Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-23
DIR DARIISG's WILL.


When the late Prof. William Darling of
the Nr% IurN University Medical college,
and of the Medical department Of the | nj
versity OF Vermont died, and it was found
that he had wiled all OF his property,
worth $lO0,OJo, it is supposed, to his ''cs
teemed and valued FRIEND" Amelia
Delacroix, of Yonkers, none of his friends
knew that he had any brothers or sisters
living, and all were positive that he had
lived and died IA bachelor. Mrs. DclacroiN
filed The will for probate on the day after
Christmas, and swore that to the best of
her knowledge and belief, there were no
heirs at law or next of kin
ndcr the provisions OF the New York
code, in Il case Of this nature, where real
estate and personal property are involved
il becomes necessary to issue citations to
the attorney general Of the State and the
public administrator of the city. These
were rCturnable before the probate clerk
OF the Surrokate's office on Thursday last
Surrogate Rollins had meanwhile re-
ccived many letters in regard to Prof
Darling's estate from persons i'll different
parts of the country, who had read the
published account of the contents of the
will. one letter said DR.. Darling had
two brothers in Burlington, Iowa. An
other letter dated at Coburg, Ontario.
We're heirs Of Prof. Darling, and that the
professor had tor the last twenty five year.,
been a visitor at his fathers house.
On Thursday another heir turned mp he
fore the probate clerk in the person of Il
middle aged woman, who said her name
WAS Mrs. Catharne LetfertS, and that she
was daughter Of Prof. Darling. She was
represented by Howe * Hummel Nari-
olls other attorneys, who appeared for va
riOuS other persons who desired to have
the will set aside, were present, and the
appearance OF this claimant was II com
plete surprise to them all. Edwards d
Odell appeared for John Darling of Bur
lington, Iowa, IA brother of Prof Darling.
Ex-senator Boyd and VIM. c. Kellogg APP
peared for Mrs. DeacrOX, who says she
will fight the case to the end. James l.,
Sklllin represented DIR. Daniel b. st. John
Roosa, of the New York University Medi-
cal college, who desired to secure for that
institution the valuable anatomical collec-
ton and surgical instruments left by the
Professor L. III. Arnold appeared for the
Public Administrator. The hearing in the
case was adjourned until March Is, and
supplementary petitions and citations will
be made returnable on that date
Mrs. Catharinc Lelferts, who calls her
self the daughter of Prof. Darling, is dis
cribed as 30 years OF age, who was neatly
attircd in black and wore black furS. Her
counsel said that she intended to prove
her relationship to the late Professor by
means Of records in an Old family Bible
and by letters that passed between her
father and mother, that are now in her
possession. The marriage register, Mr..
lIummel said, gave the date of Prof. Darl-
ing's marriage TO Mrs. Letferts's mother,
and the date of Mrs. I.etfcr,s's birth
Her story is, that her father and mother
separated 30 years ago, her mother died
soon afterward, and she knew nothing of
the whereabouts of Prof. Darling until
she read of his death. She claims 10 have
/ in her possession letters written 10y Prof.
Darling to her mother, that can be proved
to he in his handwriting. The ground up
ON which he should move To set aside the
will, Mr. Ilulnmel said, would he that I'M
due influence had been brought to bear to
induce Prof. Darling to make his will in
favor Of Mrs. DelacroiN. Mrs. LctfertS
! said that she had called upon Mrs, Della
croiX, and had been we'll received. The
new claimant is living in humble cot
tage in llSth street, near Ninth avenue.
She refused To talk about the case
but made the remarkable statement
that she was one of the eleven children
of Prof. Darling, Photographs of her
mother and the II children adorn the
walls of the cottage, but that of Prof.
Darling is missing. Mr.. Odell, whose firm
appears for John Darling, who claims to
/ be II brother of the late professor, says that
their ground for asking to have the will
set aside will also he that of undue inhu,
ence. prof. Darling he said, had an
other brother besides John Darling. and
also sister in the vicinity of Burlington
The sister has three children, and it is
probable that they will unite their claim,
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