The evening times., 1895-12-17
LOST zNIu.s. s.0Flaa. ...0iIE
II !tl9I Is Claimed That n! n! Destroyed
the PapelI.
ANOTHER SUIT In EQUITY
The Alleged Natural Daughter of the
Deceased Has Flied Bill, Through
Her Mother. Mrs. Hattie l.. Wood
worth, Praying for u Discovery Of
the Alleged viii In Her Favor.

The contest over DR.. W. T. Okie's estate
under an alleged will made In favor OF a
daughter of Mrs. Hattie l.. Woodwork,
claimed by her to be the natural daughter OF
the testator, DR.. 0kie, has been revived by
proceedings instituted in the equity court
IN behalf of the child, through her next
friend. Mrs. Woodwork.
1t was stated today at the court house by
one we'll Informed as to the line of defense,
that the will referred To as being in the pos
session OF the Washington Loan and Trust
Company, whatever IL may have contained,
was sent for by DR.. Okie short time be-
fore he died, q special messenger perform
ing the errand. When the message was re-
ceived, the company officials were fearful
OF some mistake being made, and declined
to deliver the paper TO the messenger, but
sent II to Dr. Okic by the HANDS OF Ienney
Ross, who mas charge of the vaults. Mr.. Ross
delivered the document and obtIi lined the
testajOr's receipt therefor, which is now
Oh file under the properdate
1t is asserted also that the most careful
search mas been made IN every c2nceyabie
nave been made It's depository, and the
paper has not been seen by anyDody living,
So lar as is known, since 1t was delivered
TO him.
INSTRUMENT WAS DESTROYED.
The defense claims to be able to prove
and VIII do so .at the trial that Dr. Okie
expressed great dissatisfaction with the
provisions OF the will short time prior to
tbe.time he sent tor IL. and this fact, In con
Junction with Others, wlil be used To create
the REASONABLE. presumption that the iuStru'
ment was destroyed by the voluntary act
/ of the trcStator.
II Is also stated to be In the knowledge of
the defendants that Mrs. woodworth has
lived with other men besides DR.. 0kie, and
evidence To that effect AMI that she has been
known 10 make sIniiar claims in other Cases.
IL is claimed, will be- introduced. The
| b..lr al Sn rel p,IiIuODy andiuP TO
show the Impossibility of the relationship
alleged to exist between the testator and
the infant complainant, ana viii also en-
deavor to Show tnat Mrs. Woodwork per-
sistently sought to foist the daughter upon
the testator by various methods. The
heirs VIII be represented In future proceed.
ings, as in the past, by Attorney Waiter Z.
Clephane.
Ine bill in equity was filed by Attorney
e. l.. GIes, III benalf OF Mrs. Woodwortu,
praying the court to establish for the peti-
TONER The will alleged 10 have been made
by Dir. Okie. said TO have been lost. The
provisions of the will In question are said
10 have been favorable to the infant daugh-
ter Of Mrs. Woodworth, known III the pa
pers Gertrude OkIe,S aisl suing as ,ne
natural daughter OF Dr. Okic.
The style of the equity suit Is Gertrude
Okic, by her next friend, Hattie L. Wood
worth VS.. Susan Z. Howard. T., John b.
Frederick W, st. Clair and Grace Il. okie,
and Mary J Snowden, and the bill sets
forth that infant compiaiIa Et is seven years
Of age, and sues as the isifaral daughter OF
William L. Okie; that sne lived with her
Father and mother. prioEto the deeease of
the former, at his farm, acahed Deep Point,
in Charles county, Md. -Ts -.-.s.. ....
WILL IN HER FAVOR.
The further allegation is made that be-
cause Of the soIicitude or her father for her
| welfare he made and executed will in
which he made her the chief beneficiary.
This will is alleged tO. have been ac-
| knowledged in the presence of j Ii. Cas-
| sin, residing at No. 1913 r street north
west; William b. Griffin, residing at No.
4l9 street north west ;. and E. Il. Ntu-
meyer residing at the corner of Fifteenth
| and r streets north west. The Washing
| ton Loan and Trust Company IL is claimed,
| was named as executor .aiid that corpora
| tion retained possession of the instrument
| until it was delivered to the testator Au'
| gust 9, II $50, at his temporary residence,
| No. 1928 N street north west: and the
| complaint expresses the belief that the will
| remained unrevokcd and OF fuil effect, IN
| the possession OF the testator until he died.
| Tue marriage OF DR.. Okie with Susan u.
| Okic is adverted 10, as well as their alleged
domestic infcIicity and separation. and ,ha
| fact that the will was not nd in the safe
| at No 1923 y street northwest isaccouD;ed
| for by the statement hat ii must have been
taken with other private papers TO Pedford
| Springs, Pa, and was Subsequent 10 his Gcatt
| either LOST or wilIfully destroyed.
| The court is asked 10 restrain the heir'
| frornfurtber prOsccutIono OF oftheifproceedlnS
| int hcprubaie court pending the present suit.