Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
A Baltimore Bellies victory.

A Baltimore Bellies Victory.
HOUSEHOLD SKELETONS FOUND N THE MANSION OF An
OLD MARYLAND FAMILY.
special to the New York World from Baltimore,
December q, says: The suit Of Miss Hortense
Hardesty, daughter OF Richard O. Hardesty, and
granddaughter Of the late Richard 8. Hardesty,
who died in 1885, leaving fortune Of nearly
100000, cutting on his grandchildren entirely,
has been terminated the jury deciding in favor Of
Miss Hardesty on every issue.
Richard 8. Hardesty made will in 1870 but LEFT
nothing to his sons children the son having died.,
annum, and leaving the remainder to hts three
daughters, Mrs. Wilson, a widow; Mrs ChAs. R.
Thompson and Mrs VIM. G.. Worthington. In
malady, which, for some time, so impaired his
mental faculties that he was rendered incapable
OF transactng business according to the testimony
While this condition continued Mrs. Hardesty
frequently asked Dr. Tiffany II her husbands mind
was sound enough for him to make legally valid
contract. to which she always got negative reply
She stated to the Doctor that Mr.. Hardesty wanted
to change his win OF 1870 and entreated the Doctor
mentally qualified. In November, 1882 DR. TIT.
fanny told her that MI. Hardesty had recovered his
mental power and could then execute q legal
paper.
Lawyer Gailbor drew q new viii and a clause
was inserted revoking all former wills and con.
st1tuting John s. Cuttings and Mr. VIM. C. Worth
tngtOn his executors, thus diSmisStng George Haw
k1ns Williams from the same position In the will
OF 1870 on the ground that he had lost ali confid
ence IN Mr. Williams, who had been his lawyer and
friend for thirty years In this new will he in
creased his wife's annuity to $1,000 but made no
other important changes, still ignoring his sons
In the spring Of 1883 his mental malady re-
turned and eliminated in his death in September
1885. In April Of that year George Hawkins WI
hams learned that a will had been made in No
vember, 1882, deposing him as executor. and an
interview occurred between him and the testator.
Mr. Cuttings brought the win Of 1882, and after
Mr. Hardesty that no man over seventy years Of
age could make legal will. Mr.. Hardesty then
directed that the will Of 1882 be destroyed. Mr..
Mr. Hardesty any such thing. In April, 1885, Mr.
Hardesty added codicl to the Will OF 1870 (which
had been revoked by that Of 1882 increasing Mrs
Hardestys annuity to $1,000 and still leaving out
The grandchildren endeavored to establish:
First, that the DESTROYED will OF 1852 did revoke
Gil to the will OF 1870 VIZ, April IL 1885 the tes-
tator, Mr.. HardeSty was affi1cted with Senfle de-
mentia, and that he had been unduly Influenced,
and that this being the revocation OF the win OF
1870 by the one of 1882 (destroye tnvalidated the
will OF 1870, and the pretended cOdicil to that Will
Is void; The Jury found these to be facts, and un
eSty had died inteState.
The revelations brought out during the trial
were 1ull OF surprises. 1t was shown that there
were several closets in the Hardesty mansion
tenanted by skeletons-a d1ssipated son who had
died disinherited, divorced daughter (Mrs.
band, and a son-in-law, VIM c. Worthineton. who
had, with his wife, quit the family dreside.
Mrs. Hardesty, the widow OF the testauor contra
Zens as to repeated conversations with her She
poured hot shot into her two sons-in-law, Thomp-
son and Worthington, accusing the former of inh-
deity and refusal to support his wife, and the re-
turn OF the latter and children to the parental roof
and her subsequent application for divorce; the
latter, Of habits OF intemperance. Miss Hardesty
is handsome blonde, with bewitching eyes and
graceful figure.