Evening journal., 1893-07-06
A DISAPPOINTED CROWD
The Hearing of the Harris
Will Case Postponed.
WILL BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER.
Much Interest Is Manifested In the Case
and the Court Room Was Crowded
with People Who Had TO Go Away
with Their Curiosity UnsatIsned.

and the Court Room Was Crowded
with People who Had to Go Away
with Their Curiosity UnsatIsned.
Special Correspondence Evening Journal.
DOVER, July 6.-The all-absorbing
topic among Dover citizens both public
and private Is that Of the will of
Charles Harris, an eccentric old man
who has been in Dover for several years
past, but till only few weeks ago, not
much has been known OF him. There
have appeared in the daily as we'll as
the weekly papers. short accounts Of
the affair, some of which have been
partially true and others wholly false,
but the case is one Of the most interest
ing in the annals of the civic courts In
Delaware.
1t is known that Mr.. Harris has
always been very close and stringent In
his distribution of cash. His will,
which has been filed for a number Of
years, was made out in favor of his
niece Miss McPhail, she being the sole
executrix of the state at his death.
About a month ago however, IL was
changed and made in favor Of Charles
Butler, man Of this town who
has been looking after Harris.
for several years, but not being 30 at
tentive TO him as during the past few
weeks. The last. .codicil TO this will was
made on May 9th, last, In which Butler
was bequeathed $21 ,000 Thomas s.
Clark, "a real estate broker Of this town
s., 900, and further provided that Butler
should be sole executor Of his estate at
the death of his niece, Miss Mcphail
Until the middle Of April, his niece.
Miss McPhail, had received letters from
Harris telling her what to do in case Of
his death She was then living IN
Washington. Upon being informed by
Butler OF Harriss last will, she hurried TO
Dover, and TO her utter Astonishment.
she found that dastardly means were
being used to rob her Of her uncles
estate.
Miss McPhail and her friend, Mrs
Barcus have been In Dover ever since
this notification Mrs BRrcus Is not the
niece OF Mr. Harris as has been stated,
but friend of Miss McPhail aud came
TO Dover with her
The statement that on Monday morn
ing, June l2, Mr. Harris was asked and
forced TO sign paper authorizing Sam
uel w Hall TO 20 TO Philadelphia and
get water bonds 10 the value Of $32. 600
them In one Of the banks here is not
true There was, however, probable
attempt to do such thing from the fact
that Justice Of the Peace John S. Jester
was seen In the hotel on Monday morn
ing, at twenty minutes past 8 o'clock, by
one of the boarders, who spoke TO him
The fact of Jester being In the house
on that morning, at such time, aroused
the suspicions os this boarder He in
formed Miss McPhail and she accordingly
kept a sharp lookout.
Another figure in the case is Thomas
$ Clark, a real estate broker here and
for whom Butler works He went 10
Philadelphia TO call on Miss McPhall, 90
took a letter OF introduction from
| Butler to her. She was somewhat indis
posed that day and did not see Mr.
Clark, but a friend who was visiting her
at the time gave Me- Clark hearing
He told this lady that he Clark, was
satisfied with the will Butler was
satisfied and didn't see why she
shouldn't be satisfied also. He further
said that Mr. Harris wouldn't live more
than three weeks at the longest and that
some amicable settlement ought to be
/, made.
The friend replied that she had seer
Mr.. Harris only the day before his ar
rival and that he seemed TO be in the
best Of spirits for man at the advanced
age of SO years. The question which II
, agitatiDg the citizens here is-why
should Samuel w Hall, a man wortl
nearly half million dollars be meddlini
IN the affair; why should Thomas S
Clark, the real estate broker, be 81
. interestedl The niece and other peopl
agree that Butler ought to have some
I thing for his trouble, but they do no
' think that he should fall in possession
! Of fortune that belongs to rightfu
Z heir, one who has devoted herself 70
e years to her uncle