The Jersey City news., 1902-12-10
ESTATE
Lawyer Noonan Tells What
Widow Desired to Do
With Her Property.


The fight over the estate of the late
Marty Collins was resumed this
morning in Chancery Chambers before
Vice Chancellor Pitney. A portion Of
the estate, the Florida Hats on Van
Worst Park, was conveyed to Miss Anna
Toppin by the widow Of Mr.. Collins,
Mrs. Mary Collins, who, being Of un-
sound mind, il now confined in private
sanitarium. That conveyance is now
being attacked by the brother Of Mrs.
Collins and the administrator Of Mr..
Collins's> estate, Lawyer r. o. Babbitt.
Ex-Judge Thomas Il. Noonan, who
is attorney for Mrs. Collins. was on the
stand this morning He was examined
by ex-Governer George T. Werts. coun-
sci for Miss Toppin. In the course of
his testimony he said that he had known
Mrs. Collins for many years and saw
her before these proceedings when she
was at Morris Plains. He went with
DIR. G. w. King and ex-Sherif f..
Heintze. 1t was OH Sunday morning
and she talked incoherently of moving
the bodies Of her parents from one ceme-
tery TO another. She imagined, said Mr..
Noonan. that she was bein prosecuted.
Mr. Soonan being shown the power
of attorney authorizing Mr.. Robert
Davis to look after her affairs and the
deed of the property to Miss Toppin,
said that he saw Mrs. Collins sign them
both. The deed was prepared in his
Office.
what were the relations of Mr..
Davis and Martyr asked Governor
Werts.
''Of the friendliest kird; they thought
a great deal Of each other.''
And OF Mrs. Collins and Mr.. Davis?'
"she told me,r replied Mr.. Noonan,
that she thought a great deal OF Mr..
Davis. He was one man in whom she
had perfect confidence"
Shown the power of attorney, Mr..
Noonan said that Mrs. Collins told him
that she wanted Mr.. Davis to take full
charge Of her real estate, also Of the
$1,000. which she had loaned to Marty
Mr.. Davis at first demurred 10 assuming
the responsibility, but only did 50 be-
cause of Mrs. Collins's expressed wish. At
this point counsel ON both sides got into
a verbal mix-up as to Mrs. Collins sigma
ture to some paper.
1t doesn't make a particle Of differ
ence,r said the Viee-C Chancellor, .sher sig
nature 10 the dasds IL net fs,l. n VI
But II does, retofteA ex Governor
Werts, warmly they hive brought IN
evidence, for what purpose don't know,
claiming that Mrs Coilins's signature
was forgery"
Nothing Of the kind exclaimed Mr..
Charles L. Corbin.
IF you look over the eyidence you will
see that some Of your witnesses said
Mrs. Collins couldn't write her own
name' (Mr Corbin shook his head)
But you did. Now, il you; admit she
could write, that's all right
There's no question Of that inter-
rupted the Vice Cha ncellor, waving his
hand to wipe it off the face of the earth.
1T is admitted she wrote with difficulty
and was illiterate.
Mr.. Noonan. continuing, said that Mrs.
Collins was a little close-fsted, and to
illustrate it, he said that when he was
coming back with her from Morris Plains
she talked repeatedly of having a will
drawn and wanted to get gauge on
the price," Mrs. Collins, he said, con-
suited with him about disposing of her
property and how she could leave it. to
Miss Toppin or share it jointly with her
and he had written to Mr.. Davis as to
his views about it. Mrs. Collins, also,
he said, had spoken to him about giving
her property to st. Francis Hospital
the Sisters of the Poor, the Children's
Home on Glenwood avenue, and to some
priests to say masses for her and her hus-
band.
The case will be resumed this after
noon.
fllIADANTIkIrn mn nlIaaInro