Daily globe., 1882-09-30
IMPORTANT WILL CONTEST.
Litigation Over an Estate that Will Dwarf
the Vanderbilt Scandal.
N Il Ht1-l
Especial Telegram to the Globe.]


New YORK, Sept. 29.-Papers have just
been filed in the county clerks Office here
in suit rivaling in Importance the famous
Vanderbilt and Stewart will contests, and
in which prominent people will be the
leading figures. It will soon be called for
trial in the superior court The amount
involved in the suit is $1,5OOOOO, and if
the allegations contained in the bill of
complaint be true, it will be one of the
most curious cases on record. The suit is
begun by Jno. G. l.. Hamilton, grandson of
the late John G. Hamilton, and great
grandson of Alex Hamilton for the revoca-
tlon of the probate of the will of his
grandmother, Maria E. Hamilton,
wife iof the late j. G. Hamilton.
The plaintiffs father, Jno. G. A. Hamilton,
one of the several sons of Jno. G. Hamil-
ton, was civil engineer. He went West
though his sons returned to New York, they
have had very little intercourse with the
members of his grandfather's family.
Their grandmother, Mrs. Maria E. Hamil-
ton, died in 1873, and gave her real estate
to her husband, Jno. G. Hamilton. She
was daughter Of Jno. G.. Vanderheuvel,
one of the wealthiest of the old New York
ers. Jno. @. Hamilton, who was young
lawyer just beginning the practice of his
profession in this city, eloped with her in
1916. When Mr.. Vanderheuvel died he left
over $500,000 ready money to be divided
among his children, aud Of this sum Mrs.
Hamilton's portion was about 100000.
Mrs. Vanderheuvel survived her husband
for several years. and, at her death, left a
large amount of real estate also to be
divided amongst the children. When the
partition took place Mr.. Hamilton bought
in some valuable Broadway and other
property with his wife's money, and led
her to believe that the purchase was made
in her name. This property, which is now
valued at $1,50o.000, was. devised by Mrs.
Hamilton's will to her husband, Jno. G..
Hamilton. Her mind, it is alleged, was
impaired, and her will was made, if at all,
under compulsion exerted by the husband.
Her husband led her to believe that the will
gave him only life interest in the property,
and that after his death it would be diyid-
ed in equal portions among all the chill
dren. On these statements Mrs. Hamilton
consented to sign the will she did. In
order to get rid of all scandal and to
avoid further opposition to probating the
will, an agreement was entered into be-
tween the children of Ara. Hamilton,
whereby certain portions of land should
be equally divided between them, and that
at the death of Jno. G. Hamilton he should
give the remaining portion to the children,
or children Of the parent dying in his life
time. Jro. @. Hamilton died in July last,
and his will, which will be offered for pro :
bate tomorrow morning, ignores the
children of his son, the late Jno. G.
Hamilton, the plaintiff in the
foregoing suit. Jno. G. L. Hamilton will
alss contest the will. It is said that many
surprising and sensational facts will be
brought to light in the trial of the two
cases, and so far that public interest is
concerned the Vanderbilt will contest will
sink into insignifeance beside the Hamil-
ton will contest