The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-21
OFF FOR THE SPOOKS.
-,eeIy, Will CASE DEALS WITn
MATERIAL THINGS.

,.,,, Cape, Diamond EarrisEs. and other
,...,. or the Decedent Specifically Inquired
~,,out-They Went TO the HAIRLESS, Like tho
av,p or the Estate-"sinGinE Windham."
v,,ters spiritual cut very little figure in yes.
.,.v's proceedings in the case involving Mrs.
,,.beth Pen4ieton Higgins's will, now being
L.5 before Surrogate Fitzgerald. Barton d.
s-ins Mrs. Higgins's husband, and Will
H., 6 rcndleton, her brother, are trying to
H., the will set aside on the ground that the
...,ri1 was unduly influenced by spirit rap
~, and was not of sound mind. She left her
hand only 5000 OF her 1900, 0o0, the rest
~, TO pr. Edward Eliot Harris. her physi-
n, and his children, and to various chart.
N, Institutions. Most Of the testimony yes
sI,1 had to do with Mrs. HiIKins's condition
lind and her friendship for DR.. harris, and
4, ,irits mad only a brief innings.
Thcv we're introduced by DIR. Asabel H..
r.,h OF lOi East Twenty ninth street. Law
!. Racket for the will took him in land for
denomination, and began about an old
A,,or OF embeEzling United states bonds made
.,ip,t him BY Mrs. Higgins twenty-seven
- ago; but DR.. Heath didn't remember. SO
I. lawyer left material things for spiritual.
sIre you a S~piritualist, Doctori" asked the
,,rsr. looking critically at the witness, as II
!. ,,pec,ed TO end evidence on the subject in
4, rather pale and wrinkled face and mild
N. shielded by eyeglasses.
syss | am q spiritualist," said the doctor.
4ssn one for o long time"
ySs witness reached up and explored tho out
u. AZ bis head. found two or three surviving
y there s car %eb bnem for a neas eSse fit,S Year.
=. rye considered myself O Spiritualist sinco
Sec,I Not any sect in particular. Just o
Don't you, belong to some organization of
os. no. hold my belief In q private sort of
That's all" said Mr.. Beckett In q voice
rnesuye OF disappointment
Mains most intimate friend. testified that
. Sept, Il, 1ssS, up to SoS. y, The date Of
You know D., HaFrisf' asked Mr.. Hughes.
Td e can on Nh. Higgins at the San
tYe, frequently.
IA, syeFy day; I used ~ 10 leave them alone
3 marked e NJ. Fl" After turning it
IHnd and over several times In so that every
pTUocnk- IVAN hNNo IA - -
+ banded 1t to the witness, asking II abe had
= seen IL before. She identified II as being the
d Ii which Mira Higgins had kept her papers
sShero was this box kepti" asked Lawyer
fghea
30 you Know what was In itf'
Important papers. Q gold chain. and two
y Of old !swelry."
What happened to the box when d.. Har.
hdum where he livedl'
d. Harris asked me for paper to wrap 4,
BE said he was going to take it to the sani-
Esun for her"
I'D be take 1T"
30 must have, because It was not In the
III at the tine OF Mrs. HigKins's death"
Was there other jewelry belonging to Mrs.
lfs; a small box kept in Q closet"
Did you ind that after Mira. Higgins
80; IT wasn't there"
What iewelry did Mrs Higgins have on her
Ol at the tne she diedi"
a pair OF diamond earrings in her ears"
What became OF them after her deathf',
Two hours after the nurse in charge handed
What did You do with themr"
.s.ve them to DR.. Harris. because he asked
csEs the other side objected on the ground
n Tie evidence was not material.
We want to show" said Mr.. Hughes, that
D kneficiaries OF tho will began collecting
ain Q few hours OF the death Of the testa-
D. objection being overruled, MI. Hughes
Ma Higgins had o sealskin cape, d1dn't
Te. Mrs. Harris asked for that at the San
no four days after Mrs. Higgtns's death.
III gave II TO her"
yat several letters written by Mrs. Higgins
I'm. Stevens were produced, identified, and
md as evidence. The letters mentioned
3 HAris in terms OF fond friend ship. One of
h. written Sept. 1, 1895. said that the writ
Ms. Higgins intended returning from Oak
"a. where abe had been s,aytnG. and would
On her way, singing Windham." After
y letters were disposed Of Lawyer Beckett
ID the witness about various trips she and
Higgins had taken together in 1896. ask.
No each case:
Did you consider Mrs. Higgins rational at
= tinef' to which the witness replied in the
4hnAiye each time. Mrs. Stevens was on
Iand when the case was adjourned until