The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-12
Signature Of Tsstator 10 Docu-
msnt Has Been Crossed Out.
LEGAL BATTLE IS THE RESULT.
Instrument Found On Top Of 4 Pile Of Papers
After Two Searches Had Failed
10 Reveal II

Yonkers, n. y, July 12.-Who cancelled
the signatures to the last will and testa-
ment OF Robert E. Hapkins OF the stand
ard OIL trust, is the question which Is
puzzling Surrogate Theodore ii. Silkman,
at westchester county, many lawyers and
handwriting experts and score Of inter-
ested legatees.
The contest over the mysterious Will
was begun today In the surrogate's cham
bers IN Yonkers.
The disposition of nearly five million
dollars will depend upon whether II Is
decided that Mr.. Hopkins or some other
person made the erasure over his sigma
ture. The contest brought by Joseph w.
Middlebrook, the special guardian OF Rob-
ert E. Hopkins, Jr., the fourteen-yeat-oiu
son of the testator.
MIR. Middlebrook says he will make a
strong nght 10 have the will declared In
valid, as such a decree would make a
difference Of several million dollars 10
his ward.
Clarence s. Dawson, representing the
executors. and Henry G. Henderson, ap-
pearing for the widow, will make every
endeavor TO have the will sustained. as
will also several lawyers who appear for
numerous charitable institutions and BEN
ehciaries that are legatees under the will.
The will was drawn up I'm Major Hop
kins' own handwriting and duly executed
on November IL, 1891. The discovery Of
the cancellation was a great surprise 10
the executors and lawyers when the Will
was read.
Mrs Hopkins. the widow, and her coun-
sci made a thorough search for the doc
ument soon after he funeral Every con-
ceivable place where her, husband had
papers was searched but I'm vain.
An old desk in his office on Broadway
was then thoroughly searched. Every
drawer and compartment was gone over
and numerous papers were examined.
To make the search certain research
was made a few days afterward In the
various safe deposit companies, in his
home and in his Office. Three hours after
the conclusion OF this second search Ben
jamin =. Warren, assistant treasurer TO
Major Hopkins opened drawer I'm the
majors desk and found the will lying on
top OF some other papers, all OF which
had been thoroughly examined before.
Those who searched for IL are positive
that the will was not in the drawer when
the first search was made. The cancella-
tlon was done with large heavy pen.
and the strokes are zigzag across the
name at the end OF the document. The
ink shows that the obliteraton OF the
signature is OF recent date.
asserts that the cancellation was done re-
Gently. and is not more than two months
old. The strokes I'm the signatures indi-
cate a light hand with old ink, while the
strokes I'm the erasure show firm, bold
hand the top OF the strokes having punc-
tured the paper. indivsting that they
were vicously made
AS Major Hopkins wrote n trembling
hand Carvalho says. II would be impos-
sible for him TO have penned the strokes
in the cafYcelation.
Major Hopkins died suddenly two
months ago yesterday. He had attended
10 HIS business during the day OF May s.
leaving home In the best OF health I'm the
morning for his office. I'm Broadway.
Upon his return 10 his home, in Tarry-
town. in the evening he was stricken with
apoplexy and expired soon after the ar
rival Of a physician.
IL is not known what the exact value
of the estate Is. but II is estimated at
about s5,Oo0O00.
II the will Is declared invalid all the
benuests will be wiped out. the widow
Will receive her dover right and the rest
of the estate will pass TO Robert T.. Hop
kins. Jr.. the infant son, who is the oply
child and heir at law.