The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-08

New York, April S.-Miss Mary a Shori-
dan: who was in the employ of William
lvison, publisher, from the time she was
n girl in her teens, was the principal wit
ness yesterday before Surrogate Arnold
| in the contest over the will Of her late
| employer Mr.. Iyis0n had accumulated
a fortune of almost million dollars at
! the time OF his death, in MAY. He gloatcd
| over the prospect that he was 60 reach the
| goal Of his ambition-to become "A mil
| lionaire-and was often seen hugping and
| kissing his bonds. He died when eighty
years old, in the Hoffman house His
| VIII made little provision for any one. ex-
| cept his nephew David b. Iyson. of
Rutherford, y. j. His brother Edward
Ivison, of California; his nephew. John
{. lvison, and his niece Jane l. Williams,
are contesting the probate of the will,
charging undue influence
Miss Sheridan went into the employ of
Mr. lvison as press feeder. Fifteen years
ago she became his confidential clerk, and
rs such, she testified, she attended To his
business generally. After the death of his
wife, Miss Sheridan went To live nt the
holman House, occupying rooms adjoin-
ing his. She now resides at No. l2l West
Iwcnty-second street. When questioned
as follows about the wealth of Mr.. Ivison,
she seemed to have lost her memory:
Alo'b ybu W lNi gou a liHb Vi Ills DODuSs
A. No, sir.
@. What have you done with it? A. /
don't know.
@. Did You not state that you had a list
of Mr.. Visions property which he re-
quested you 70 makeg A. i do not know.
q. Didn't David b. IyiSon kiss his
uncle whenever he called upon him? A.
Why, no.
q Didn't you on different occasions
tell Mr.. 1visOn that you would leave him
II he did not do things TO please you?
a. Never.
G.. And by making those threats he
would do whatever you asked him to.
"A. No, sir. He did just Us he pleased.
Mrs. Elizabeth Seeley, sister in law
OF Mr.. lvlson, testified that She paid n
visit of several weeks TO him at the Hoff-
man House after the death of his wife.
He always called Miss Sheridan "Mollie." "
q. Did you see any acts of affection
between them? A. Yes
O. What We're they? A. ! saw her
kneeling beside him with her arms
around his neck while he was lying on
the lounge.
Mrs. Seeley testified that Miss Sheridan |
was always affoctionate toward her i'm |
the presence of Mr.. Ivison, but when he |
was not present she told Mrs Seeley that |
she did not like her. When Mr.. Iyison's |
wife died Mrs. Seeley testified Miss |
got most of her good dresses. |
while the ragged ones were given To her. |
She also stated that Mr.. Ivison COM
planned to her that he was being robbed,
but he did not explain how
Joseph Dunlop, n clerk in livery
stable where Mr. 1vison was in the habit
Of going on Sundays, testified that he did
not think the old gentleman was
Mr.. Ivison was bitterly opposed
% bicycles, and told Dunlop that he had
discharged u great many persons who
'ode them He also on one occasion.
asked the witness if he did not know of u
good young man 10 whom he might give
500, 600 or S100 600.
Dunlop said he had a few such friends.
1ut nothing moro was said on the sub
ect. There will be another hearing
,oday.