The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
N / KING II YOUNG.
BANCKER's AND SuEIMzN,s TEs-
TIMONT IN MRS. R0SS' CASE.

one Wns Wing-s Friend In China In the Early
,a0e. and the other was % Ceunssi In the
PrsceeainEs ut the Tiuse That the Mil
nsnsire Wss seat to an insane Asylum.
The testimony Of James A. Bancker. aged II,
and that OF Benjamin d. Silliman, aged 90,
taken before Charles W. Bennett as referee, to
be used In the suit brought By William D. King
and others against Mrs. Eugenia A. Webster
Ross to establish the riGhtful heirs OF William
Henry King. who died in the Butler Hospital,
Providence, R l.. several months ago, and to
prevent Mrs. Ross from receiving any share in
his fortune, has been hled with the Supreme
Court. The evidence taken Is to be used in be-
half OF the plaintiffs. Mr.. Kings fortune is
estimated at almost $40, 600, 900. He had been
an inmate OF insane asylums for about thirty
yeara. Mrs. Ross contends that she Is his niece
and only heir. The plaintiffs insist that she Is
not related to him and thai they are his only
heirs.
Mr.. Bancker first met William Henry King.
when he wasa young man, in the spring OF 1912
in Canton, China. They became close friends,
and often travelled together. Mr.. Bancker, who
had Just attained his majority. was a member Of
the firm Of olyphant s. Co. Mr.. King was en-
ployed in the firm OF Russell & Co.. OF which his
brother Edward was a partner. Edward retired
from the arm in 1874. having acquired a for.
tune, and William II. became n member OF the
firm. and continued in the business until 1850,
when he came to this country. Mr.. Banckcr had
left China about q year before. He testified that
while William II. King was there a regatta
was held in which he had entered
q 2o-foot boat. He engaged young King
to sail it, as he knew he had been
brought up on the waters about Newport. with
the result that he won the prize. a $3.50 silver
pitcher. The race was won In the presence OF a
punbar If AD,eri,apa than liy;p, IN ra,,a,
Mr.. Bancker testified that King became i'll with
a fever while In China, and his hair. which was
straight, fell out. and as it grew in became curly.
This was often a LAUGHING matter with him, and
! asked him Il he used anythinE to- curl II. 1t M i
Bancker testified that after they both returned
to this country their relationship continued.
Mr.. King was engaged 20 be married TO a lady OF
Troy, and went there TO larry her.
Q.-When he came back had he married the
lady. A.-So; the wedding had been stopped
owing to his condition.
1t was not long after this that Mr.. King was
sent TO the Mclean Asylum. near Boston and
later to the Butler Hospital. Providence, where
he died. The witness testified that some time
ago Mrs. Ross called upon him to enlist his SYM
pathies in tehalf OF Mr.. King. who she declared
was not being properly treated.
you would assist her or testify in her favor:
A.-She said it would be very ungrateful II l
did not assist my friend. She also said to me:
MIR. Banckcr, you have only one sister. She
is older than you and she may die and l. ave you
alone. l Will be 10 you everything you can
wish" That was a pretty. strong lnducement.
I thanked her for her Kindness. but said
hoped TO be able to take care o! myself.
He testified that he never heard any question
raised as to the identity OF Mr.. King until sew
eral years ago.
Mr.. Silliman, who has been practising law in
this city since 1929, testified thai he knew the
! entire King family, because DR.. David King, a
brother OF William H, was his fathers family
business for William II. and his brother Ed.
ward. He appeared. together with former
Chief Judge Green of Rhode Island. as counsel in
the proceedings in which William II. King was
adjudged insane, which were held before Chief
! Judge Bradley. who was n classmate at college
OF Mr.. King. He testified that Mrs. Ross had
called upon him several times within the last
five or six years and questioned him with
respect TO many matters pertaining 10 Mr.. King.
but he refused to answer her questions when he
became convinced that there must be some pur-
pose in them which was not revealed.
A number OF letters were introduced in evil
dence which were written by William II. King
TO his relatives here while he resided in Canton,
China. In them he writes Of the fortune made
by his brother Edward in China, and tells his
sister that she and her mother will be able to
I live in a cottage in Newport and have q car
riage and six" One OF the letters contains the
following:
Mother gives advice on religion. and quotes
any quantity OF the Bible to illustrate her re-
marks. l observe that these paragraphs from
the Bible are not exclusively for my benefit, rs
Edwards letters generally top OF with the
Bible. l am sorry TO say, however, that I can
not perceive they produce the desired effect. for
Edward will indulge in an oath now and then.
He is not quite equal to David in that respect.
but IL you have the swearers prayer handy it
might be well TO send it 20 him