The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-07
HANDLEY CLAIMANTS
GIVE TESTIMONY
Executors Home From Their Miss lon to
the Green Isle.
THE JUDGE WAS A MUCH BORN MAN
One Party Says EnniscOrthy Was His
Native Place, Another Crowd Of
Of Claimants Fix His Place OF Birth
at ROscOmmOn, His Other Sister
Says il Was Some Other Place Not
Yet Specified,W While the Judge Hin.
self Told During His Life That He
Was Dublin Man.

Hon. Lemuel Amerman and Hon. II.
w. Palmer are home from Ireland.
where they went six weeks ago, in
company with John T. Richards, in the
capacity of executors of the estate of
the late Judge Handley, to be present
at the taking of the depOsitions of the
Handley claimants No. ) of Enniscor-
thy. MIR. Richards, who made the trip
a bridal tour. intends making visit
to the Continent before returning.
They visited a number of different
towns and cities in pursuing their mis-
sion and had sittings of several days
at Wexford, Dublin and Enniscor-
thy. The attorneys for the estate
adduced no direct evidence. but mere
ly cross-examined the witnesses pro-
duced by the attorneys for the claim
ants, Huggard 4 OConnOr. whose local
correspondent is eX-Judge Jessup. Con-
cerning the character of the evidence
brought out. Mr.. Amerman said to a
Tribune reporter yesterday:
The claimants purpOrt to be cousins
of the late judge. They allege that
John Handley was born in Enniscor-
thy. There undoubtedly was a John
Handley born in Enniscorthy, hut they
absolutely failed to show any connec-
tiOn between him and Judge Handiey.
In fact their own testimony was proof
positive that they were two totally
different persons. Their John Hand
ley left Enniscorthy when he was nine
teen years of age and went, they didn't
Know where, but supposed, to America.
They never heard of him after hts de-
parture. Judge Handley's death came
to their ears through the agency of a
that Judge John Hanslley had died in
Scranton leaving millions and without
an heir, they at once recognized in him
their John Handley.
THE ENNISCORTHY JOHN.
I'VE brought out on cross -exarnina.
tion that the Enniscorthy John when
he left there at the age of 10 years was
feet 10 inches in height. Some of the
witnesses thought he was about feet
inches. The judge was 6 feet inches.
When asked as to the color of the lads
hair, the witnesses one and all agreed
that 1t was the color of Mr.. Amerman's.
as they put it. My hair, as you will
notice. Is decidedly brown. while the
late judges was a raven black as all
will remember who knew him before he
became gray.
THE John Handley who left Ennis
corthy was described by his own rela-
tives as q ne'er-do-well, who spent his
time fishing and loafing and who never
did stroke of work in his life. Those
who knew Judge Handley will scarcely
admit that he was identical with the
Enniscorthy lad. The Judges habits
We're as opposed to idleness as any two
things can be opposite to each other.
He was most Industrious and a man
renowned for his close attention to
details"
This was all Mr. Amerman cared to
say about the case. He could give
many more proofs of the fiimsineSs of
the claimants case. bat thought that
the above was sufficient to cover the
news features of it and to satisfy the
people of Scranton who naturally take
such deep interest in the matter.
THEY ARE NOT ACQUAINTED.
There is no connection, Mr.. Amer.
man explained, between these Ennis
corthy claimants and the Roscommon
claimants. one Of whom died in this
city while here last Summer looking
up the estate, and who 1t is said bore
close resemblance to the judge in both
stature and feature. Roscommon Is so
miles west of Dublin and Enniscorthy
is so miles south Of Dublin. The claim
of the Roscommon Handleys and We're
not aware that there were claimants
other than themselves.
Mr.. Amerman says that Judge Hand
ley stated frequently during his life
that Dublin was his birthplace and
always maintained that he had
no relatives. Another claimant who
alleges that she Is sister Of the judge
and who threatens suit disavows all
relationship with either the Roscom-
mon or Enniscorthy Handleys.
Mr.. Amerman says the executors feel
satisfied that all these claims are
groundless and that there will be but
little difficulty in proving them so.