The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-13
Suit in Chancery Over Caro-
line 1. Jones's Money
Reveals z. K. Pang-
born as Legatee.
MILLIONAIRE HILTOH's CLAIM
Administrator Bars Him
From Withdrawing Funds
From the Bank and
Exhibits Will.

/ Exhibits Will.
4 The lawyers said so, and it must be true,
| that the case heard before Vice Chancel-
lor Pitney this morning in Chancery
Chambers. was one of the queerest suits
heard in dogs age, however long that
/ may be. In brief it was: Assemblyman
John A. DENIM, administrator for Caro-
line l.. Jones, sought to restrain William
B. Hilton, Brooklyn millionaire, from
drawing some thousands of dollars from
Jersey City and Brooklyn banks deposited
by Miss Jones. and during the hearing of
Jones, who was not supposed to have
| left any will, actually did so, leaving her
property to Major z. K. Pangborn, for
| merly editor of the "Journal"l
Ex-senator William Brinkerhoff APP
peared for the administrator and in his
bill he set out that Caroline L. Jones was
an uneducated woman, who for thirty
years was a housekeeper in the employ
of w. B. Hilton. Mr.. Hilton lives at No.
80 Tompkins place, Brooklyn, was man
ager of the Sectional Dry Dock Company,
and at present is a member of the Board
of Pilot Commissioners of New York and
| a very welthy man to boot. Miss Jones
saved her earnings and deposited them
in this way:-Provident Institution for
! Savings, Jersey City, $1,965.7s; South
( Brooklyn Savings Institution, s1,H916;
| Dime Savings Bank, Brooklyn, s69S, ard
Fifth Ward Savings Bank, Jersey City,
$SS6.S2, making a total of s4416.27.
/ In January last year she took sick and
Mr.. Hilton had her removed from his
house to st. Peters Hospital in Brooklyn.
4 where she died on February 2. Prior to
that event Hilton had in some way be-
come possessor of the bankbooks, and af-
ter her death he endeavored to draw out
! the money. 1t transpired in the mean
time, however, that her next of kin was
I Thomas Walsh of this city, and there be-
ing no will then known, letters of admin
istration were taken out in Hudson coun-
ty, and Mr.. DENIM was appointed ad-
ministrator, ex-senator Brinkerhoff was
consulted and he promptly stopped Mr.
Hilton drawing out the money by the
present chaneerv suit. alleging that
This man Hilton without any con-
sideration and taking advantage of Miss
sJones'ss ignorance and lack of business
capacity and sickness and knowing she
/ was about to die, secured to himself her
/ savings and thus defrauded her next of
kim
| Mr.. Hilton was the first witness today.
He is man nearly eighty years of age
/ and was visibly agitated when Mr..
Brfinkerhoff took HMM hand:-
How old are you?" asked Mr.. Brinker-
hoff.
+ "old enough to give evidence" was the
snappy reply.
Down came Mr.. Pitney's gavel and a
/ remark that the Answer was improper.
Somewhat shaken up by the reproof the
I millionaire said that Carrie as he
/ termed Miss Jones, was an expert dress
maker. faithful and attentive to the in
terests of himself and family. His wife.
/ he said. had been an invalid for years
and Miss Jones attended to everything in
the house.
"She was three women rolled in one and
ran the whole business said Mr.. Hilton
turning to the Court.
''Ah, indeed observed the Vice Chan
cellor.
| WAS She treated as a servant or friend
of the family?" asked Mr.. Brinkerhoff.
GAS one of us. She travelled with us
when we went into the country and sat
at the same table with US. She had her
own room and when not engaged in do
mestic duties sat in the dining room"
| Mr.. Brinkerhoff's keen questions as to
Miss Jones signature on the transfer of
the money in the bank to Mr.. Hilton con-
siderably ratified the witness, who at first
stated she had used purple ink and sign
ed them at his house. Mr.. Brinkerhoff
produced witness who swore that Miss
Jones couldn't write s<Id the only draft
drawn by her about thirteen years ago
was signed 'x her mark" The signature
on one of the bankbooks showed that the
name &C. L. J.'' was made by a clerk be-
carSe she could neither read nor write
Lawyer Chas. H. Hartshorne represent
ing Mr.. Hilton brought out in his answer
that the money was given by Miss Jones,
because of affection for him. She request
ed him to pay all the expenses of her
illness, funeral expenses and cost of erect
ing a funeral monument and the remain
der of her estate was for his sole benefit.
The answer also said that sometime ago
Miss Jones requested Hilton to transfer
all monies in the banks due her to a joint
account OIL WllIldll b. Hilton ana
Caroline L. Jones" on the understanding
that the monies so credited on the bank
books belonged to the two as joint
tenants and would be ''the absolute prop
erty of the survivor and the survivor to
draw This appeared on the passbook
taken out by Mr. Hilton and which Mr..
Brinkerhoff contended was a fraud.
When Mr.. Brinkerhof had closed his
side Mr.. Hartshorne sprang win pur-
porting to be signed by Miss Jones in 1883
giving her property to Major 2. K. Pang-
born.
sI can't take this said the Vice Chan
ceilor. This case is between the admin
istrator and Mr.. Hilton here. The place
for that is the Orphans or Purogative
Courts. You can there attack the admin
istrator. Proceedr'
Mr.. IIartshorne called Mr.. e. w. Kings
land, of the Provident Institution for
Savings, who gave some testimony as to
the account held by Miss Jones at the
pand. Then counsel began SUNNI sng, up.
Mr.. Hilton, although venerable Is a
very active rnan and hrimful Of fight