Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-28
Probable Joining Of Issues at the
April Term Of Court.
REASON FOR LONG DELAY
Famous Case and How 1t Origi.
mated.
THE MYS STERIOUS WILL

1t Is now reasonably certain that the
contest over the estate of the late Judge
Advocate General Joseph Holt will be tried
at the April term Of the Circuit Court,
probably some time next April or May.
At least Mr.. j. j. Darlington of counsel
for the benefciaries Under the disputed
will SO expressed himself today.
AS will be remembered. Judge Holt died
in this city early in August, 1894, dying,
Il was long supposed intestate. the latter
part Of last August the register Of wills
received through the mail from an un-
known person a paper writing purporting
to be a will Of Judge Holt. The instru-
ment. dated in February, 1873, was signed,
it seemed. by three very distinguished
witnesses-President Grant, Con. w. T..
Sherman and by the latter's wife.
1t appointed Mr.. Luke Devlin of this city
executor OF the estate, and divided the
estate. estimated TO he worth about S150.00O
equally between Miss Lizzie Hynes of Ken
lucky and Miss Josephine Holt Throckmor-
ton Of this city, the former being 4 con-
nection Of the testator by marriage, and
Miss Throckmorton being his godchild, the
daughter Of Major Throckmorton. L. S. A.
The Natural Heirs.
Shortly after Judge Hollis dea:h. no will
being found. the heirs-at-law claimed the
estate, and the court granted letters Of ad-
ministration to local trust company. To
this day. 1t Is claimed, the person sending
the alleged VIII to the register of Wills re-
mains unknown
Mr.. Devlin offered the paper for probate
shortly liter its mysterious receipt, where
upon the feirs- at-law objected, cla:mins z
that the instrument is a forged one. and
that even II it is not, it has been revoked
They therefore notified the other side that
they would contest the matter So matters
nave remained since last fall, counsel for
the benefciaries Under the alleged WILL
Messrs. J. J. Darlington and Blair Lee
having denied the allegations made by
counsel for the heirs-at-law. When that
was done. it was expected that counsel for
the hcirs-at-law, Messrs. Jere NJ. Wilson
ana "A. s. Worthlngton, would quickly make
up the issues to be tried by iury in the
Circuit Court. But. it is explained, tina,
has been impossible up 10 the present time
because OF Their constant engagement in
other cases.
Almost Ready.
Mr. Darlington stated 20 4 Star reporter
tocay, however. that he felt confident that
the issues would now be framed in time
ior submission In the Probate Court next
fllday. The notice of contest filed by the
heiIs-at-law, explained Mr.. Darlington
permitted the framing of about every issue
knoWn 10 The law, and while ne did Of
Oh course definitely know, he imagined
the issues as finally framed would question
tne SenC1nenesS of the signatures Of Judge
Holt and of the three witnesses: ihat they
would alIege undue influence, and would
also aliege that the presumed will had
peeh revoked by subsequent writings or
physlcal acts of the testator. But should
the issues not be submitted next week Mr.
darlington thought they would be shorty
atterWard, SO as % permit a trial of rho
case next April or May.