The sun., 1897-08-29
TAYLoR'S HIDDEN WILL.
A FAMOUS NEW FORK CASE IN
WHIOH FORp ERY WAS CHARGED.

Contest HrOunht py tuS hTbuuuuuEuttF
hEainst the widow-The Mystery Not solved.
San Francisco has lately been listening to
legal controversy as to whether the Davis Will
was forgery and the telegraph has mado tho
East cognisant Of its details. In 1s71-72 Now
York enjoyed will sensation equal in dramatic
features to the California cause ceitbre, or even
to tho forged will which is the basis OF An
thony Trollope's novel of "Orley Farm"
The New York testator was James B. Taylor.
one OF the most noted OF New Workers in tho
flftics and sixties. In 1870 he died, leaving
widow, granddaughter and a very largo estate
Georgiana Vassar, the granddaughter after her
mother 10 Taylor and her father died in her
infancy, was considered daughter OF the tes-
tator ana was known in his household and to
his friends as Kate Taylor. year before he
died she eoped and married New Highlander
named Henry II. Rowland whom the grand.
father did not favor. and 1t was at her hus
band 3 instance that she contested the will.
Mr.. Taylor was figure in the WhiG and Re-
publican politics OF his period, but without ever
seeking office; and he had much influence dur
ing the Administrations OF Fillmore, Lincoln, and
Grant. and In tho Gubcrnation times OF Cows
Clark, King, and Morgan. lIe was con-
spicuous In the Albany and Washington legisla-
tive Hobbies, md he also became n municipal
power in the lobhies of tho City Hall. lie began
MS lbTGc ub u ulCTCHhHt, anu llNichTcu
1t by skilful spoculations. especially in city rail
ways As Jim Taylor he was widely known.
1t was announced after his death that he had
probably died without n will. Mrs Rowland.
were there will. would be the chief heir to his
estate. and her grandmother would receive
| one-third OF the property. Prior to the year
| 1863 Mr.. and Mrs. Taylor had throughout their
forty years OF very happy life lived in hotels.
Then as II became necessary to introduce their
granddaughter into society, Mr.. Taylor pur-
chased residence at the northwest corner OF
Madison avenue and Forty.tirst street. Soon
after the funeral the widow applied to Surro-
gate Hutchings to appoint special or pro TEN.
administrator. The application was granted.
and the administrator made 1t his first duty TO
D search for will. None was found, and the
search was virtually abandoned. when the spe-
/ cial administrator received an anonymous note
! reading, "IInvc you examined all the books in
| the libraryi" He was about to throw away the
note when Mrs. Taylor prevailed upon him TO
search as suggested He began with the nearest
shelf, and before his examination had extended
far there dropped out of volume OF =" Benton's
Abridgcmcnt OF Congressional Debates a
document which proved to the delight OF both
to be the long sought will.
The will was duly executed and attcsted with
the testator's old friends Edward Wethercll ami
James Jackson as witnesses. and the realty and
, personally were devised to the widow. who was
ma"e eAccu'ttN. th' ki""''.uh"',,
al ""hu''' Vi T"'oo'. ""' ''' ''"'.'' -
s1"'e' 'V' n,o'"'' ~ 80 r-Dp.' Ill,
fio"lanu iieu eon'osv .nu'e ~" ma t ,ne wiz
was iorReu' '"e'ei'. "'t"e'0'' ".'N '"> Aeo'
s'ou's pun 'io ." VI ~, - -,
recognized their signature. but gave circum-
stantial proof OF time place. and incidents OF
execution ms "ouiu seen' 10 ,e"'' "o Jun i
ior IDEAS o' forgery YET SING u'"Fis enough "o
one not even 'he propohen's' seoneu " 'e'ox
nize inc handwriting Oh 'he oou! o' .io VIII
1t bore some resemblance to that OF the testator
p,aa - ~ acoruo,, No. ,hrouahont ,hs
euse vi 'u' uo'o oi'e"- o' W
whole contest, which lasted year before the
or tho dranybtsman or convist. This fact
taken in connection with the queer nhuing ol
the will, emboldened the contestant to con
tinuo tbe f,gbt.
The contestant Of the will produced experts In
handwriting who pronounced the will sisnatur.
to be forgery; lhe,r views Were eoFrooor"se. r'
, by many who had seen Taylor sign his name
Among these was Abraham M van .ecnIen en.s a,s
tlheu'sheu A,oahS i"m''f anu cum auo
, Taylor in lobby operations Luther X Marsh
!, | then in the fulness of his legal fame before
, sle.; sne" ~ .n ,,. 'is,,',.,,a. y, s.as -. wa
,iir'a'oh WIN sp't'tuAisn nau ua"ou 49, ; =,
duced his nepbew George. the present emincn
, S,,..n,a Co., I,.,,o. :, loc,I ,rd n,Ii,ic.
/, supreme ,ourt 'us'iee' W ieE" anu po'''e"
circles; Royal s. Crane OF the bar elder brothe
; of Police Justice Crane; such wcllknown mer
, | ...,. - r,h..,oo ros, ona Io.,oh d E,,oh
chants as on"r'es L. tos. anu rs. oa,.
/ and several bank officers who had paid check
upon the true signature Charles Cooper VIII
a han noon secretarv of n comnanv of which Tay
. hao oeen secretary o' company VI "n''u ia'
lor was President, pointed out with convincin
4 particularly wherein the forger had mistake
a ! a.,,;, ,,oonIi,riti,s ~ nonmonsbin
. certain pe'uii"litie" Vi pe'''"n'"'p'
4 The widow produced strong testimony In SUI
4 | mort OF the will, Ex City Chamberlain A. v
p S,o,, prosid.,, =, ,ho Shoo ord Leather Rapl
s,isd in fnyor 9 III" s,,rnt"rc Ceorr
= testlneI IN tanoT oi rnu sEnasuadiI Ed o",s tnn
% vi ~ ,S ~ oM ~" hor, iurrny wb
" ios1so VI ,'u al Sta,o. MarsiLai i Il Il
haa Geeh HppohteT Snteu Hiuics "arsar nS,anc,
q I'm Uanonisn3f ,ho oSnni1 e. did Stat
I Sna,or Ran Fiaid swbn In crosseyaminntio
Ia Sar rafarcncas tn' T,rinr's - wort as n inbbyis
asr od S 70 ayW sMotnres es hay" vo
oan was ani%a.a "a his nhnSSLs Rirbsrd Mott
Il sbrevd iSwver " In ali teTaiion and assessmer
a suits SaS ssen IA yinr yyrIe a thnusand fine