The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-10-25
MCPHERSON WILL
Theatrical Manager Whit
ney Says DR.. Muir and
His Mother-in-Law
We're Recon
ciled.
THEY EXCHANGED DOSES
Parliamentary Capacity At
tackled by Mrs. Muir's
Lawyers.

Mrs. Edla Mcpherson Muir's contest of
the Will OF her mother, the late Mrs.
Edla Mcpherson, was resumed before
Judge Blair in the Orphans Court this
morning. As will be remembered, Mrs.
8fasr Hss left only a life interest in the
S750,0OO estate Of her deceased father, the
late United States Senator John r. Me-
Pherson No provision was made In the
will for any children that might be born
to Mr.. and Mrs. Muir. The life interest
in the estate at Mrs. Muir's death was to
revert to Aaron S. Baldwin of Hoboken,
and at his death, aside from bequests of
$4,000 to Christ Hospital and $4,000 to the
Emergency Hospital. at washington, the
entire estate was to go to Yale univer-
sity.
The same array of legal talent that has
appeared as the representatives Of the
different beneficiaries under the will was
again present when the case was called
this morning. Counsellors Mallord, Pro-
vost and Charles Corbin represented Mrs.
Muir; Judge Abel I. Smith appeafnl for
Executor Aaron S. Baldwin; Barnum.
Thatcher & Reed of New York looked
after the interests of Yale University
and Lawyer e. A. Lewis represented
Christ Hospital.
The proponents of the will concluded
the formal proving of the will. AS to
the property of the estate located in this
county, Judge Smith said that it consist
ed OF houses in Vroom, Washington and
Sussex streets.
Aaron S. Baldwin testified that there
are in private vault of the New Jersey
Title Guarantee and Trust Company in
Jersey City bonds and stocks of a par
value of $150,0O0 belonging to the deceased
The contestants renewed their attack
on the testamentary capacity of the de-
ceased by calling Frederick C. Whitney,
a theatrical manager, who was associated
with Dr. Muir in the control of "Quo
vadis'' company. He said he first met
Mrs Mcpherson in Washington, d. c.. in
June, 1900. He knew Mrs. Muir about
three years before that, and DR.. Muir he
had known for about eight years. Mrs
Muir, he said, introduced him to her
mother.
Questioned as to the relations existing
between Mrs. Mcpherson and her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, the witness said that
while Mrs. Mcpherson was at first dis
appointed at her daughters marriage, she
friendly terms with DR.. Muir. Her som
in-law. Mr.. Whitney said, had attended
Mrs Mcpherson in professional way.
and he had heard her say that DR.. Muir
had saved her life. The witness said that
the Muirs and Mrs. Mcpherson were very
friendly after that incident
Mr., whitney said that several days be-
fore the Muirs sailed for Europe on March
%, DR.. Muir had been Ill and Mrs. Me-
Pherson attended him. Prior to that Mrs.
Mcpherson had had an operation per-
formed on her nose and she appeared on
one occasion before the Muirs's departure
for Europe in a highly excited state OF
mind. She WAS very nervous and in the
presence of the witness and Miss Parsons.
who signed the will as a witness, she de-
clared she did not care to live and triei
to throw herself out of the hotel window.
The witness said that 1t was with dif1i-
Guilty that Miss Parsons and he restrained
her from suicidal intention and 1t was
Mrs. Mcpherson, Whitney declared,
afterwards walked the floor until almost
exhausted.
denied that Mrs. Muir had any interest
in the "Quo Vadis' company, but admit
ted that DIR. Mufrs interest was paid
with checks signed by his wife. He said
that he was an intimate friend of DR..
duir's and visited him frequently before
the Muirs' broke up housekeeping in
March, 1901 when Mrs. Muir went to live
with her mother and DR.. Muir took up
his abode at club.
Mr.. Whitney said that when DR.. Muir
was taken i'll Mrs. Mcpherson insisted
that her daughters husband take up his
residence with her and that he frequently
saw Mrs. Mcpherson give DR.. Muir medi-
cine and that she had prepared Cruel for
the invalid.
Asked if he did not know that Mrs.
Mcpherson was opposed to her daughters
marriage the witness replied that he was
aware of that fact and based his knowl-
edge OF Mrs. McPhersons reconciliation
to the remark she made to him to the
effect that she had heard many stories
about the doctor but had since learned
that the stories were not true
just before the noon recess counsel for
the contestant called Miss Eliza Lucas.