New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-13
CONTESTING L. ~ LONECRAFTS Will.
HIS MOTHER AND TWO SISTERS WILL En-
DEAvOR 70 SHOW THAT HE WAS
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
cor oN-r. KEARNEY
CONTESTIN
COLONEL KEARNEY

There will probably be prolonged and exciting
contest over the VII of Frederick A. Lovecraft'
who committed suicide october last. and LETT
his entire estate valued at about SloC~p to ColoneI
Henry s. Kearney.
The contestants are Mrs. Althea Lovecraft. his
mother and his married sisters, Mrs L. H. Sal
mons Of Rochester. and Mrs. L. a. Chase. OF Nonk-
ers The case WIS set down for hearing yester-
day morning before Surrogate Arnold EX-Surro-
cate Ransom and G. c. Davy. OF Rochester APP
peared for the contestants. and John NJ Bowers
and William y. Cohen for Colonel kearney All
the contestants We're present. After the case was
called ex-Surrosa,e Ransom said that an effort was
being made to settle the matter out Of court. and
with the consent of the opposing counsel a tenn
pOrary adjournment was had for this purpose In
the mean time Nj Ransom declared that there was
no truth In the statement that the estate was left
to Coioney Nearmcy. in trust for May Brooklyn
the actress who committed suicide on February
u last in san Francisco. The efforts to adjust the
case were futile and the hearing was adjourned
to the afternoon session.
on the rcasscnblrg Of the court Surrogate
Ransom moved that thu Will off red for probate b.
rejected. In max ag III s motion. no conceded that
Il prma-faci- case had been made n favor Of
the will being probaied. There denying ;hat
IN form ana substance the requirements OF the
sJt19'rs ElN'AH Ni''SM 10 ~! hnG pee. us coi,
whore Il variety OF points were TO be considered
Thu c:rcumstanc.s ct thc making Of she viii. The
totally dsinhertlng his aged mother and two SIS
t.rs. he claimed. were ample grounds for doubling
the validity of III will As the cas-, stood. II Sc med
quite concus W that the will was The product OF
the mind of Colonel KtaTny and the product OF
undue influence and fraud.
The motion was denied. and thtT George Love
craft. second cousin. was called ,
'Dld hear Mr.. icpvecfait say AWNING
about his mother in connection with his VIII he
asked. ~,
her.
In answer to oth,r questions. the witness sa'd
tliat not long before the death Of MI Lovecrait H.
met him a; SiXth-ave and Thirty-hrs. 81. M
Iovecraft asked if Colonel kearn was tollo"'hE
him. H. said he did not want TO be- tIoupIsu 10y Any
one rs h. was going ssr Mrs. Rice. During IN"
ssly Nr Iov-craf AZ The raceirack frequently. ana
was told 10y him that n was IAN played out -.
Had You noticed any h ne tn matter WIN h''"
the witness was further osk d. ,o,
Il had as carly June preceding Dc rrP"c"
noticed something wrong. ..,,.,,t,,, e. von
about his ailments. ,.., ,,,,, p. va, in feeble
hftsr him. nm' ''''' ''',"'''' -. ,.,,n.s.
contn'Iei at Mr.. I.ovccr1f,s fat. He had occasion
=, q" 70 mem ana Mr. Lovccraf would come into
she me ma, din m e heard wornens voices.
''Do Won know Kat Bancroft
"p. i'' ,Sn ever gee her q, Mr. Lovecrafts fat?
"IIa n;' Colonel Kearn,y a family"
the question was objected TO and the objection
"bid vow ever soc Mr. Tovecraft and Colone!
Eearney i'm a box together at Paimrrs lhehtfr
u have and have seen drinks taken 10 'ht nDDN
There was smell OF whiskev about the ga
In cr"ss.examination by John " Bowers h. SAID
that he was in Mr. LovecraftS employ ABOUT thit"
wears before The lattcr's death. Mr.. lovecraU was
resent M the Serielnber meeting Of 1893 Of the
Coney Island Jockey club. but was IN a ieg 1ISe
s Ssn9T an" We're wa" given TO- Mr. i.ovecraft
And ala this poor. feeble. tottering man examine
the reports?' asked Mr. Bowers .,
"Hn ala no, pay much attention to them. lie
went TO the track an1 back without help never
wrote to NV of his family about MS c9ndi'i0n,
The cross-eXamination Will be resumed at lOS0 a
m. to-day.