Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-18
BISHOP AMES' WILL.
A Contest in Court to Set 1t Aside, Four.
teen Years After His Death

BALTIMORE, Mp. May ll.-Blshop Ed.
ward K Ames Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church died n Years ago last month. lie
hhd married twice and his second wife
survived him; three children also sur.
viyed, Mrs. William j. Hiss Miss Laura
Ames and Captain Edward r. Aines. car.
tam Ames while in the army received a
sun stroke, from which his mind was i'm.
paired, and afterwards confined i'll an in
sane asylum, where he died. He left a
daughter, Emma l.. a. Anes, who is now
Mrs. otto u. Weik.
Bishop Ames few weeks before he OK
PRED, or on April 7th, 1879, executed a
wlll. 10 his wife he left ali annual income
OF 5000 out Of his estate, the home prop
erty OH which taxes, water and gas bills
were to be paid. This was left to her dur
ing her HE 10 his daughter, Laura, AN
invalid, an income Of $3.50 a wear was left
and room in the house with his witedur-
ing her life The residue of the estate was
lett to his daughter, Mrs. William i, Hiss.
captain AInes was not mentioned in the
wlIl, nor was his granddaughter, Emma
J.. A. Ames, provided for.
cOveat was filed to the will few
months ago by his granddaughter Mrs
otto Is. Weeks. In the petition to have
the VIII set aside, 1t is claimed that the
time ut the execution of the will her
grandfather was unduly Influenced, and
that the bishops mind was enfeeDlcd and
that he was incapable Of making will.
~ inc common pleas court yesterday the
case OF Emma l., Weik by her husband,
otto i; Weik, against William ]. Hiss and
Anna Hiss was called.
The litigation is to have Bishop Ames'
Will set aside. Ex-Governor William
Pinkney Whyte and Albert j. Carr arc
counsel for the plaintiff, while Thomas l..
Lanahan and BERNARD Carter represent the
defendants. All the morning session was
consumed IN hearing the opening state.
lnonts Of counsel. Governor WHITE re,
cited history of Bishop Amcs ana his
family. lie referred to the cnfrcblcd con.
ultlon Of the bishop short time before
MS death, when the will was made and
pointed out the law in regard To the
validity of wills made By persons sun
posed to be in feeble health and mind. lie
described the tilial affection between the
Dlshop and his granddaughter who was
then but IL years Of age. Her mother, lie
stated, had died when she was born and
her father was an inmate OF an insane
asylum. Her youth, lack Of means. he
gave aSIthe reasons why there ;had been a
lapse, of IA years before the will was CON
tested
Mr.. Lanahan in his opening statement
for the defence said II felt some curiosity
tokhow on whatground theg granddaughter
after The b;shnni. AK 49,. ~ years
still green amnny the rni;,,in,, Nisi'iorg y
this eitv,H II was eiirians in i.oE ~, ~
the counsel, "what wer, ~ ar,,,,ig III, sntu
INDUCED her To make the enri",is 'd ~ ia
that will had besn for"nd i,,,",I , I'ta'F
man TINT WAS moi his wiii y NJ 'ii ~ o"i
then went on m rscte RI.
Bishop Amcs.
ISM liz "r.I,,,,at ~ my ny uii nay -Yth
1877 and H. s5S ,,'.. A, .io, WI gIiaiheu "a
car, H. R,It,n,ar' ru .seu plNn"ir ne
sided t,ntiI III lio,tb 80 mtiSle ne r.
,nn Cantnin ms ,.,,,, - ltt !ils o. ms
had aiyynvs nrl,,iIsS iitar.. CHM " uiSloP
tlnl hetw,.cn H.. 80 ,t atty l9I nm