The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
HIS WIFE'S WILL
BEING ATTACKED
Relatives of Mrs. James Charge That
She Was UnduIy Influenced by
Her Husband.

A bill alleging that DR.. Lorrimer James,
coroner of IIenrico county, exercised un-
due influences upon his wife, Julia Lee
PEBBLES James, in procuring, a few hours
before her death, her signature to a VII
written loI- himself, was filed in the Cir
cult Court of Henrico yesterday after
noon shortly before 4 O'Clock. The plain
tiffs are Mrs. Anna Lee PeebleS, motfi>r
of the late Mrs. James. and her sister,
Miss Helena s. PEBBLES, and the paper Is
fled as a step or proceeding to obtain a
trial before a jury Of the question wheth-
er the will is the will Of Julia Lee James.
Mrs. PEBBLES, one of the contestants to
the will, is a sister Of DR.. III. Augustus
Lee. of this city. Her husband was Dr.
R. S. J. PEBBLES, and there were two
daughters, Misses Julia Lee and Helena
Stockton PEBBLES. In 1872 DR.. PEBBLES died,
leaving a considerable property to his
wife during her life and to his daughters
after her death. The real estate left by
Dr. PEBBLES consists of tract of 14S acres
on the Cary-Strcet hoad, via the Belt
Line crossing: thirteen acres between
Grove Road and Cary Street. adjoining
the Soldiers Home property; house on
Franklin Street, between Second ana
Third Streets, and some valuable property
in New Jersey.
DIED WHEN A BRIDE.
"
Miss Julia Lee PEBBLES, was married in
the latter part of 1860 to Dr. Lorrimer
James. coroner of Henrico, and a we'll
known physician. Shortly after her mar
riage, in January, 1901, an accident which
Mrs. James met with rendered a surgical
operation necessary. She never recovered
Blood poisoning set in and death resulted
in a short time
The will left by Mrs. James. according
to the bill. was written by DIR. James him
self. 1t was witnessed by c. A. Dicken,
a white man, who lives near DR.. James
on the Broad-Street Road, and by Lucie
w. Evans. a. colored servant girl, en-
ptoyed by DR.. James A great part OF
her property is LETT by Mrs. James TO her
husband. Now the contestants 10 the
Will claim that Mrs. James was Incapable
OF understa nding what she was doing at
the time she signed the will; that she
was in a semi-comatose state. as a reSui.
of the blood poisoning and the medicines
administered and finally that DR.. James
exerted undue influence over her IN get
ting her to attach her signature TO the
paper That part O: the bill making the
charge IS as follows:
THAT While the said Julia Lee James
was in such a mental condition, caused
by said blood poisoning and certain med
icines administered to her. as to De inca
pable of making a Will. her husband
Lorrimer James. whote a Will Tor her,
leaving her estate in great part 70 nm
self, and caused her to sign the same
when she was incapable OF understanding
what she was doing. After her death
her said husband, Lorrimer james. pre-
sented said will to this honorab bic court
and on the ed day of January. 1901, 1t
was admitted to probate in the Circuit
Court Of Henrico county as and for the
will of said Julia Lee James. Your ora
tors file with this bill, as KART of the
same. duly certified copy of said viii
and order OF probate. marked exhibit A,
which is prayed 10 be read as part there
Of. Your orators charge that said Lori
mer James procured the signature of said
Julia Lee James to said paper writing by
undue and improper influences. and they
charge that it. Is not the will Of the said
Julia Lee PEBBLES.
DIR. JAMES STATEMENT.
DIR. James is one of the best known
Young men in the county, and has been
specially before the public since his an
pointment as coroner some time ago. He
il. a son Of Dr. N. L. James. and has an
extensive practice in Henrico. When
asked by a Times writer last night If he
had any. statement to make, DR.. James
said: II have not seen the bill filed, but
T have simply to say that the will re-
corded was in perfect accord with my
late wife's matured intentions, expressed
to several persons before her final sick
ness. and was the result of the unnatural
treatment received at the hands of those
row cortesting her will. All these facts
and others will fully prove to establish
my right and that it was her will.''
The trial of the case promises to be
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