Evening journal., 1891-01-13
A FIGHT FOR A FORTUNE.
Eva Hamilton's Attempt to
l. Claim Her Dover.
WAS SIZE JOSH HANN's wIFEi

Strong Evidence to That Eject and a
Great Deal Of If-Robert Ray Hamii-
toms Relatives Making Determined
Effort to Defeas Eva's shrewd Game.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1a-Evangelins l.
Mann, or Hamilton, who claims to be the
widow Of ex-Assemblyman Robert Ray
Hamilton, and is making a fight for share
Of his estate because he neglected 10 make
any provision for her IN his will. was the
center OF attraction yesterday in the surro-
gates court before Surrogate Ransom.
The hearing before the court was in the
contest started in her behalf over Hamil-
tons viii. The only question at present
before the court is as to whether or not she
was Hamiltons legal wife and his lawful
widow. When the case was opened Eva
was not present Her absence was severely
commented upon, but she soon appeared,
heavily veiled She was dressed IN deep
mourning and wore a sealskin sack.
She Was Very Shy.
On several occasions she had to be re-
quested to raise her veil in order that the
witnesses might see her face for the pur.
pose OF Identifying her. This she did rather
reluctantly until at last Surrogate Ran
som was compelled to say: ut seems neces-
sary that the contestant should display her
features. and it would be proper for her to
do so without special request" There were
present in support Of the will Elihu Root
and John c. O'Conor, Jr., in behalf Of the
executors; Henry L. Sprague, for Schuyler
Hamilton, Jr., the principal legatee under
the will, and Sherman w. knevals, for
Baby Beatrice Ray, who receives an an
nuity Of 81, 200 per year by the will. Ex
ecutor Gilbert NJ Sper and Mr.. and Mrs
Schuyler Hamilton, Jr., were also present
Was She Josh" Manns Wife,
For the purpose OF establishing the mar
riage Of Eva to Hamilton the Rev. Edison
w Burr, OF Elizabeth. N. j., was called.
He testified that he married them on Jan.
2, 1882 while he was the pastor of the
Market Street Methodist Episcopal church
at Paterson, n. j. He had never seen them
before. and had no Information about them
except what they gave him. She gave her
name as Eyangeline l. Steele. and both
answered the questions properly and stated
that neither had been married before He
did not think that he could identify her.
This was the only proof given in her be-
half, and then the other side took up the
case 10 order to prove tnat she was the
wife OF Josh l. Mann and hence could
not have married Hamilton.
Her Relatives Against Her.
William T. Steele, Of Iaeyville, Pa,
brother OF Eva, stated that Eva left home
when she was about 10 years old to 60 TO
work About six years ago she visited
home with Josh Mann and introduced
him as her husband. On several other
occasions she introduced Josh" rs her
husband William admitted that he had
had few words with Eva ia 1883, and
that there was little feeling" between
them He said that he testified in the pro.
ceedings at Elmira for the annulment of
her marriage with Hamilton, for which he
received $40 and expenses. His wife, Alice
Steele, also testified that she knew Eva,
and visited her in Elmira In the latter part
of 1855 when she was living with 'Joshn
Mann as her husband Eva paid her
v1sit 10 the winter Of 1855 with Mann, and
told her that she had been married 70 him
III Philadelphia
She said lie Was Her Husband.
William Fcyle, a Pennsylvania lawyer,
testified that in December, 1883, Joseph
Steele, a brother Of Eva, was tried and con
victed at Bradford, Pa, Of grand larceny.
Eva had gone there with Mann TO bail him
out II possible. Both were present at the
trial, and JOSH was called as a witness
10 his brother-in-law's character. When
asked as TO his relationship he said he had
married Steele's sister (Eva) about seven
years previously Samuel II. Adams and
his wife. from Towanda, Pa, parents-in-
law OF Joseph Steele a brother OF Eva, said
that when Joseph was being tried for lar
ceny Eva called upon them and introduced
Mann as her husband.
Mrs. Adams testified that at the time OF
the introduction Eva said 70 her; II want
introduce you to my husband, Mr.
Mann, "a millionaire Numerous other
witnesses gave similar testimony.
Much Cumulative Evidence.
Francis NJ Leake, bookkeeper at the
Union Dime Savings institution, testified
10 Eva having a bank account there. At
the opening Of the account the bank book
stated that the depositor had represented
herself as the wife OF Joshua L. Mann
The account was closed in MAY, 1889.
When the signatures on the bank book and
checks were shown to Eva she shook her
head, presumably denying that they were
hers aud her counsel said he would have 10
deny that she had signed them.
DIR. William NJ. Kemp, who visited Eva
professionally on more than one occasion,
stated that his first visit to her was in 1885,
as Mrs. Brill" After that, AZ Mrs. Mann
be visited her at No. Is West Ninth street
when she introduced Josh as her hus
band That was ia October, 1855, and he
was called in by Mother Swinton. Or
Christmas day, 1855 he was called in e
attend a child, which was very sick anC
died on Jan. 4 following. He was given Z,
understand that 1t was Mrs. MAnn's baby
This Is supposed to have been baby No. l.
Crushed Hinder an Avalanche