Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-10-13
A GREAT WILL CASE.
The Most Important Ever Heard Be-
fore the New Jersey Courts.

" "OOustOcA 10 Live win an Adj
venturess---A Son Makes n Fortune
for Himself and Returns to Vindicate
His Mothers Good Name.
The final arguments in the most import
ant will case that has ever been before the
courts of New Jersey will be heard in
chancery in the term that opens in few
days. The will is that of the late Heze-
kiah b. Smith, congressman from the sec
ond district of New Jersey, subsequently
state senator, and a wealthy manufacturer
at Smithville. Mr.. Smith was born in
Woodstock, this state, and at an early age
developed mechanical ingenuity. He learn
ed the carpenters trade and later became
nlachinist. He had a small factory in
Woodstock and controlled several valuable
patents. When a young man Mr.. Smith
elOped from Woodstock with Evelne Yer
ona English, daughter of farmer, and
they were married in Boston. They re-
turned to Woodstock and pursued the even
tenor of their way for number of years.
-Four children were born to them. Wood
stock did not offer good advantages for
Mr. Smiths business, and when about 40
years old he selected Lowell Mass, as the
field of his operations. The oldest son.
Elton, entered his fathers office at Lowell
ter and two younger sons should stay in
Woodstock until the Lowell business was
on good footing. In Lowell the son FL
ton was presented by his father to a charm
ing girl of IS, Agnes Gilkerson, who was
then attending school. She acted out of
school as Mr.. Smiths amanuensis, and
was often seen riding or at the theatre with
him. After finishing her school course at
Lowell Miss Gilkerson was sent by Mr.
Smith to Philadelphia, where she gradu-
ated from medical college When Smith
first went to Lowell he wrote regularly
each week to his wife at Woodstock and
sent her money; but these letters grew
less and less frequent, their tone changed
to that of GOODNESS, and finally they ceased
altogether. Miss Glkerson returned to
Lowell IRON Philadelphia and established
an office as practicing physician, but on
| account of her relations with her guardian
she received the cut from her former COM
| panions. The result was that Mr.. Smith
and his paramour sought pastures green
aud he bought an old brick building at
Sherveville, N. j., which had been used
as a cotton mill. Smith moved his manu-
featuring business there, formed stock
company which he controlled, and the
name of the village was changed to Smith
vile. An old mansion was fitted up for
the abode of Smith and Miss Gilkerson.
From time to time the mansion was added
to until now it is one of the strangest of
architectural freaks. Around the grounds
is a massive wall of brick some eight feet
in height, surmounted by coping and a
double row of massive iron spikes. Ad-
mission to the grounds is gained through
gate of iron, and iron statues of Indians
aiming their arrows and flourishing their
tomahawks, and of illustrious patriots, are
scattered about the grounds. Adjoining
the main mansion is an annex, which con-
tains bowling alley, bar room, poker
room, immense dining room, and a con-
servatory which looks out upon deer park.
1t was in this annex that Mr.. Smith and
his political associates held high carnival
After time the friends of Miss Gilkerson
in Lowell received cards announcing her
marriage to Mr.. Smith. Smith prospered
financially, grew FESTIVE for political hon
ors, and became a candidate or Congress.
After being once defeated he was elected.
The story of how he had deserted his wife
and children in Vermont came out as po-
litical scandal. After his election to Con
gress came Miss Gilkerson's time of tri-
umph in social display at Washington and
in the position which she had gained in
New Jersey.
When Smith made his last visit to his
wife at Woodstock, while he was yet at
Lowell, he asked her if she had saved the
letters he sent her as carefully as he had
preserved hers. At his request she brought
out these letters from an old trunk for him
to read. When she reGntered the room
he was burning them. She remon-
strated, and he said they were nothing but
old letters and could do nobody good.
When in Woodstock at this time Mr.. Smith
had deed of the house in which the fam
lily lived drawn in Mrs. Smiths maiden
name. He also placed 5000 in the local
bank to her credit in this name. On re-
turning to Lowell he told friend that he
had fixed it so that she must renounce his
name by signing her own, but the officers
of the bank, suspecting his real motive
and plying her forlorn condition, took the
responsibility to hand her the money with
out requiring a check. During all the
long years that Mrs. Smith was obliged tC
care for herself and family she worked as
a taioress at Woodstock, until her second
son became old enough to be of service Il
her. The third son had died
) Elton, the oldest son, went with his
father to Smithville, and lived there unit
he was 20 years old. He detested Agnes
Gilkerson and she despised him. One day
he addressed Mr.. Smith as father. Thi
aroused the ire of Miss Glkerson who wa!
present and she cried, "Why do you cal
| him father? He is not your father" Ell
ton then told his father that the woman
stated what was false or he (EltOn) had NJ
right to be there. He then demanded one,
for all to know whether Mr.. Smith was hi
father. Mr.. Smith, not daring to offend
Miss Gilkerson, then replied that he diC
not know whether there was positive proc
of his marriage to EltOn's mother, anC
could not say whether Elton was his son
That night the young man packed hi
: goods, and without saying a word 0
farewell left Smithville, became sailor
and travelled around the world. Will
ashore at Savannah, Ga, he became
roustabout and worked lading the vessel
with cotton. He was soon made foreman
of the roustabouts, and on the death o
his employer succeeded to the business
His record has been one of uninterrupte'
success. He is now one of the leading cit
liens of Savannah and the lghterage bust
ness of that city is largely In his hand:
His fortune at the present time exceed
that of his father at the time of his death
But to return to Smithville Miss Gil
kerson, for she was never married to Smith
III