New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-11

WILL OF R. E. HOPKINS, OF THE STAND
ARD OIL COMPANY, MYSTERY.
OUSLY ALTERED

Who cancelled the signature OF the will Of
Rotert f. Hopkins, Of the Standard OIL Com
pany, is the question that Is now occupying the
attention Of Surrogate Theodore II. Snkman, Of
Westchester County, number OF lawyers and
handwriting experts as well as a score OF inter-
ested legatees. The contest over the mysterious
will begun yesterday in the Surrogates
chambers. in Yonkers Several million dollars
are at stake. The question Is whether Mr.. Hop
kins made the erasure over his signature. or
whether some one else did it. hoping to destroy
the will.
The contest is brought py Joseph w. Middle
brook special guardian OF Robert E. Hopkins,
jr, fourteen years old, son Of the testator.
who declares that he will make a strong
fight to have the will declared invalid on
account OF the cancellation of the sigma
ture as it will make difference Of several
million dollars to his ward. Clarence s. Davi-
son, representing the executors and Henry f.
Henderson, appearing for the widow. will make
every endeavor to have the will sustained, as
will also a number of lawyers who appear for
numerous charitable institutions and individ-
uals who are legatees under the will.
The will was drawn up in Mr. Hopkns's own
handwriting and was executed November
a. 1891. Fanny w. Hopkins. his wife, and
David Mckinley Of this city. are named as ex-
ecutors and the witnesses Charles H.
Rockwell and DR.. E. c. Tanning. both Of larry
town. The discovery OF the cancellation was a
great surprise to the executors and lawyers
when the will read to the family, because
three days before Mr.. Hopkins's death, in con-
versation with his brother law, Mr.. Cham
bers, he spoke OF transferring certain stocks.
saying that II not advisable to make the
transfer as it would interfere with the condi-
lions of his will. thus leading Mr.. Chambers to
believe that his will was still in force.
Shortly after the funeral. Mrs. Hopkins. the
widow and her counsel. made thorough search
for the document. but no will found. Then
a second search made. Three hours after
the close of this second search Benjamin F.
Warren assistant TO Mr.. Hopkins. opened a
drawer in the dead mans desk and found the
will lying top of some other papers. all of
which had been thoroughly examined before.
Those who searched for it are positive that the
will was not In the drawer when the first search
was made.
The cancellation was done with a large. heavy
pen, and the strokes across the name at
the end of the document. The ink shows. IT IS
said by experts, that the obliteraton of the
signature is of recent date, while the VIII was
executed and signed ten years ago. MIR. Hop
kns died two months ago yesterday from
apoplexy.
II is not known what the value of the estate
is, but ii Is estimated by experts at over
So 100000. II the contest results in the Surro-
gate hOulnR tnat tne VIII Is lnNdHu, ali Oh tue
requests will be wiped out and the law will
hold that Mr.. Hopkins died intestate. in which
case the widow Will receive her dover right
only, and the rest of the estate will pass to
Robert z. Hopkins. jr.. the son. who is the only
child.
The will gives TO Fanny W. Hopkins. the
widow. S250.0OO. and all the real estate at Tar
rytown The residuary estate is TO be divided
| as follows: Two-thirds to the widow and one
| third to the son. Charlotte A. Uppen. Mr.. Hop
kns's only sister. is TO have the income for life
| OF $4,000. The American Board of Foreign
Missions and the American Home Missionary
| Society each receive $4,000. The First Presby
/ terrain Church at Titusvue, Penn. receive:
| $1,000. There are many smaller requests.
Mr.. Hopkins was the secretary and treasures
| of the Tidewater Pipe Company He was sixty
| eight years old when he died.
David \: Carvalho was examined Yesterday. He
testified that the lines across the signature were
made. as nearly as he could Judge month and g
! half ago. The will has been in the possession OF
the heirs longer than that. The lines could not
| have been drawn by Mr.. Hopkins within the time
| fixed by the expert. Mr.. Carvalho testified tina
| the lines were drawn With a steady hand and with
| considerable force, the paper had been punct
| ured by the pen Mr.. Hopkins had an unsteady
hand. The Surrogate directed the lawyers to sub
nit briefs in the case at once.