The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-05
RICHARDSON WILL MAKING
WILL NO. 4 MADE IN 4 BROKERS
OFFICE NO. 2 IN a SICK ROOM.

IN lo8B the Mnlionaire said his win HAD Got
Enough Already TO squnnder-vhcn re
LEFT Her n Third In His Last Will He said,
"Don't Tell Della, she'd Raise n Runpus."
Tho contest over tho tostamentnry papers OF
Joseph Richardson, known as the spite House
millionaire" was opened before Surrogate Fitz-
gerald yesterday by the examination OF the sub.
scribing witnesses to the two wills which have
been offered for probate. Tho contest is be-
tween tho two children, George and Della Rich.
ardson, and tho widow, Emma J. Richardson.
Ono viii propoundcd for probate was made on
Oct. 90. 1894. 1t left the property to the chill
dren. Tho other will, made April "a, 1897,
divided most Of the estate among his widow
and children. Richardson died on juno o.
Objections to tho probate OF tho first viii were
hled by tho widow and objections to the last
win by the children. Wheeler II. Pcckham
represented the children at the trial yesterday
and the widow was represented by Do Lancoy
Nicoll, Darlington G. jenkins, Mayo w. Hazel
tine and w. 4. washburn.
Proof of the execution Of the will Of 1894 was
6rst given. Homer w. Nichols said that when
no signed this will as q witness Richardson was
In good mental and physical health. Nichols
was then,a broker Of the firm Of j. b. Metcalfe
& Co. Tho will Of 1894 was executed in the
Office Of ]. b. Metcalfe g. Co. The firm and its
successor. Bissell & Co.. did a large businers for
Richardson and hi0 children. The children
had deposited money and securities with the
frm in the name Of their father. George Rich.
ardson had many securities with the firm in
his own name. The will was put in an unsealed
envelope. and In 1895 and 1896 1t was carried
daily to and from the Stock Exchange in u tin
box along with securities Of Richardson and
posting checks to tho credit of their father for
fifteen years: a long lit Of tho securities held
Mr.. NicOll. showing that the estate was for
merly, at least, far beyond the estimate of less
thar h aSHe q million on made Mad R y the som {; GeG ,sS; i.
continued the Witness, that no make a codicil
to the will. I reminded him that Mrs. Rich.
avoid any was Chance air%eSe Of ft Trouble aft after or death ead i he had ID
better bequeath her something. To this he re.
S sSe is e e%ntiitiie Sa to. I t Will, ! mot n ave sG any az m aoaS
money to her to squander.'"
was the other Witness to this will. He thought
Richardson was, sound In his mind.
,, Lester td f Gals tss a 1 nqrss omP af ed b 5S.t Rich hih
He was with Richardson every night from April
"a. 1897. until his death, and considered that
he was OF sound mind when the will was made
on April - last, When asked how the last will
for ao %r sh % hiiEss f +. AMRsilh 81 l was h e' dsSs tt to tE &c
house and had a talk with Mr.. Richardson; Mr..
was making his viii, and went up stairs, re.
turning in about twenty minutes with q paper,
M9tsh he AZ gsy Tsa %e; it ! and hHn assad II m to ~ mr re Rich b
. AAS ASANA ~ Sh~ NoA> hS- v " AShd ~
aloud. Mr.. Richardson then signed it." Wit.
ness said Richardson had Numbered over the
signature, writing two RS to begin his last
name. Mr.. Richardson's eyesight was not
good and tho light was bad.
Q.-Was his mental condition normal at the
Q.-And no was under no restrainti A.-Nono
Odd you ever tell Charles or Nathan Cox
that you and others had organized a scheme to
secure justice for a good Christian woman
whose old curmudgeon of o husband was about
to die, and through the chicanery of whose
getting any of the estatel A.-Never.
Q.-Did you ever say that II it was right that
o thing should be done one should never hesi-
tate about the manner q doing III A.-Neyer;
he feared some people would poison hint A.
No, sir, not prior to the execution Of the will.
-Q.-But after the execution of the will A.
.Q.-What did Mr.. Richardson say the day
Don't tell Della anything about it. Shed
come Up here and raise a rumpus' as she has
MI. Gale said that the room was. SO small
that the four witnesses could not gather about
the deceased, but they went forward one at a
time to sign. When Richardson noticed that he
ing a blunder that time
Louise H. Leonard, one of the four witnesses
to the last will, said that Mr.. Richardson was
Of sound mind. She was never in spite
will. but she had previously met Mr.. Richard
son at the Central Park Baptist Church. She
had written out the provisions Of the last will
at the dictation of Mr.. Richardson. She had
Of the Rev Henry NJ. Warren, pastor of the
church, who had asked her to go there as a
witness Of the will Of Mr.; Richardson.
and dh bis R Church hhe gets s u: ,s %SF 5y th sH last $4,000 Siii.
The Case went over to Monday,