New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
A CONVICTS STORY RIDICULED.

SCHEME OF EDWIN sToDDARD TO SECURE HIS
RELEASE FROM TRENTON PENITENTIARY.
Rutte Mont Nav ia stir has been created
among the heirs the Davis estate by the receipt
of letter from the American Tract Society OF
New-York. incosng another letter from Edwin
Stoddard, an inmate OF the Trenton On. Jo Peri-
tentary Stoddard says he has positive knowledge
OF the existence OF a will made by A. j. Davis. by
which the American Tract Society American Bible
Society and American Board Of Foreign Missions
were each beaueathed $4,000. and by which $1,000
600 set aside for a university In Butte Stod-
dards knowledge he says comes from the fact
time for the purpose OF forging another will at the
instance of some of the egatees mentioned IN 1T IT
scheme for forgery however. not completed
when he sent to the Penitentiary; and he only
probated. He says the will was executed In 1889
and Is still In existence.
Trenton, N. j.. May l9-The Rev. DR.. George L.
Shearer. secretary of the American Tract Society
OF New-York. to-day visited the New-Jersey State
prison to corroborate the story Of the convict,
Edward Stoddard, to the Davis will. He is
satisfied that there is nothing I'm the story, and
the prison officials rdicue It, They add that
Stoddard has made practice OF sending out state
ments Of this kind. and three months ago Issued
one about the Davis will in which he said that
persons other than those he now names were the
benenciaries. The story then run down and
found to be hpselels. All that Mr.. Shearer could
learn from Stoddard to-day was that he knew
where the will Is. but he would not divuge his
knowledge and the belief is that he seeks 10 get
the Tract Society interested in the matter so that
ne NAV gain his freedom He still has four years
70 serve of ten years term for forgery OF a
teegraphic money order in Hudson County. He
has served terms in the Illinois, Connecticut and
Tennessee penitentaries and according TO his
own story was in Jail In Tennessee at the time the
Davis will was brought to him or was In his pos
sassIon II IS a matter of history that the forged
uriI of Davis was presented for probate. but
nrnved a forgery and the property went 10 the
beirs-at-law Stoddard operated years ago with a
gang OF Western forgers. and was mixed up with
The Adah Richmond contest OF John b. Stetson's
will ,., ,,,soro ,ho nan, ,u l.,
and first offered to produce the will for about $500
no0 Ue did not profess any knowledge or the
Davis will until all rle lawyers interested In the
S,atson will case dropped him as fabricator. He
1rst Informed Adah Richmond that he knew OF
,nissin1 will of Stetson which would establish her
dnwer right Adah Richmond and her lawyers
spent several days with Stoddard and then dropped
Stetson and her lawyers soon dropped It, Then he
beean writing to the Davis heirs. and one Of the
keepers saws he has another Will case to follow
when this peters out. After saying tonight that
he would sell for $1,000 the story OF how the will
wos made and secreted he told the representative
~ Colonel Robert c. lngersoll. who represents
Henry A Root a nephew who was shut out by the
forged WILL that the true Will came into the pos
session OF a woman with whom he has secret rela-
she became infatuated. and he In turn gave II TO
har Unn