The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-16
MRS. MACK BEAMS WILL.

1T is CONTESTED BEFORE SURROGATE COFFIN
AT WHITE PLAISs-rEsrIMoNx OF TIE WITT
NEssEs TO THE INSTRUMENT.
Surrogate Coiiu at hte Plains listened to the tes
timony offered yesterday the Mack Bean will case,
In which the prop is tho Rev. Charles s. Brown,
formerly pastor OF the Asbury Methodist Episcopal
Church in Tarryown and now superintendent oil the
Five Points Mission IN THIS city. According to tho
statements oil Mr. Alexander, the Town Clerk OF Tar
rytown the entire Of tho late Mrs. Mack Bean
Is worth only about 800 instead OF 81 900 as ru
mored, aud its assessed value Is only $500.
Ten years ago lost her property through
a flaw in the deed, and her pastor, Mr. Brown, asked
his church help her It, shc had
already given IL TO in her WILL They refused TO
have anything to do with IT, Then he started SUBJ
scription paper raised enough money TO buy the
place back again. Thrty-lour leading Citizens OF
Tarrytown anu New York, including Mrs. William e.
Dodge, George Merritt, Mrs. E. 5. JaIray and William
X. Aspiawa, wore among the contributors. Mr..
Mack Bean rene bersd he- PASTORS kindness, and,
few years aferward, willed him her property, al
though he had left the village several years before
Only two or three visitors were present IN court
yesterday besides Witnesses and other persons con-
nected with the rne sister, Mrs. Rcnwick,
does no. contest, but Mr. Robert r. Campoell, an
insp ector OF this city and nephew OF tho deceased,
was on hand with his lawyer, Edward Fitch, OF
New York, to protest against the will gong 10 pro-
bate As il now stands. The other side was repre-
sented tv the Rev. Charles s. Brown, his lawyer,
L. /. Yale, OF Tarrytown and Mr.. ana airs.
Alexander, Witnesses IRON the same place.
MAKING THE WILL.
Mr. james Alexander, Town Clerk Of Tarrytown,
was the first witness He examined the deed anu
toentifed II as The hc had drawn up February
TO- 1875 at req OF Mrs. Mack Bean, deceased
THIS disposed Of tho statement circulated that tho
Clergy man had written It. he witness sad that
when Mrs Mack Bean first seut for he tod her
thut.a Inn had q "a
tner reQucst he made draft In pencil took 1t
home AID the next day copied IL IN INK IN legal
iorm rot armed snd read i, TO ncr, rho said
ssit was just what shc wantei." She then acknow
edged 10 be her last Will and testament, and the
ment was signed by ali parties present. uding
himself vile, as Witnesses 10 tno execution and
signature OF the instrument
said was afflicted only with rheumatism and
vas lame, Out she was not mentally deranged The
witness further said that the clergy man. Mr. Brown,
had nathing TO with him drawing up the will
he DID II ut the request Of tho deceased, made
through his (tbo wiiness'D vile; and before he had
drawn up the VIII nc dM not Know that Ars. Macx
Bean wsned give her property 70 Mr.. Brown. who.
YURrHER TESTIMONY.
The next witness was Mrs. Alexander, the Town
Clerks vile She said she had known the occeased
tor Atteon years; witness identined Tho deed as tho
one her husband had drawn up, as the one Mrs
Mack Bean signed aud the ono witness and her
husband mad signed ss witnesses to the signature.
On her examination she said that the deed was
read to the deceased oy her husband; that the de-
ceased pronounced Il 40 being just what she
wanted;" the deceased was well and In her right
mind.
Tux PASTORS STORY.
The next witness Tho Rev. Charles s. Brown,
the holder will He had received the will about
two weeks alter tho death OF The deceased; nc mad
heard from Mrs. Alexander that u was In his favor
Gu his he sad that he had not
the deceased before he went 20 iarrJtown, IN
1857 e there 1870; wont to Perry Street Churcn,
In New York; thoncc TO Cold spring; thcuce 10 the
Five Points Mission, In New York; saw the deceased
only once in threc months uUt was IN danger OF
losing property; The trouble lasted SIX months,
the Judac With reluctance decided against her
tben Inc witness raised 200 cash aud borrowed
| other Gums tho amount Of 81, $50 and bought
| the widows homo back again; neither his church
nor her nephews would contribute put the decc.seo
sister loaned $400 The deed which was gwen anew
TO the widow aud the book containing the names Of
| tnc subscribers TO the fund were submitted 10 the
Surrogate received as part OF the testimony. 1t
was two negroes who got the place away from the
| widow and sold 1t back 10 her tor So, $50 IN july
|. 1862 and their names swere Maria d. Ryerson and
| Martha v. MafhcwE
| Here the proponents rosted their case. The con-
had 10 witnesses presont aud iuftner hear
rug was adjourned until ten O'Clock "Wednesday. JulY