Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-10
SPIRITS In LAW SUIT
Bel iefS of a Millionaire TobaccOniSt
Touched Up in Court.
He OFTEN SAW HIS DEAD CHILD.
One Of bis Companions Tells How 1t Used
to Affect Him.
EFFORT TO BREAK A RICH MANS WILL


ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
NEW YORK. Dec 9-The belief of John
Anderson. the millionaire tobacconist, in
spiritual manifestations was a subject of
INQUIRY today in the action of his daughter,
Mrs Laura V. Appleton, to recover a fifth
interest in the site Of the Plaza Hotel, which
was part of his estate.
1t recalled the action of Mrs. Mary Maud
Watson. a grandchild Of the deceased,
which was tried in 1887. and in which SINH
lar evidence was adduced. Mrs. Watson
also sued TO recover fifth interest in the
same property, and recovered judgment, by
which the will of Mr.. Anderson was de-
clared invalid. She settled for $780, 200,
paid by John Charles Anderson, who by the
will obtained the bulk Of the estate.
When the defense offered the will of John
Anderson in evidence TODAY, TO show thai
the site was willed to John Charles Ander-
son, the plaintiffs counsel objected, arguing
that the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. the present owner Of the property.
had bought subject to her claim, and had
used this cloud upon the tide to prevent
other bids at the sale in foreclosure at
which the company had bought the prop
ertv for S925. .0G0. whereas ii was worth
81, 200, 900. Justice Patterson, however,
admitted the Will.
Objections Paic for With Hard Cash.
William G. Choate, who had been
guardian of the Crandchild, Amanda
Bryant, testified in rebuttal that he and
Charles II. Glover, guardian for Agnes
Bryant, had filed objections 20 the probate
of the will of Anderson which was presented
L
tIons had been withdrawn on payment of
SlS0,0o0 by John Charles Anderson. He
said Mrs. Kate Connor. VINO had lived with
Anderson, relinquished any claim to his
estate. Mrs. Appleton had received the
income OF $4,000 under the will from 1881
10 1885,
Felix 1IcCIoskev, OF BROOKLYN, who had
also been a witness in the suit of Mrs Wat
son. testified that he had been Anderson's
companion and real. estate agent, at a sal
arv OF 50. 500 wear. He had known An
derson from ~. but was not employed by
him until 1866. Anderson was then living
AT his residence on Fifth avenue. They
were going down to TottenyilIe, S. l.. one
day in 1869, when Anderson recounted the
story Of his life. He said he was born in
1872, and had worked at several occupa-
tons, including that of mason and brick
LAYER for a Mr.. Pritchard, who, after the
great fire Of 1888, gave him money to start a
cigar stand on Wall street, near Broadway.
When asked about the conversation he
had with Mr.. Anderson at the Astor House.
in 1863, the witness said he could not
describe 1t while women were in the court
room. Mrs. Appleton went cut into the |
corridor
lie Often Saw rIis Dead Son.
Mr.. NcCloskey then said that Anderson |
tod him he had picked his wife up in the |
street in 1885. The bov Little Willie |
had died, Anderson told witness through |
his mothers neglect, when she was drunk, |
IN permitting him to leave sick bed
The witness was not permitted to testify
concerning the effect Of the murder of Nav
Rogers on Mrs. Anderson's mind. Ander-
son frequently told the witness that he saw
Little Willie" He pointed to an empty
bench IN Battery Park on one occasion and
said Willie was there. When leaving the
Star Theater one night in 1870 they passed
a little girl, and Anderson said: ''There,
do vou see him?''
Nh Anderson went up to inspect some
lots in Forthwith street. with the idea of
them. in 1869, but turned back,
telling the witness: 81 have thieves. MUIR
derers and va~abonds vino will get all
have, and I'll Jump into the river He said
that if he lost the divorce suit he had
brought against his wife he would blow out
his brains.
Mr.. Anderson had made q Will in 1870, by
which about Sl.GO0,OO0 was to go to Mrs |
Appleton. The case is still on.