New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-11
JESSE HOYT'S WIDOW DEAD
THE REMARKABLE WILL CONTEST Re-
CALLED
MARY IRENE HoYT's Neutrality-suspicious.
TO PROVE THAT SHE WAS INsANE-A
GREAT EST ATE In TILE COuRTa

TO PROVE THAT SHE WAS INsANE-A
GREAT ESTATE IN THE COURTS.
Helen Maria Hoyt, tho widow Of Jesse Hoyt, died
suddenly yesterday at her home. No. 81 West Forty
eighth-st. Her death recalls the strange circum-
stances surrounding the history Of her millionaire
husband, of his WILL and the attempts TO break It, and
Of the peculiar facts regarding the relations Of hs
heirs.
Jesse Hoyt died on August Is. 1882. at No. 81
West Fortyeighth-st. He had some years before
engaged In the grain trade in this city. and had
invested a great deal Of his wealth in Northwestern
railroads. He was practically the builder Of tho
Flint and Pere Marquette Road In Michigan and Was
large stakeholder In tho railroads OF Ohio,
Wisconsin and Minnesota Besides. he had large
interests in the lumber districts of Michigan. His
wealth at the time of his death over 81 0oo,0oo
The will Of Mr. Hoyt was fled
on August %, 18s2. In 1t he kn
$4,000 to his confidential clerk, James W.
Jackson; from 100000 to 100000 each TO his living
brothers and the widows and heirs of his dead ones
the use during life, Of 81 2500O to his wife, and the
of the sum to his daughter Mary Irene Hoyt
The 500 coo of the last two requests were to b
divided among his brothers after the death Of Mrs
Hoyt and her only child, Mary Irene
On October 30, 1882, Helen Maria Hoyt and heH
daughter appeared by counsel before Surrogate Rollins,
with petition for decree to compel the executors u
Jesse Hoyt's WILL Samuel n. Hoyt Alfred VI. Hoyt,
enough money to pay their living expenses. Tha
petitioners alleged that after the death Of Jesse Hoyt
they had been left by the executors without means Of
support and that they in debt, and had funds
with which to exist. Roscoe Conkling was their
counsel and Elihu Root appeared for the executors
Mr.. Roots answer that the women were entitled
to the income Of 81, 100000 only, and
should be compelled to provo that thls
amount had produced any income,
before they could claim anything. Counsel mains
tained finally that inasmuch as Mr.. Hoyts LA
pilties had not as yet been met, no income had
accrued Eventually, however, the executors
ordered to advance tho women $4,000 each. This
decision was made November Q, the petitioners
adding to their request the claim that Mr.. Hoyt had
been unduy Influenced by bis brothers In the drawing
up of his will.
In tho meantime, Mary Irene Hoyt. the daughter.
had been confined In the Friends Insane Asylum.
Philadelphia since June, 1852 On Tuesday, February
27, 1888, an application mado before Judge
Friedman, Supreme Court, Chambers. for order
directing Drs. seven ii. Talcott. II. b. Mlard
and George Dillon to show why they should
not produce the certificate which Miss Hoyt was
committed. 1t claimed In the application that
she was being wrongfuy and illegally confined BY
her uncle, Samuel n. Hoyt and that she has been
locked up in an insane asylum, while her father
was III, for the purpose Of preventing
her from seeing her father before he made his will
on March " 1883, Dr DIlon niadc anlua'lt that ne
had never, before Supreme Court, Chambers. signed
any certificate with DR.. Taicott On March ID, how-
ever, II proven that tho certificate had been
signed In tho Superior Court, and the motion Wa
Withdrawn, the moving party being condemned to
pay $40 costs
Soon afterw ard Miss Hoyt discharged from the
asylum, and went to No Asa Lexingtonave. to live.
Then began series OF strange actions on the part Of
the young woman, which seemed TO support the theory
that she was insane On October o. lisa, she was
before Justice Power the Yorkville Police Court,
for drunkenness aud disoidcrly conduct ehe hal
been In the habit OF VISITING her fathers grave ~
Woodlawn once week. and the day before had Degun
to abuse a policeman without cause she was ar
rested and was 6ned $40 and costs On October 10,
train from the Grand Central station. She had .
bunch Of flowers, which she Intended to place ON her
fathers grave. While on the train she attacked .
young man because he had not offered her his seat
She was finally put oil the tram
These vagares led 10 disagreement with her
mother on August 3, 1887 Mrs. toyt applied 10
the supreme Court 10 have her daughter declared
Irresponsible account of her being addicted to tho
use of intoxicating liquors Miss Hoyt was repre-
sented BY Frank J. pupgnao, and the latter adj
blessing the court, said Unless all calculations go
amlss regarding Mss HOyts case, the most pro-
nounced efforts viii be made 10 show that the young
lady far from being voluntarily addicted 10 the use
OF alcoholic stimulants, has been the victim OF pro-
traeed conspi. acy and has been Scientifically
drugged for the purpose Of producing hysera and even
mania IN order TO prevent her nom being ssuvs In
the contest OF her fathers will"
Since that time Miss Hoyt has disappeared, only
be heard from again In NevJersey and latterly In
Canada whepo she INDUCED IN further eecentrteities:
lior mothers death leaves 81 ESQ 900 TO be divided
among Jesse Hoyt's biotAsrA