Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-04
WANTS Kin.1 : l...--i0H.
Mrs. Ross Alleges That She Is
 Next of Kin.
A LONG LEGAL FIG-T IS BEGUN.

a LuNT LhGAL f1G-I 1S b6GUN. The New Claimants Counsel Would Not Re-
 veal Her Identity In Court-she wm He
 Allowed to Visit the Insane Millionaire.
 The Hearing Continued.
 PROVIDENCE. Dec. 4.-In anticipation of sensational developments in the ceIs- brated King case the appellate division of the supreme court was crowded with rep resentatives of the legal profession. Tho case has been fraught with interest since first 1t became known that Mrs. F. A. Webster Ross had filed an affidavit. which would undoubtedly be read. and that sho laid claim 10 Kings millions on the ground of being next of kin.
 Mrs. Ross was represented by Jero NJ. Wilson. and the proceedings consisted mainly in tLe reading of her affidavit and the address to the court by her counsel. Chief Justice Charles Matteson sat upon the bench as presiding justice. with two associate justices in attendance.
 Tho affidavit Is a long one and is an elaborate history of the case. In 1t Mrs. Ross makes the announcement that the original commitment papers have never been discovered since first they werc placed on record. Among other papers she discovered copies Of a so called lunacy commission filed at divers times and in different places by so called guardians of William H. King. each purporting to be n true copy of an order of commitment by the late Charles T. Bradley, chief jus tice of the supreme court of Rhode Is land, committing W. II. King to the Mo. Lean Insane asylum in Massachusetts on July 3l. 1866. These three copies differ from one another in certain important respects.
 suddenly Vanished.
 She states that she is in no way related to the families of the late Edward or Dr. David King of Newport. and that George Gordon King is seeking to be made guardian of William H. King. claiming to be next of kin.
 She states that William II. King is n man of very large fortune. amounting to more than $l, ,OOu, uC0 'hich hc acquired in his own right. that about July l, 1868, the said William IL king was about to be married in the city of Troy. \. Y, and that about tho same time tho mar riage was to have taken place Edward King, Dr David King and his wife went to Troy and procured control and posses sion of the person of William H. King, and without authority of law removed him to the state of Rhode Island and petition ed to secure his commitment to tho Mo Lean Insane asylum in Massachusetts.
 suo EeIENSeuts LnlI w IT. King. from his first incarceration, has been held under the guardianship of George Gordon King. of Edward King and of David King; that at the time of the appointment of the first pretended guardians W. II. King. in addition to other large property interests. was tho owner of n summer residence in Newport valued at $1j. uO or $lOO, 900; that his legal residence was in the city and state ,F hot I INa, sN cupied the summer residence while w. H. King was incarcerated; that they in cured large expenditures. which were paid for out of w. H. Kings estate, and that valuable property was sold or dispos- ed of at less than its actual cost. She also states that she Is informed and be lieves that George Gordon King is not of kin to w. II. King, nor Is any ono of tho persons who petitioned for his appoint msnt as guardian; that neither of tho guardians who have heretofore held that relation of trust was related to him in any manner whatsoever. and sho says that she Is, as sho believes, the only next of kin to said W. H. King
 Was Not Insane.
 She states that when first incarcerated ". H. King was not insane; that thereto fore he had managed his affairs with sue cess and acquired n large fortune; that he was not dissipating or misusing his es- tate nor likely to bring himself to want; that his present loss of memory, if any, is duo to the natural infirmity of age: that his vision for 2s years had been con fined to tho small compass of the four walls of his room, and if his mind is somewhat narrowed 1t Is but a natural conse Iuencc and cannot he termed insan ity, and whatever other mental in!irmi- ties lie may be now lahoring under, if \, ,E.N ceration in lunatic asylums without com panionship or objects of interest
 In conclusion she states that 1t is of the utmost importance that W. H. King be represented by such guardian nd Iitem or next friend as she herself shall nomI- nate. and that guardianship should be conferred upon herself as next of kin or some person who may be nominated by herself. She therefore prays that the letters of guardianship to George Gordon King be revoked. and that n guardian of her nomination be appointed; that George Gordon King and William r. Sheffield be directed to appear before n magistrate for examination as witnesses.
 Her Identity n Secret.
 Jere M. Wilson. counsel for Mrs. Ross addressed tho court and asked that Mrs Ross be admitted as n party to the pro- ceedings. because she Is next of kin, and George Gordon King and the other peti- tioners are not all of kin.
 In outlining the case further Judge Wilson said he hoped to be able to prove that George Gordon King was not next of kin, but that Mrs, Ross was.
 When asked if he world disclose Mrs Ross identity, her couI sol replied that on his professional hon IT tho case would be prejudiced If her ider tity wero disclos- ed at the present time.
 The court then stated that it would not allow Mrs. Ross to become a party to the proceedings. An appointment of a guard ian nd Item was agreed to, but the court made no such appointment. The court then took a recess, at 10 conclusion of which m order was handed down ap. pointing Jan. ,, 1895 as the day for fur | ther hearing. Tho court also ordered that Mrs. Ross be allowed to make more spe- | cific allegations; that she be allowed to visit William H. King at the Butler asy- lum and have personal interviews with him under the direction of the superin- | tendent and in the presence of no other persons and that amended applications If any. and other papers be in the future | filed in Providence.