New-York tribune., 1884-03-26
MORE ABOUT Mr.. HOYTS WILL
MR. coNKLINe ENLIvENs THE CONTEST


WITH NOT so GOOD PROSPECT TO-DAY.
Roscoe Conkling was thirty-fve minutes late
at the surrogates Court yesterday. william NJ EvatS'
United States DistrctAtorney Root, exJudge shipna'
Aaron Kahn John Orironaux, Joseph kunzmsh-1uo
counsel in the Jesse Hoyt VIII contest -
kept waiting until 11:35 o'clock MIS- hei'n
Maria Hovt tho widow OF Jesse Hoyt and Mary neuo
Hoyt the daughter who the contesanto the WILL "ee
in court at that time every seat in the room was
taken and upon row Of standing SPECTATOR nv P
the remaining space to the doors ana "ii"o"S' NJ
Csnkline looked vigorous and self-possessed he
- A. 80 IN. mood to handle carefully
Cornelius Van santvoOrd the lawyer VINO drew
Mr. Hoyt's will and who on MONDAY pio'eu
himself the possessor of comfortable temper WIN Ine
habit Of dropping his voice so low al umes thaV MI
Conklng was obliged to his left hand as an ear
tTppet while he kept his pencil busy with the other
Mr. Evarts came in apparently IN the imperturpaole
frame of mind which usually characterizes him. PIE
Of manuscripts, briefs, summonses answers complaints
law reports gripsacks silk hats and overcoats upon e
lawyers table formidable than Oh the previous
day.
Mr. Van santvoord man of perhaps fifty years with
from grayhar and beard and of hord complexion took
the stand and resumed his testimony relative to the pro
visions of the will deliberately back IN his cha
shut his lips with an iron determination as he looked III
Mr. COnkngs face, planted his left foot up on c ~"
railing before him. and seemed TO say;
Now Mr.. COnkling, fire awayl am reaNy ior gou
Mr. CoDkling mean lille had laid down his DERBY hat
aud his overcoa had deliberately pushed his way
the spectators 10 the Of the room ana hsu urA
copio usly from the cooler. He was hen reauy "
sprnkle little showers Of upon MI Van SAINT
yoo.d The witness employed for an hour IN gong
over the minute details OF the will In THIS pro
eeeding he was greatly hampered by MT CohAIihs'
who descended him like falcon at stated intervals
Nr Van santvoord got comfortably until ne became
triae involved explaining statement relative 10 M
Webber of Saginaw Mich, Of the executors OF the
IN 10 make ARRANGEMENTS re-
gardnS the property M HOyt In Saginaw Mr. Conk-
ling then broke in, raising his forehnger by way Oh
caution:
up"
Mr. Van santvoord looked greatly astonished as the
sentence was being pronounced, only recovering MS
eQuanimity when the final word "up explained tue
bearing OF Mr. Conklngs remark
The next proceeding interest the reading by the
Surrogate of letter written by Mr. Hoy to Mr. Van SAINT
voord during the week in June when the will was being
prepared.
Dear Mr.. Van ssntvoord."
Mr. Conkling TO the COurtl-Is that Dear Van,' or
ivan santvOOrd"i he began: - 80, -,
The Surrogate" Dear Van santvOOrd,' with the
Se9 eoar puzzled lee hee Mr.
pher leave blank. Continuing 70 read, tomorrow
arronre"-ieaye blank Mr. stenographer for a word
/ cannot make out arrrrange-repeat the "Ior
u meeting two ms
Mr.. Conkling- That is for emphasis ,. 49,,
The Surrogate continuing resdng) any where, hote @
bes nj s5y moment and an am desrous TO have com
peted myself by myself Monday morning. Iruiy Jesse
GOyt"
The letter was then passed 10 Mr. Conkng for nspec
ton The Surrogate announced that the word intended
evidently for completed spelled compelled.
Mr. ConkIng-Your Honor will observe that the is
crossed for ~
Mr. Evarts would not agree this view but he would
not argue the matter MI Van santvooId his glasses
glide down end of his and became an earnest
stenerto the struggle OF tie lawyers over the chrography
OF the letter The communication put in evidence as
Exhibit g. in pencil"
MR.. VAN sANTvOoRD RESUMES,
Mr. Van santvoord then proceed to give some details
which induced MT Conklng to ask if the witness was
saying anything important. Then Mr. Conkling desired
10 know where Mr.. Van SantvoOrd lived.
Mr.. Van santvOOrd-I really don't know. I have for
many years lived az West Eleventh-st, but the
street Department has been altering the numbers so that
cannot give my residence exactly.
The then spoke of a communication IN ink re-
ccfved by him from Mr. HOyt.
Mr. ConKlmg-The fact is that note is in pencil Let
the witness and he possibly can tell the difference
We do not admit that that letter was written by Mr..
Hoyt
The letter read:
Expect you to call at p. this aft with Mr. Webber
al my house. in"
This communication was sent on Sunday June 25, Mr.
Van santvOord said. MI Webber called that morning at
the witness house. and article drafted. Mr..
Van sautyoord here dropped his voice again. and Mr.
Conkliug mildly asked him to please keep it up" Mr
Van sanvOord did look pleased but he kept up his
voice time Then came painful silence, in which
M Van santvoord lost in trying TO straighen out
his memoranda and the seven lawyers st the table sat
back in their chairs and reflected that their fees m
on The silence finally broken, and Mr.. Van SAINT
vcord said that Mr Hoyt thought 100000 enough
10 LETT toward library in Saginaw He continued:
on Monday, June %, at II a m, was at Mr. Hoyt's
with Mr. Weber The viii was read over by me. from
the beginning 10 the end to Mr.. HOy As was reading
II over words his or omitted from the fifth
article and had The words inserted d. by my son; IN % 9lge
starss In the course feadlIg ttoJI
said " II IS not necessary iSr you 70 fe%d 50 ouo II us
Mr Conkng sotto vOcc)-IAat accounts for the state
Mr Van sahtvoord cresuming).-Abram Van santvoord
wa- trying arrange atlas for MI Hoyt that he
who was IN bed, and Nj jackson up and fixed the
atlas Tae & WI w was P tO m c a enTeoPe 10 ne aa @ IN m the Hoy1 @
Deposit Company The viii was given to Jackson That
Mr. ROOt-what was Mr.. Hoyts condition these
day he was sitting mp and dressed lie in different
rooms. according TO the sunlight.
Mr. COnkling-He followed the sun
Mr Van santvoord next grew excited over Mr. Roots
questions a. to what and where the lots for the Of
the Saginaw Library Finally Mr. Van santvoord de
clared It's subject in which take mighty little
Mr Root led the witness when the witness was not
leading Mr. Root and the witness had expressed the
opinion that Mr Conklings suggestion was " bright
o1e" il not civil one" rest Of half an hour
toIs.
THE CRoss-EXANINATION BEGUN.
The afternoon session balmily under the infu-
ence OF the shne aud Mr. COnkngs occasional Ques
tons until q few minutes before adjournment, when Mr
Root finished his direct examination handed Mr. Van
santvoord the tender the leading counsel
for Mics HOyt hr. Conkings cOunenance displayed
emotion at the opportunity. MI Van sanvoord looked
defiant The ex-senator questioned the witness as to
what he first did after Mr. Hoyts DEATH regarding the
will lie had written letter TO Miss Hoyt on the day Of
the funeral Mr.. Conking calmly asked him II he did
not know that Miss Hoyt not In her fathers house
the time.
Mr Van SantvoOrd growing warm)-NO, sir
Mr. COnklng tpersuasivelyl-Do not know that she
was prevented from going 70 the house aud in
cGstOdyf
Mr Van santvOord eIcitedy)-No, sir do not and It