New-York tribune., 1906-10-16
VEJGHTMAN WILL CASE.
CrDDEN HALT CALLED.
ymferioas Piece of Paper in Contest
Over MilGondire's Fortune.

:, the late william weightman. the chem
,-,o was Philadelphia's wealthiest man, was
-,r,,v halted to-day by the production of a.
- niece Of note paper that had turned
= Win age What the piece of paper con-
-. was not made public. and the less than
- ,ersons who have seen Il have pledged
xs.lves never TO reveal its contents. The halt
= .,s proceedings was made at the suggestion
.r,s.l for Mrs. Jones wister who IS acting
rrs-dian for her daughter Martha. the con-
-. and the sudden turn of the case has
-. +be benehciaries Of the viii juhilant They
- predict that the case has been ended for
ever.
-, ris great estate equally among Anne NJ
,raehu1an Walker. his daughter. and two sons
u-uIsrn and John Ten years later he made a
.,w viii. leaving his entire estate 20 the daugh-
-. N. two sons having died leaving eight chill
,-,n The widow OF William Weightman, the
,,,.ber Of five Of the children. married Jones
rn..a- and when Mr.. Weghtman, her father
,..,sw. died she contested the will on behalf Of
t.- minor daughter. Martha. the ground that
:, ,set a codicf in which he provided for the
-s,tehudren The other seven grandchildren.
rAo had reached their majority. were satisfied
s,h fhe sums the wealthy chemist had in his
lifetime left 10 them in trust. Mrs. Walker. the
,1s heir 10 the fortune. denied that her father
..5 made a codicil 70 his will. The contest was
hss,p nearly two years ago. and was called for
.5sl before Judge Ashman. in the Orphans
rcurt to-day with a great array OF counsel on
ssch side.
The morning session was taken up with the
examination Of three witnesses. one of whom was
Yrs Walker who plainly showed her bitterness
srainst Mrs Wister. One OF the other two wit
nssses was Edward T Davis, for many years
r4raie secretary TO Mr.. Weightman, and who
was q witness 10 the signing of the last will.
counseI for Mrs. Wister asked him II he remen-
b,red Mr weightman subsequent TO drawing up
his viii having written something on a piece Of
ro.spsper and then placing it in his desk. He
uu he had. but did not know what Mr.. Weight
rsn had written.
MYSTERIOUS PAPER PRODUCED.
The-eupon Alexander Simpson. jr.. OF counsel
so- Mrs wister. demanded the production Of the
PAPER and after Attorney General Carson. Of
Pennsylvan mia. and John C. Johnson. OF counsel
ts- Mrs Walker. had funbled through their
documents they produced II. The paper was
csretuly read by Mrs. wister's attorneys. and
asu handed 10 the witness. who said IL looked
Ek. the paper he had seen Mr.. Weightman write.
Il was then marked for Identification and
trned 70 Nj Carson The examination Of Mrs.
Walker who is one OF the richest women in
America. then followed. no further attention
hing given 10 the piece Of paper.
When court reconvened for the afternoon ses-
son Mr.. Simpson announced that counsel for
ka sides had held e conference in the recess
rzst the request OF Mrs. wister's lawyers the
Cywag side had consented 10 a continuance
dhsase. This sudden halt in the proceedings
Gazd sensation, and rumors were quickly put
e CIRCULATION that the case had been COM
promised. All the attorneys denied that a COM
E-o1se had been agreed TO and none would give
reason for the postponement. Finally Mr..
-sTEon admitted that the piece OF paper present.
e al the morning session was the probable
OF the turn Of affairs, and his statement
was confirmed later in the day Mrs. Walker
was not aware that the case had been continued
untl she arrived at the courtroom in the after
noon. There was general shaking Of hands.
and every other indication that Mrs. Walker was
exceedingly well satisfied with the sudden end
ing Of the proceedings.
The lawyers for Mrs. wister positively de-
cHned to discuss the case. and all that the attor-
neys tor Mrs. Walker would say was that the
paper was neither will nor a codicil It is
believed that the attorneys for Mrs. Wister
thought that the paper placed in the desk was
he codicl which Mrs wister says Mr.. Weight
man executed. and that when the paper was
produced and found not to be what they thought
II wss. they asked for q continuance.
There many surrnises as TO the nature Of
he contents oc the paper. but none Of them can
De confirmed. When Mr.. johnson was asked
What It contained he said:
! Will not tel: it is beyond human possibility
ior that paper 10 be made public"
WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC.
Richard y. Meirs. son-in-law OF Mrs. wister
td nephew Of Mrs. Walker who is siding with
MS aunt, said he hoped it would never see the
Asnt Of cay I would rather have my tongue
GU out than reveal what was IN that paper"
be said Up 10 to-day when it was privately
Shown in court. only four persons in the world
Asd seen IL The paper is in the possession Of my
tunts counsel and its contents viii not be
haoe public unless il is done by the other side.
she an sure they viii not do it
While the lawyers viii NOT express opinion
70 whether the case will ever be again called
court, they plainly intimate that the Wisters
VI take further action.
The first witness called by the contestant was
= " Hopes. seventy-six years old, who was
manager of accounts and credits for Powers q
neigntHnan. % which concern Mr.. Weightman
'ss sole member. At first he unwilling
'-1less and was threatened with contempt OF
s'-l ior refusing 70 answer certain questions. He
-l oeen z witness % the VIII and Air. Simpson
esAeo him what SUNS Of money he had received
ss oA Mrs Walker after the death OF her father.
n -1st answer was that he received lis salary
~ ~ TIE time the firm was taken over by an
- company. Then he admitted receiving $50
siff ~e- year he Was with the firm. or total OF
rie 4'o- - i4Se''S S1 e'-' " '
,seiicviis thls after much coaxlng by attor-
-oal Mrs. Walker
- ast else did you get?" asked Dir. Simpson.
be - Il