The New York herald., 1879-10-29
Peculiar Developments in the Contest
Over Mary Marks Will.
FATHER BRADLEY'S INFLUENCE" I"
Was It Unduly EzsrIsd to Increase His
Worldly Wealth.
AN INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
"With Best Love, Ever Your AZ
rectionate Traddles."

The FIRST hearing in the contest over the Will OF
Miss Mary Caroline Marx given yesterday before
Surrogate Calvin. Miss Marx. 1t will be remem-
bered left an estate worth nearly $1,000 out OF
which her sister Catharine Henrietta to receive
yearly income Of ST. 900 and her interest in her
house. No. 122 East Forteth street. All the rest OF
her property, with the exception OF $1,000 to kev.
DIR. McGlynn and small bequest to charitable
institution, was left to Rev. j. d. Bradley. The
decedent died in this city june 9. LET'S. unmarried
and without issue. Her only relative and next Of
kin is her sister, Catharine Henrietta Marx, the con-
testant. The paper was propounded f9r probate
August 10. 1878. by Rev. DIR. Edward McGynn as
executor. Objections to its probate were filed Sep
tember n. 1878, by the contestant and reference
closed June 4. The comes before the Surro-
gate for final hearing.
Father Bradley came from Liverpool to America
ten years ago. being then aritualist minister
He established an oratory on Broadway. and after
short time left the Episcopal and joined the Roman
Catholic Church Fourteen days afterward Miss
Marx also Joined the Catholic Church. Father Brad
ley acting her sponsor. On her death her sister
Catharine Henrietta contested the will the
ground of undue influence. and that 1t was not the
voluntary act of deceased who was Of unsound mind
and also the ground that the legatee cannot hold
real estate in this country, being an alien.
OPENING THE BALL.
Mr.. Ebridge =. Gerry and Mr. Townsend Wandell
appeared for the contestants yesterday and the de-
fence was represented by Mr.. Edward Mitchell on
behalf OF Father Bradley, and Mr. Charles Matthews
for DR.. McGlynn. executor. Mr. Gerry occupied
nearly the whole of the day in submitting contest
ants abatement Of the case, together with
his argument the same In the clos
ing hour Mr.. Mitchell began his reply
for the proponent. From the statement Of
counsel for the contestant, it would appear that
Asher Marx father Of the decendent died intestate
In 1924. His widow died intestate in 1857. They
left five children only of whom. the con-
testant survived The children inherited from their
father piece of property and from their mother
and brother considerable amount of improved real
estate In this city which realizes income Of about
$4,000 year; also some property in Kentucky.
The three sisters Catharine. Mary ana Emma (who
died shortly before the decendent lived together.
and the real has becn divided the rents
being shared between them. The family all be-
longed to the Protestant Episcopal church and in
1895 the sisters went to st. Adams OF which Rev.
Charles W. Morrill, was and Is rector and were COM
municants there. The decedent. it was claimed was
every fun OF enthusiasm III regard to the Church,
and the sisters always lived happy life until Mr..
Bradley came their house at the invitation of the
decedent Thanksgiving Day. 1862" In June.
1869. Rev. Mr. Morrill, went to Europe and Rev. Nc
Walter B. Noyes was left in charge Of the church.
Bradley and made his acquaintance. He
formerly lived in England, May 10. 1869. just
before his advent to this country. Joshua Dodgson
Bradley was licensed by the Bishop Of Ripon
assistant curate Of St. Barnabas. Hobrook. at u st-
pend of f1OOa year. What his real name why
he came to this country does not appear. When he
came here he licensed by Bishop Potter, OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of New
York, to preach therein. He practically impe-
cunious and. Mr.. Gerry said uncleanly in person.
"His style of dress was not very neat and NICE In
hot weather, with soiled linen. very disagreea
ble." So conscious decedent of this that she
notes five occasions when the minister bathed. The
three sisters living at No. 6 Amity street. and
OH their return from summer travel saw Bradley
officiating ut st. Adams Decedent was intro
duced to him and invited HIM to dinner. Brad
Icy and Noyes dined with them. Bradley enlivenng
the entertainment by singing after dinner ''Shoo-
fy" 'Kerfoozelum." "Champagne Charley and
"Little Niggers" and behaving, as it is said he
shortly after admitted to Mrs. Benson in most dis
graceful manner for priest. From that time up to
December, 1869. he went decedent about twice
week. In December, 1869, he gave out that he
going to establish mission on the east SIDE OF the
town tor yarrants The sisters subscribed 500 to-
ward it. Having secured subscriptions Bradley
sailed for Liverpool December H. 1862 without open
ing the mission. Decedent and Noyes went down to
him off, he having the evening previous again en-
tertaiped her with his comic songs.
.'How SELDOM SEE HIM ALoNE!
love with the Rev. McWalter Noyes. Her diary
hibits most fully her state of feelings toward him.
One entry s:'Strange, after all that has passed
Between US, II we should become estranged." An
other. "How seldom l see him alone" On
January 25. 1S7O;-"Children always make me feel
pleasant and cheerful how 1t would have been If
owned u few of my own. Well, II it was be sup
pose 1t would have BEEN" On May ~, 1S70:-"To-
day had great shock; told by Noyes that
had said he was 'foad of dressing up II ever
there was black, hateful lie that Is That he
should have believed it of mel, who would have
1usd flpxvp In IN On
lS70:-"Went to st. Stephens Church to high mass.
70 my mind the services are not 30 devotional as
On May l6. 1870. Bradley arrived in this country
for the second time and set about to ingratate him
self with dccedent. Her diary shows the progress
OF his efforts to supplant Noyes On June /. 1870
Father Bradley called He called several times"
On June lG-"went with Father bradley after SER
vice; went TO the organ gallery to hear my young
friend play. OH. what a giftl He fairly made the
organ speak" On June 17-"Father Bradley dined
with us; went to concert By this time, counsel
argued, Bradley found that he must, by
de,nite means, wrest the decedent absolutely
from Noyes, her church and her family. He decided
10 open an .oratory" in fashionable part OF Broad
way. Tho decedent gave him 500. She met with
an accident to her loot, Noyes neglected her anu
Bradley renewed his attentions. The oratory of st.
Sacrament was opened at No. l.2s5 broadway. Dece-
dent saw Bradley frequently. and ON December ~
made her first confession to him. which was fre-
quently repeated Bradley's next step was to sever
her connecton with her family IL TOOK SIX months
but July 4. 1871, he succeeded. she went 10
the oratory TO 1.-Two az housekeeper. adopted a diff
ferent dress and full SUIT OF mourning.
Bradley atterward moved his mission to place in
West Forty third street, near Tenth avenue. Dece-
don't accom- panied him as housekeeper and had
room in the house down stairs; took her trunk and
clothes and went alone without any servant. Brad
Icy, MIR. Gerry claimed, had no intention OF marry
ing the dccedcnt. He said to Mrs. Benson THAT the
present Miss Marx was about seventy-nve at that
time and the other two ranged accordingly" But
he had idea Of hor marrying Noyes. and
''saw that the only way to obtain the
absolute control of her will and purse
was by process of, inversion into the
church Of Rome Io had succeeded in establishing
between himself and the decedent tho relation of
priest and penitent. and In no better way could he
retain his influence than through the ecclesiastical
mechanism OF the Church OF Rome On Friday,
January ~. 1872 Father Bradley told her he
gong TO Join the Roman Catholic Church, and two
days later in sermon at tho oratory, formally re-
notnccd his connection with the Anglican Church.
Oh January "a he wns received into tue Church of
Rome by the Rev. Dir. McGlynn. Fourteen days
alter. dccedcnt was received into the commun-
ION. Dr. Mcdlynn officiating and MIR. Bradley stand