The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-24

I was the family physician Of the late
William A. homas. | know the Teia-
iions which existed between him and
hia daughter. Bette Thomas Lewis. and
that he recognized and treated his SAID
louyhtcr as such: that these relations
were Of a very afeciionate character
that William A.. Thomas and his daugh-
ter resided together, and believe she
presided over his household. De ire
| ~ouentlv spoke TO me about bic affairs,
and stated that he intended 10 make am
ple provision out OF his estate for his
daughter. ! did not understand taat he
intended 20 give her the whole OF his es
tate. but how much he intended 10 give
her I don't know. know that he in.
tended to build two houses for
her on west Grace street, in
this CITY, and that at the time OF
his death he was examining the
plans Of the same. He asked me, and !
had consented. to act a. trustee for his
daughter. tie fully recognized the obi
cations under which he rested to make
omnle provision for his daughter, and
frequently expressed his intention TO do
go lie always spoke Of her in the most
/ aiIcctionaie manner, and ! know that she
waited on him in his sickness and seemed
dcy0tcdly attached 10 him.
William Thomas died on the night OF
/ Friday. the 4th day Of January. 1889. |
went 10 see him on Thursday evening,
again ON Friday morning between . and
o'clock. and again on Friday night
about = o'clock. On one Of these occa-
sions. exactly which DO not remember,
Bette Thomas Lewis told me that her
father had given her his keys and his
papers. on Friday night, during the
last visit 10 Mr. Thomas, and only a few
hours before he died. ! asked him II he
had arranged his matters so as 10 provide
for his daughter, and he replied that he
had. Signed HUNTER MCGUIRE.
MIR. STEPHEN D.. HUGHES.
The last affidavit submitted was that
of Mr.. Stephen ID. Hughes. who states
that he was well acquainted with the
late William A. Thomas, having been
associated with him in business. and
knew him intimately for a number Of
wears. ! know well the relations which
existed between him and MS daughter.
Bette Thomas Lewis. ] know that he
recognized Bette Thomas Lewis as his
daughter. that they lived together in
the same house. over which, / believe,
She presided as the mistress; that the re-
lations between them were those OF 2
father and daughter. and Of an alice
tiOnate character. know that he in
tended giving a large part Of his estate
90 his daughters that he spoke 10 me on
two occasions. at least, stating that he
. intended 10 make provisions for her.
ON one occasion, when William
&. Thomas was sick At his
house. went TO see him
and finding that he vas very sick, ! sug
ccsted that ] should send a trained nurse
90 wait on him, but he stated that his
daughter was the best nurse that he
could get, md that be wanted no other.
+ He always spoke OF her in the mos az
fectionate mann,r and spoa OF his other
+ relatives as If he did not desire that they
should have any part Of his property.
About seven years ago William A.
Thomas gave me his duplicate keys that
were used by the curatOrs in opening
the safe and the box i'm the bank vault al
the time of their investigation into the
papers Of the decedent. These KEYS
were simply left with me by Mr.. Thomas
for safe keeping in case he should lose
those which he kept in his posses
sion. They were sealed up and put
away by me In a safe place. ! never
thought OF using them, or that |
had a right TO use them in any way.
Prior 20 the time when these keys were
placed in my possession they had been
iu the hands Of another friend Of Mr..
Thorn g. who was then a member
OF the firm Of which | was a member,
and they were kept in the SAME way
as / understand that they were kept by
me. After Mt. Thomas death | carried
those KEYS and offered 10 deliver them
20 his daughter, because I thought she
hat a right to them, and | would have
delivered them 10 her but for the fact
that she, under the advice of counsel,
preferred that the matter should remain
in STUN ono. | delivered these KEYS to
the curatOrs at the request and by the
ADVICE of Bette Thomas Lewis and her
counsel. and after the notice was read 10
them. showing the conditions upon which
an of the KEYS were 10 be turned over to
them. would never have surrendered
these keys 10 any one but Bette Thomas
Lewis without her consent, except up n
the order of the court requiring me TO
do so. On the night of MIR. ThOmass
death ! was sent for and got to his house
q short time after his death. Soon after
getting there, knowing that his keys
were very important. ! asked the daugh
ter where they were. She Immediately
replied II have them, my father gave
them and his papers to me before he
died. and told me they were mine, not to
surrender them to anybody
5. b. HUGHEs.
The counsel for the claimant asked
that "a receiver d. appointed, after which
the counsel for Major Page ably repre-
scented him as the administrator for The
estate and heirs atlaw.
After the argument was heard on both
sides Judge Fitzhugh took the case in
consideration and will decide as TO the
propriety Of appointing e receiver next
Monday or Tuesday.
After this case was heard the court
adjourned 10 meet next Monday at 10
o'clock.