New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-14
NO PROOF AS TO HER FATE.
MISS ANNIE TAYLOR MoRGAN's WILL
CONTEST BEGUN IN COURT

viii contest which recalls all the horrors of the
Windsor Hotel fire begun before Surrogate
Thomas yesterday. The document under contest
is that of Annie Taylor Morgan a daughter OF the
late Homer Morgan. who many years ago was
of the best known real estate men In the city.
Upon his death he left big fortune to be divided
between his two daughters Annie Taylor Morgan
and the present Mrs. Alma Louise Fellows.
Miss Morgan lived at the Windsor Hotel few
moments before the fire 1t is asserted that she told
several friends that she going to
some friends, and would return to the hotel In q
short time. That is the last OF her. 1t is
generally supposed that she returned to the hotel
and persisted in the fire.
About month after the disaster, on April 10, a
will of Miss Morgan's was filed for probate in the
Surrogates office. and Hattie Leland the daugh-
ter of the late Warren Leland. the proprietor of
the Windsor, asked for the appointment OF a
special guardian for Ina Leland Smith Under the
terms OF the will filed Miss Smith, who is twelve
years old, inherts almost the entire estate left
| by Miss Morgan. valued at $4,000 The will d.
reefs that Hattie Leland hold the estate in trust
for Ina Leland Smith until she shall arrive at her
majority. when she is to receive the principal
The contest to the probate of the will is brought
by Mrs. Fellows, the sister OF the testatrix. She
asserts that proof has ever been adduced of
the death of Miss Morgan. and that she does not
believe that her sister persisted In the fire Mrs
Fellows also asks to have the will set aside
| the other grounds Mrs. Fellows says that
her sister frequently went away without tell
Miss Morgan was a fine musician. and frequently
visited the musical centres of Europe.
James S. Greaves. Miss Morgan's attorney iden-
titled the will.
Where did Miss Morgan live?" was asked.
At the Windsor Hotel"
Have you seen heard from her since the
hre?"
NO have not"
Mr. Greaves said that about the time of the fire
ne had important business hand in the interest
of Miss Morgan, but she had never called TO see
about It, Asked what the business was, Mr..
Greaves replied that Miss Morgan owned a piece
OF property in Nineteenth-st.. which mort
gagged for $4,000. Miss Morgan, he said wanted the
rate OF interest reduced from per cent per annum
Mr. Greaves said that Miss Morgan '-ne7 that the
matter was to be settled about April = ~ that she
Mr. Greaves also admitted that he had !; ~ ad-
vertised for the missing woman, nor had he visited
or inquired at any of the institutions asylums
for her. that he did not inquire at any Of the other
seen MI Leland at the Hotel G Gfenob 6 after the
fire r and asked Hei, him if he had seen Miss Morgan
reply.
Simeon Leland testified that he was on duty at
the desk Of the Windsor on the day of the fire: He
said that between 2:15 and 2:30 o'clock Miss Nor
the a he $40! sqF Of sf M sS ha
was 3;QS o'clock when man rushed into the office
The witness said that Miss Morgan lived on the
the said leland Io but S
to eide Identify them They make seventeen graves in
se are fbs buried there who
surprise.
oh that I can't say" replied Mr.. Leland sadly
1T was impossible to tell just how many people
there were. There are seventeen graves, though"
Clara McKenna, a hairdresser. testified that on
the day of the fire she dressed Miss Morgan's hair
and finished about 100 O'Clock. She said Miss
Morgan told her she intended to leave the hotel
and take apartments at Fourth-ave and Eigh-
teenth-st. Miss McKenna said that previous to the
flre she used to attend Miss Morgan almost daily,
but since the fire she had not seen her.
A number of witnesses corroborated the testimony
as to Miss Morsan's presence in the hotel a short
Miss Morgan since.
Miss Morgan's real estate agent testified that she
mad never been to get the rents of her property
since March IT, the day of the fire. A clerk of the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company testified that
the last money Miss Morgan drew was the SO
check c5shed by the hotel clerk Just before the fire
DIT Walter Carr told of having searched in the
VARIOUS hospitals and the Morgue unsuccessfully
testatrix, also told of having searched for Miss
Morgan after the fire, but he could find no trace of
her Mr. Bell said Miss Morgan and her sister had
hoI oeen friendly for several years
The trial will be continued to-day