Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-24


stated that Ne Intended 10 give her the whole
OF bis property wien he died, and said ne
did not owe bis other relatives anything,
and fuat he did not want them 10 have any
Of his possessions; that Just before her
father died he called her 10 him and gave TO
her his bank. hook. two pocket books. GER
tain neeeiis ,lc notes witch he then had With
hsm. ADD The KEYS 10 bis safe AZ the Office OF
Drewry Is Co. and Of bis safety. depo.It box
In The bank vault Of the Planters National
Dsnk in Riehmopd.
WHAT THOMAS SAID IN HIs DYING HOUR.
He told her these notes, the operty IN
the safe at Drewrv e. Co.'S, the money IN the
bank represented by the bank book, and The
mooey and papers aud property Ia tue safety
depnsIt box 10 the bank vault were hers In
ease OF bis death; AMI that he delivered these
keys 10 Der for the purpose OF giving Der
the property IN the said safety-deposit box In
the bsnk.ysrlt aud the safe.
THE BANK BOOK.
He delivered the bank book TO her Tor the
purpose OF giviug her the monev which II
represented TO Ne 10 bank 70 bis credit; that
she tnep accepted this gift from her father.
took The keys, the bank.bo * and notes, and
put them 10 her own trunk, as be directed
Der then TO do; that AZ the time OF this gilt
her father was perfectly IN bis right mind,
bu, was spp ebenslve that he would die In
a very short time.
DIR. INQUIRE.
On Friday when Or. Mcclure came there,
between ~ and O'Clock. che told him about
the gift Of these keys and handbook and
notes by her father: that shortly after her
iatner's death Mr.. stephen q. Hughes asked
her where her fathers keys were; that she
answered that she hsd them, and that her
father bad given them and bis papers 10 her
before be died, and told her not 70 surrender
them 10 any one; that she would not baVe
surrendered them TO tbe curators except by
the advice Of her counsel and under the pro-
vision Of the notice which was read to them
at the time that she delivered up these Keys.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PAPERS.
Her father explained to her the general
character and impo lance OF the papers
which were In bis box in the Planters Ma
ional Bank and therefore she was not sur
Drised and did not express any surprise at
tue character OF these papers at the time oil
the investigation made 10y the curators.
Dr. Hunter meGuire.
For several years prior 10 bis death / was
he family physician OF the late William A.
Thomas. know the relations which eX-
i.ted between bin and his daughter, BEETLE
Thomas Lewis, and that he recognized snd
reated bis sad daug hter IS such; that these
elatons were OF a very afIectionste charac-
ier; that the said William A. Thomas and
us daughter resided together, aud | believe
me presided over bls household.
WHAT HE INTENDED To DO FOR BETTE.
tic frequently spoke TO ms about biz
fairs and stated that he intended TO make
- III 80 IA
laughter. did not understand that
n intended 10 give her the whole OF
ne estate, but how much he intended
20 give Der don't know. l know
hat he intended to build two houses
or her on west Grace street, In this city,
nd that ut TIC time OF his death he was *
mining the plans for the same. he asked
ne and had co0seOted to act rs the I ustee
0r his daughter. Tie fully recognized the
obligation under which he rested TO make
nipple provisio0 for his daughter aud ffe-
quently expressed his intention to do so.
THE FATHERS AFFECTION.
He always spoke OF her IN the most al
'ectionate manner. and ] know that she
waited on bin IN his sickness and seemed
leyotedly attached TO him. Dir. Thomas
lied on the night Of Friday the 4th day OF
Jaouary, 1889. | went to see him on
Thursday evening, asaIn on Friday morn
ing tween II and O'Clock, and again OF
Friday night about 8 O'Clock. On one o.
these three occasions, exactly which do
not remember, Bette Thomas Lewis told
M tBat her father bad given her his keys and
his papers.
THE DYING DECLARATION.
On Friday night during the last visit to
Mr.. Thomss, and only a few hours before
he died. asked him II be had arranged nis
matters SO as to provide for his said daugh-
ter, aud be said be had
Fannie n. Coles (Coioredl.
This person makes oath that she was pres.
emit at the time Of the Kilt by William a
rhomas to bis daughter, Bette Thomas
Lewis, OF his bank book, some negotiable
notes. and OF the Keys OF his safe at Drewry
Il Co.'s, two pocket. hooks. aud the conteuts
~ bis statewide posit box In the vault OF the
Planters National Bank OF Richmond.
THE PAPER
At 1.-THE time OF said gift the said William
A. Thomos explained to his daughter the
general character OF the papers, etc., IN his
safety de D0slt box in the b1nk-Vault. and OF
the importance Of the same; that he told her
that the contents OF that box. the contents OF
the safe al DreWry & Co.'s, the uego-
table nOltS tutu utuutu ucI, tit htHOuut
IA the bank represented by Bis handbook
were 10 be hers In case OF his death, and be
then delivered the said keys, bank and
paper- 10 her, and told her 10 put them IN
her trunk, and not 10 lei anybody have
them. He enioiued upon her the impor-
tauce OF keeping these things safely. and OF
not surrendering them TO any one.
FATHER AND DAUGHTER.
ad hat
the said William A. Thomas aud his daugh.
ter, add that they were Of the most affection
ate and devoted ch iracter. he irequeaty
spoke OF his Intention TO give her bis pro-
perry. and said he did not want any OF his
other reativcs TO have any OF 1t. At the
time of the kift to Bette Thomas Lewis by
her father he was in his right mind, but was
appfehensiye that he would then shortly
die.
Mr.. stephen ". Hughes.
This gentleman makes oath as follows: 1
was we'll acquainted with the late William
A. Thomas. having been associated with hin
IN business, and knew him intimately for
number OF years. | know well the relation
which existed between rim and his daugh-
ter, Bette Thomas Lewis. | know that be
recognized the said Bette Thomas Lewis az
his daughter; that they lived together IN
the same house, over which | believe she
presided ss mistress; that the relations be.
tween them were those OF father and
daughter, and Of an adec,onate character.
THOMAs's INTENTIONS TOWARDS HIS DAud TIER.
know that he intended giving large
part Of his e,tate TO his SAID daughter; that
be spoke to me on two occasions, st least,
stating that ne intended 10 make ample pro-
vision for her.
HIS OTHER RELATIVES.
On one occasion when the said William A.
Thomas was SICK at bis house j went out 10
see him, aud finding that be was very sick.
suggested that send a trained nurse to
walt on hin. but be stated that bis laid daugh-
ter was he best purse be could yet aud that be
wanted no other. lie always spoke oil her
In the most aii, ctiouate manner, and spoke
q