Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-03
Robert Wilson Will Attempt to Re.
cover a Portion of the Boom
ing Town of MendelsSohn
FOR AN ESTATE WORTH s25O,OUO.
He Was Forgotten in His Fathers Will
ana Will Endeavor to Prove That
Document Invalid.
FAMILY SKELETONS TO BE EXPOSED
scns Ugly Charges Are Preferred Against the Two
Younger Bruthers

A sensation will be sprung to-day in legal
circles An attempt is to be made to break
the will of the late Samuel A. Wilson, Of
Jefferson township, Allegheny county. The
estate amounts to about $3.50, 600, the bulk
= of it being left to two of his sons, Johnston
T. and Alexander G. Wilson, while the re-
mainder OF his heirs were practically cut OH.
The principal contestant is Robert L. Will
son, a market gardener of McKeesport and
son of the testator. The other parties to
the suit are James Harvey Wilson. another
son. and Samuel Wilson. Reed Wilson,
Ella Wilson and Mary Wilson, minor chill
dren of the late S. B. Wilson, VINO was also
son of S. a. Wilson.
The court will be asked to issue citation
to the interested parties to-day, and the case
will be heard within the next few weeks be-
fore Judges Hawkins and Over. In case
Of this nature no commissioner will be ap-
pointed, and the judges will take the testi-
mony themselves, so that they can determine
whether there is ground for trial by jury.
The attorneys for the contestants are Homer
H. Swaney, West MeMurrsy, and Thomas
c. Pitcairn.
Title of Town Site in Question.
The greatest interest that will be created
by the case is from the fact that the booming
town of Mendeissohn is situated on the Will
son estate, just above Mckeesport. The
Mendelssohn Piano Company about a year
ago purchased the greater part of the Wilson
farm from Johnston T. and Alexander G.
Wilson. This company has already CON-
menced to build a piano factory there. A
glass plant is also in course of construction,
and an Eastern iron firm has made arrange
ments to erect plant In this town during
the coming summer. The town has been laid
out, lots are being sold at fancy prices, and
number of houses have already been built
The result of the suit is that all the titles are
clouded, and work will have to stop unless
the builders wish TO continue at their own
risk. The contestants further expect TO
make the two brothers account for every
cent of money that has SO far been paid
them.
The ground on which the suit is being
brought is that Samuel A. Wilson was not
in condition to make a will, and that he
was unduly Influenced by his two sons,
Johnston and Alexander Wilson, who ap-
pear as the heirs and executors of this es-
tate. Some sensational testimony is prom
ised in the case, and it is expected to become
as famous in legal circles as the celebrated
White will case.
Claims of the Contestants.
In their appeal to the court the contest
ants set forth that Samuel A. Wilson died
at his home in Jefferson township, Allie
ghenv county, February IA, 1885. at the age
OF 70 wears. He had lived there the greater
part OF his life. During the latter years of his
existence his only attendants were his sons,
Alexander and Johnston, althougI he took
great interest in his other two sons and his
grandchildren. On February "a. what was
purnorted to be the last will and testament
of Mr.. Wilson wss probated. He was
possessed of S1.200 worth oil personal prop
ertv and many thousands of dollars
worth of real estate. The heirs to the will
were as above given. Robert S. Wilson and
J. Harvey Wilson were each given $500
apiece, the will stating that as they had
been given financial assistance during his
lifetime they were to have no further
claim on the estate. To each of the grand
children was given IS apiece and his wife,
Jane Wilson, was bequeathed $500 and her
dover in the estate. All the balance was
left Internationally to Johnston 7. and
Alexander G. Wilson, who were also made
executors of the Will Robert Wilson
states that not knowing of the circum-
stances surrounding the drawing of the will,
which was signed on June TO- 1884, re-
ceipted to the executors for his bequest.
The appeal further alleges that Mr.. Will
son was unduly Influenced. and that the
paper filed as the will was not the last testa-
meut of the decedent. Mr.. Wilson, it is
alleged, was weakened by age and disease,
and had become extremely weak both
physically and mentally. He lived with
the defendants, and the contestants claim
that he was influenced and controlled SO
much by them that he was not responsible
for his actions. He had frequently expressed
his warm affection for Robert S. Wilson,
and declared his intention of giving him a
pro rata share Of his estate.
Signed Paper of Disinheritance.
Both of the executors of the will were
present when the document was first pre-
sented for the testator to sign in Pittsburg.
At the time Mr.. Wilson was weak, trem-
ulous and fearful. He was unwilling to
sign the will, and was taken home. He was
brought down again in the same condition,
and finally signed the paper, disinheriting
the greater portion of his family.
After making the will, and up to his
death, Mr.. Wilson is said to have shown the
greatest affection for the contestants, and is
known to have said that all were to share
equally in his estate. In conversation
with his neighbors he did not even seem to
realize that he had signed will to the con-
trary. J. f. Shredder and William Hsger-
man are the witnesses to the will.
The contestants also claim, although il is
not included in the appeal, that the widow
of the late S. B. Wilson made preparations
to contest the will some time ago. and was
presented by the executors with house and
jot at Mendelssohn BY the brother and that
in consequence of this proceedings were not