OF
band,n who also 10 be an executor. Both
OF these wills have fled the Probate Court.
Mr. Perkins petitions that the nrst viii be proved and
he be appointed executor Tho relatives OF Mrs
Hardy-Perkins petition that the second will DO
proved and that OrssI be appointed executrlx.
tnird petition is presented from john Hardy: In
was his vile and that he is the person meant
IN tho Will by "my husband" he prays
Ss ech Will, Ss the Ss % Ssa
the personal property. should the Judge decide to
sustain QUO viii, .nen Mr. Hardy wants TO favor the
half. Thus Is tho whole case enshroudcd IN mesh
Of tangled threads, because Mrs Aardy-perkins
by my husband" and this rs question for the Court
TO decide.
Mr. Perkins asserts that he Is tho husband, and de-
carcs his intention to light the issue 10 the bitter end
without regard 10 expense or time. He also alleges
that second will was never signed by Mrs.
Hardy Perkins, or IL Il! was IT was done IN
On the other hand, Mr. Hardy and the parties
named in the second will ridicule Mr.. Perkins
claims, and also manifest The int ention to avail them
se.ves Of every point their favor The question of
spritualism is therefore distinctly an issue In Tho
case, and the followers OF that shadowy creed arc
vastly interested In the controversy is alleged by
prom nent Spiruaisis here that the spirit oil Mrs
Hardy has appeared IN TINS world IN several test circles
but has persistenlIy refused 10 soive Inc Prooiem
! OF her wiils. There no doubt that the matter
will be carried TO the supreme Court whichsver way
the Judge Of The Probate Court may decide. The
estate consists OF y iarm ia Exeter, n. H., whcre
Mr.. Hardy Perkins, father and mother reside, The
house IN Concord square, and bonds notes &c, TO
the value OF $50 600.
| When the case called to-day before Judge
McKim tho latter ruled, after somo elaborate arau-
ment ny counsel that me last will would be hrst con.
sderered, and that sustained tDsn the contro
versy would cease Tho first witness called was Le
Roy Sunderland, noted spiritualis,, who lives
ior thirteen year,; never knew her as Mrs
Perkins, Mra HardyPerKins; went to her house on
tho LIST OF January at her request ana signed .ne w,
was perfectly sanc signed my name as witness In the
the otner witnesses ana IN her presence
the other witnesses signed in my presence and IN her
| presence aud At her request.
Cross. ex m,nea-D'dn't put my hands on Mrs
| Perkins when she sick; dad not make any
passes over her dd not soothe her by the exercise
OF my VIII; have beou practising sort OF psychoIc-
aicai control over peoples miod, "and 20 do
you,r said witness TO counsel; have lecturcd
on mental science; practise that MS pfoies-
SON. nave never Used mesmeric ib1uenco
never believed mesmerism: believe In the science
OF tho human mind by wDich converted people as a
munster; whsn practice as doctor l practice tho
same thing that I did when a minister; when
! miuistcr preached aud talked, but never did any
| pay; have written for compcn sation !;
admit Mrs. Hardy's power as medium; consider
hor somewhat remarkable; didn't take tho same
views that she did; accept some OF tho doctrines ot
spiritualsm; am not spritualst myself; accept the
Workings OF splrturllsm as phenomena, without un-
dertakng to say what hey are; have never doubted
the phcnomcna Tor twenty-cght years; was one OF
tue early advocates OF these phenomena; have loo
turcd the subject never iectured Tor biology but
! against IT,
Mrs Jennie ). Parker, No. II warrcp,on street,
Boston, testified ,hal she was present at the signing
OF the VIII January Ii recognized the Will presented
Tor probate tho paper Mrs. Hardy signed; saw Mrs.
Harry Perkins sign the will also the other wit
ncsscs; Mrs Perkins III hor rignt mind Mrs. Per-
kns said to Mrs. smith, Ill you will pass that pa
ner viii sign ~, Mrs smi,h handcl her the paper
aud Mrs Perkins signed ~ AIRS. Perkins looked tho
VIII over before sho signed II, anu alter signing IL
passed u to Dr. Sunderland; he took u and read the
last clause and said s this as you wish tf Eyes u
| Is" Mrs Perkins replied; she asked Dr. Sunderland
to sign IT, and he did so signed next, aud then Mrs
|
On cross-ex imination she denied that any influence
was exercised over tho dying woman or tha, any
pressure, either mate ia or SPIRITUAL was brought to
bear on her She seemed inclined to sign lt and knew
IL was her last will and teatament
Mrs. Mary Il. stone, nurse OF Mrs. Perkins, swore
that present when the viii was signed; she
had known siuco she was a Guild; at the time OF
the signing OF tue Will Mrs. Porkns' tnontal
condiIion was sound u was; I
sigped the wall at Mrs. Perkins request; all
the witnesses and Mrs. Perkins prcscnt
when the viii signed. witness detailed the
conversation and incidents attending the sign
ing OF the will, which the same related by
previous witnesses. Mrs. Perkins, resumed tho WI
ness, was lying n bed lounge; IN the morn
ing Mrs. Perkins told jennie, This paper
must be signed today you must got Two
witnesses Il stood nearby; Mrs stone will
do Tor one; there must be three witnesses ~
Jennie out and back; sho
didn't SEQ Mrs Perkins when she came back
When l say that Mrs. Perkins mental condition
was as good as Il ever was, mean that II was as