Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-05
FAYERwEATHeR's MILLIONS.
Interesting Features in the Widows Con-
tot Refnre Snrrnrate Rnnsnrn.

test BciOre surrogate Ransom.
The contest over the will and four codi-
ellis Of Daniel ID. Fayerweather. tho mil
lonare leather merchant who left educa-
tional requests 20 the amount Of S2,lO0,-
goo, was begun on Monday. says the Herald,
before Surrogate Ransom in New York.
The contestants are his widow, Lucy
Fayerweather. who receives yearly in
come of $4,000 and the family residence !;
Lucy J. Beardsley, the wife Of Morris b.
Beardsley, Of Bridgeport, Conn, who is
given 100000. and two nieces, Mary W.
Achter and Emma s. Drury, Of Musca-
tine. Ia, each of whom receives $4,000
The widow was unable 10 be present
yesterday owing 60 illness, but the two
nleces were N attendance.
Executors Justus L. Buikley, Thomas G..
Ritch. and Henry b. Vaughn, who receive
the residue of the large estate under the
fourth codicil. which was signed by Mr..
Faverweather on November 10. 1880, the
day on which he died, We're spectators in
court.
The lawyers who figure in the case are
numerous and include:
"Ex-Judge William IL. Armour and Cen
eral Stewart l.. Woodtord, representing
their partner, Mr.. Ritch, one Of the ex-
ocutors, and John L. Parsons and Henry
StOddaTd. all Of whom seek to sustain the
VIII ana NObltliH@ IIfntIiC II. OOultIl, -.
j. Holden. and eX-SurrOgate Daniel j
Rollins. who appear for the widow and
heirs at law. who contest, and Elihu Root
for Hamilton College; Austin Abbott for
Hampton Institute; Henry StOddard for
Yale College, which receives 100000 :;
Butler. Stillman, and Hubbard for Bow
dom College; ex-Judge Horace Russell
for Dartmouth College; Jerome andNason
for Amherst College; Bangs, Stetson,
e. -
Parsons, Shepard, and Ogden for tho
Maryy1lle and Wabash Colleges Hoadly,
Lautcrbach, and johnson for Mt. Sinai
Hospital Miller. Pockham, aud Dixon for
ST. Luke's Hospital; George q. Reynolds
for Wesleyan University; Scott and Up
son for Adelbert College, Martin W. Cook
for the Rochester University, and Robert
G. TAYLOR for the rector and visitors Of the
Virginia University"
TIE WITNESSES.
The witnesses examined yesterday were
Haley tiske. Bradford w. Hitchcock, and
Charles J.. Foster, who witnessed the exc
cutiou of the will and General Stewart l..
Woodford. who was one Of the witnesses
10 the first codicil. All these witnesses
had testified before PrObate-Clerk Tinney
as TO the proper execution of the will and
cOdicils and Mr.. Fayerweather's ability 20
sign them. Gt the time the widow and heirs
consented that they should 90 to probate
without objection. Their testimony then
given was considered in evidence by the
Surrogate. and the witnesses We're cross
examined 10y ex-Surrogate Rollins and Mr..
COudoTt.
MIR. Foster, who is still in the Office of
Arnoux. Ritcb Il Woodruff, testified that
lust after the viii was executed Mr. Ritch
dashed off this note on piece of letter
paper. which he read aloud, and MIR. tayer-
weather read il and then signed it:
INV York, October 6, 1884.
This certifies that / have executed my
will of this date, having been advised by
my counsel of the provisions and re-
strictons of the law of this State relative
10 benevolent corporations. l trust my
heirs VIII permit the provisions OF this my
viii 20 be carried into effect.
DANIEL Is. FAYKRwEATHER."
GENERAL wooDFoRD's TESTIMONY.
General Woodford took the stand and
was cross-examined by ex-Surrogate Rol-
Inns. he having witnessed the execution OF
the first codicil. He had known Mr.. Fayer-
weather about fifteen years, and had an
impression that only few days before he
died he sent TO the Office for the will and
codicils. Mr. Rich had told him so.
80. viii YOU swear that this did not oc-
cur-that Mr. Ritch advised yOu that he
had received a request from Mr.. Fayer-
weather to send him his will; that he only
sent one paper. which did not beneht MT.
Ritch except by making him an executor,
and subsequently Mr.. Rtch told you that
Mr.. Farerweather said that he wanted the
whole papers. even the cOdiclls, and that
Ritch was IL some trepidatlOn about the
natter A. / distinctly swear that MIR.
Ritch never made any communication TO
me accompanied by trepidatiOn. Mir.
R;tch told me that Mr. Fayerweather had
sent for his viii and codiclls and that they
were sent 20 HIM.
80. Will Won swear that what / have
stated did not occur? A. | have no recol-
lection Of II not to my knowledge"
Another new feature elected from Gen
eral Woodford was the fact that two days
before the execution Of the second codlcli
now presented another one was prepared
and executed, but WAS Immediately de-
stroved. in MIR. Fayerweather's presence,
because il did not provide that the execu-
tors should not be required TO furnish
bonds
When questioned further as TO what
knowledge he had as to other papers exc,
cuted by Mr.. Fayerweather, the General
said that the information which be had re-
ceived professionally he did not think he
was bound 20 disclose.
MIR. Ritch suddenly Jumped up and de-
clared: There is nothing in this matter
that wish to conceal. have legal copn-
sci and waive all the responsibility, for
them As ex-Judge Arnoux waived all
obiections General Woodford answered :
II have heard that q will or codicil was
drawn in the Office Of Evarts, Choate ~
Beaman on or about the day of MIR. Fayer-
weather's death, but beyond that i know
nothing of it."
He testified that he had called attention
TO The fact that the rosiduary clause in the
viii might be invalid in view of the large
estate and the large gifts TO corporations.
II advised Mr.. Ritch to get from Mr..
Faverweather a recognition Of the possible
inyalidity Of the Will on account OF TINS
nossible excess Of be0uests so that might
be free from responsibility of advising i'm
properly. Mr. Fayerweather replied that he
would ave any recognition that was neees-
sary. as his wife would never dream OF con-
testing his will