The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-17
WHERE IS PETER HOPKINS?
THE XTRAORDINARY Event THAT rs
AGITATING 1LLEGHAAY COUNTY

geIiea Poorhouse-Two Contested wills
aud the Singular Family History that the |
Legal Papers In the Case Disclose-A stu |
dent ut Hamilton the Alleged Abductor.
BrNGHAMToN, n. Y, March 16.--Pctcr w. |
Hopkins was the District Attorney OF Broome |
County when Ruloff was tried for murder in
BinRhamton. the county scat. In November.
1877. he was elected to the State Senate. He hold
ofice until he dropped dead. in his room in
Albany, with apoplexy on the 7th OF last month.
Three days after his death. Mr.. A. w. Cum
mings. Dlnghamton lawyer. obtained from
the dcnd Senator's father. Peter Hopkins, con-
sent. in writing. that his sons will should 80
10 probate. waiver Of tho fourteen days
notice required by law to be given to him MS
next OF kin. Tho place whore Cummings
sought aud found him was in the poorhouse OF
Ancghany County. two and a half miles east Of
Angelica Tho Senator was awidower, with no
children. and his father 81 years old. is his solo
heir-at-law though ono brother and three
sisters are living With the consent OF the
father thus obtained in writing. signed with his
mark. the Surrogate OF Broomo County granted
nm order for the benen,ur to show. on the
9Th OF April next. why the probate should
not be rcopencd. Tho will gives all OF the
property. estimated to be worth from $4,000 to
100000 to Nelson Whitcmore. with the exccp-
ton Of e.. 900 bequcathed to Jane Fitzgerald.
Is a student at Hamilton College and 20 years
old lived with the tostatOr for twelve years be-
fore his death. The brother and sisters have
begun "a contest OF 1t and Of another will. This
contest has had tho effect Of making public
very remarkable family history. To add to tho
interest Of the proceedings. the old man was
taken from the poorhouse on March by Whit
temore. and has not since been heard from by
his children. though wide search has been made
-. " nd bfe offia
Over fifty years ago. Peter Hopkins was
blacksmith in Appalachian. near Owego. He
had seven sons and seven daughters He
cared little for religion. but his wife who was
born in Rotterdam Schenectady County was a
Catholic. This caused endless duarrels be-
tween them and at last. when the late Senator
was years old the father left his family. He
was reported to be dead. But he is now known
10 have worked at his trade In various towns In
central and western New York. though he was
not seen by any Of his children until twenty
three years ago. when his son. John F. Hop
kins met him accidentally in Canisteo. Since
that time he has not seen his father at all.
After the father went away. John F. Hopkins.
the oldest OF three surviving sons. did what he
could to bring up his younger brothers. Peter
W. and Nelson j. He sent them TO school in
winter. and they worked on the neigh
boring farms in summer. Finally. the two
younger brothers went to Binghamton.
There in the course OF years. Nelson
j. Hopkins was elected County Treasurer. and
continued in this Office for nine years. At the
breaking out OF the war no was worth about
t35 900. He and his brother enlisted. but he
was soon promoted to be Captain. and in 1860
he was in charge of the city OF Beaufort. S. @.
Here he was taken very sick and while he was
on Pc, '"a.hbed his brother Peter visited him.
4,etsOu nad a will already made out in which
his property was divided among his relatives.
This will was shown to Peter. 60 the contesting
brother and sisters say. and. after reading H.
he said to the sick man:
See here. Nelson. make me your sole leGatee
II you do. can settle up the business much
more quickly than II all the heirs have TO be
summoned and consulted and l promise you
that will take care Of all our sisters and o.
father and mother"
On this promise. II is alleged. Nelson let his
brother dictate his will. He was raised up II
his bed to set his signature to II. and after h'
had done so he fell back on his pillow TO die
John f. Hopkins met his only SURVIVING
brother on his return from Beaufort. and wa
shown a copy OF the will. He took it to law
yer. who said on merely looking at 1t: cal
knock that will higher than q kite" While h.
was about to begin proceedings. his brothe
came to him and said:
John / want to see you. What do you wan
10 ruin me for2 II you contest that Will II Will
destroy me. / am young and rising lawyer
Let me alone"
There were tears in his eyes." John F. Hon
kins says: and though we were never verl
anectionate. and often used to have to lick hir
at home TO make him behave himself. yet re
membcred we were brothers. | didn't contes
the will but let him take the property. hopin
that ho would deal rs ho promised with til
heirs. He promised me TO make provision 70
father and mother as long rs they lived, Mothe
died two years ago at Binghamton."
This will OF Nelson j. Hopkins and that Of tn
lfs senator Peter W. Hopkins are each to b
contested The specific grounds have not "
heon announced. The complaints nled WIN "
Surrogate at Bnghamton contain merely tn
iormm nrgali9ns Ig crSaTy Go iy 70 open .ns pp4 p
the hands OF Peter W. llopkins, healso obtaine
possession OF life insurance OF $4,000 wh!cl
benefit ol his mother. At this time, 1865, tn
father was in Canisteo n years old but st
the town OF Melsville. Allegheny County. Il
1872; When the town authorities had eH
penlel $40 upon him they, reported hi
cas as required By law. TO Superintendent
u. nam Of tne county pooThouSe; Ing
woman to whom he had been MAJ
Tled after abandoning his hrst wife. n
tpli the Suu"rint'ndrnt no used no TO nave wv
trndrnt who lad heard II Peter w. Hopkins a
District. Attorney in thr kulor trial, wrote
whore "a meeting could he had The superin
tcndeut uamrd Angelica, aud Mr.. Hopkin
came promptly to the place He said no ene,
At ONO that the man referred TO was hi
father when he heard from the Supcrir
tendent but he had supposed that his fathe
WIS deal. II WIS fifteen years since he know
his whrr'a abouts. II WIS agreed that he shoul
give $50 year for the support Of his father
ant tho money WAS -eUt r"gulnrlyto Mr.. Joscp
DOty Of Brlyidcrr. The old mnn continued
live at lurge with the woman he had MAJ
Tel until two years ago. when he M
she " re removed to the county hous
They were worry old and aecrcpit, lie was ion
OF drink. and used 70 Sell the clothes that NJ
Doty gave him. When lac was taken TO Il
county house SO WIS found in his shoe
Alter be- Was there h.s son. the senator used
srud him his own cast-on clothing, 50 that j
nadr dorcnt appearance. The senator e
planned to Supt. lugham. when he llrst m hiI
that bee could not take his ntutr TO Blhguhml1
hr AUS" hls own mother lived IN nc house Wi
pm, aud his lntAer and she could not possib
live together
Poor HOPKINS has norld face, marked Wi
"rlukr. and "a huld snoW-whlte head, sparse
h,uGH AT the side by white hair, HIS chrel
ar iuli and hr has black cyess His shuuldn
Grr b~ut. and lr walhs with difficulty by the a
OF two rIr"-, He is above tho medium helgl
and Is - heavy for a man oi his age nnd d