The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-15
MILLION
DOLLAR
ESTATE
Contest Op3Asd Yesterday y.-Rala-
tives Of Late Mrs. Town.
send Seeking to Break Will

New York. May l5.-The trial Of the
contest over the million dollar estate OF
Mrs. Adelne Darrow Townsend was be
gun yesterday before Surrogate Thomas
in the county court house. Mrs. Townsend
was the widow of Henry p. Townsend
wealthy lawyer. of this city. Her estate
was left almost entirely to Joseph II. Ma
han. who had been a law partner or her
husband Her relatives seek TO have the
execution Of the will set aside on the
ground OF fraud and undue influence. Al
least four Of her Wills figure In the case.
Mrs. Townsend was 81 years Old at the
time OF her death i'm February last Re
latives who are contesting her VIII assert
that during the last few years Of her life
she was under the control Of Spiritualists'
It is asserted that she died in the arms
of a spiritualistc medium who had pre-
dicted her death almost 10. the hour ana
minute The contestants are sons ana
daughters OF Caro- Darrow Sharp sister
of Mrs Townsend. They are represented
by Rosendale & Dodd. Mahan who lives
at No 1851 Dean street. Brooklyn, was
represente8 by John F Clarke, District
Attorney OF Kings county
The~only witnesses examined YESTERDAY
j
I which was offered for probate Joseph II.
| Sharfer. a lawyer, who drew up this Will
! testified that Mrs Townsend did not sign
7 IL until she had carefully read IT,
He declared that she was perfectly
competent 10 make a will. He admitted
| that he had witnessed Mrs. Townsend ex-
I ecute two prior wills The VIII otlereu
for probate was executed on NOV. ~ last
at Mrs Townsend's residence. 300 Madison
( avenue Lawyer Shaffer said Nc. Mahar
had Informed him that Mrs. Townsend
intended TO make changes In her VIII ano
wac&aoinC 10 make him (Mahanl her chlei
legatee. Mr.. Shaffer identihed the sigma
lures 10 n will made in 1864. codicil II
1869 and a will made I'm 1898. al or whlci
were produced i'm evidence as showing the
signatures OF Mrs. Townsend.
Dominiek A. Craven, who witnessed
the execution Of the will OF Nov H. tes
tihed.
Did she ever say anything about
Joseph n Mahan?" was asked.
Yes" was the reply. II never me
her that she did not mention him. joe
as she called him. was always on hel
mind. She said he had been with then
for forty-five years. had always beeI
faithful 10 every trust imposed N MN
and whatever money was left Joe wa
going 10 have it,
Dr. Albert A. Davis. the third witnes
10 the will. said that notwithstanding
her advanced age Mrs. Townsend wa
; certainly OF sound mind at the time sh
made the last will.
Few women, OF her age remarke
, the doctor. were more capable Of trans
acting business than she was. she wa
under no restraint, never wore giasse
and did not have false tooth in ne
head
a During the progress Of the trial. whic
= will be resumed today. Louis F. Dod
!, representing the contestants. sad: wv
8 propose TO show that Mrs. Townsen
: was forced to sgn these wills as a r.
II suit OF a conspiracy. We Will go fu
:, ther and question whether she ever eX
h cuted any competent will.
Y A number of women In court frequent
e applauded Mr.. Dodd's utterances, al
II were finally warned by Surrogate Thor
W AS that he would have the court roc
~ cleared.