New-York tribune., 1891-05-02
FOR A DEAD MANS MILLIONS.
Is HIS WIDOW IN AN INSANE ASYLUM?
CLAIMANTS FOR THE ESTATE OF W. A.
wEIcHERs. A SUGAR REFINER.

CLAIMANTS FOR THE ESTATE OF W. A.
wEIcHERs, SUGAR REFINER.
The contest over the millions left by william Alfred
Weichers. the wealthy sugar refner. who died on
December ID. 1883, took sharp turn In proceeding
brought In the supreme Court yesterday Mr. Weichers
left an estate valued at 81 100000, which he De-
qucathed to his brothers and sisters, all Of whom 1.-Two
in Europe. The fact is brought to light mat IN
all probability NJ. Welchers left widow ana
son. who were not mentioned In his will. and Nho VIII
contest the validity of that document he Widow IS
now confined in tho Trenton Insane Asylum at Tren-
ton. y. j. under the name of Isabella Jennings, or
Isabella Hayes. and the Is living in Philadelphia
under the name Of Charles A. Covert.
After Mr.. Weichers died, in 1885. a. will was dis
covered. dated April 7. 1874 in which the testator
directed that all his property be converted into cash
and distributed equally among his brothers and sisters
then living and the children Of those who had died
The executors named in the viii were Franz o.
Matthessen and Henry r. Kunhardt-
The will was admitted to probste in this county on
Fe nary o. 1882 and the executors proceeded to sell
the property preparatory to distributing it among the
legatees When the executors had sold all the prop
erty they had over 81 100000 in cash in their hands
Just as the proceedings had reached this stage, they
found among Mr.. Wecherss private papers documents
which showed that alleged wife OF his had begun
suit for limited divorce against Mr. Weichers in teD
ruary 1856, and that the divorce suit had been sub
woman who lad begun the divorce suit was then IN
the Trenton Insane Asylum being known as Isabella
Jennings or Hayes There was young man, too. aged
seventeen living in Philadelphia, known as Charles A.
Covert who il was alleged, was son ol the tesAtW
by the woman in the Trenton asylum.
Another claimant to a share of the property also
appeared in the person Of David Henderson, IL was
learned by the executors that Mr.. WelcherS hao I'll"
doubtedly marjed Abbie T.. Wechers. and that before
IA naVid
former husband. The executors discovered that Ny.
Wechers had been the guardian of Henderson, but
they declare that he never adopted him as SON. In
view OF all these possible claimants to the properly
the executors thought 1t best to have judicial deter
mination of the rights Of all the parties before teS
distributed the money in their hards so they brought
suit for that purpose naming all the heirs ana possible
claimants as defendants. Mr. Weichers's brothers anu
sisters named as defendants George f. WeicherS
Carl Yechers Elizabeth II. d. Lasseu, Marie Emile
Reutlr and Selma Elizabeth KRISTEN.
Middleton 5. Burrll appointed guardian al
litcm of the Jennings and her alleged SON. III
December last Gherardl Davis appointed as
referee to determine the rights OF the parties At
that time Mr. Burrill says he had little or no infor-
nation concerning the rights Of his wards, ana ne
applied for and received order for an open com
mission to find out if there was any evidence 10 De
obtained by which he could maintain the alleged
widows claim to her dowerr ght in the large estate
This commission he says exceedingly fruitful and
he has secured great deal of evidence showing that
Mr. Weichers and the woman I'm the insane asylum 'e
for long time together and wife. lie learned
that soon after she began the suit for limited dl-
vorce lunacy proceedings begun against her ana
She was placed in BlOOmngdalc Asylum, on FEBRUARY
16, 1886. Two days afterward she was transferred
to the Middletown Insane Asylum, where she re-
mained until March 21 1888, when she was taken 10
Trenton, where she still remains. How or why she
was transferred from state to another he does not
know but he believes from the fact that the divorce
suit discontinued after she had become luhatc,
this fact will have strong bearing on the case lie mas
great many witnesses he says VINO have testlhed that
Wtdchers and his alleged widow did live together as
man and wife for many years. Friends VINO vlslteu
them and remained at their home for several weeks t
time have testified that Mr.. Welcers represented 70
every one that the now In the asylum was ms
wife He also had lingering with the following IN
scrlptioD on the inside: april Z, 1877. W. to D."
In The divorce suit this was the date on whlch the
plaintiff alleged that she married TO Mr. Mechers
The jeweller has been discovered who MADE thls ring
according 10 the orders of Mr.. WtI,Ilers
In view of these recent discoveries Mr. Burrlil maze
a motion before Judge OBHen, in the supreme Court
chambers Yesterday for order staying the proceed
ings before the referee and for the framing OF issues
for trial before Jury TO determine the question OF
whether or not the woman is really the widow OF Mr.
Wechers Mertin & smith appeared for tie executors
I'm opposition to that motion and argued tat IL vas toy
late to take such steps now. Decision was reserved
upon that motion.