The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-16
FADED PAPER
PUTS SUDDEN END
TO WILL CONTEST

Philadelphia. Oct. 1.-THE fight be-
tween two women over the distribution OF
the s6o,0oo0oo estate OF the late william
Weightman. the chemist. who was Phila-
delphia's wealthiest man. was abruptly
halted yesterday by the production Of a
small piece Of note paper that had turn
ed from white to yellow with age
What the piece Of paper contains was
not made public and the less than a
dozen persons who have seen IL pledged
themselves never to reveal its contents.
The halt In the proceedings was made
az the suggestion ofs counsel for Mrs.
Jones Wister. who is acting as guardian
for her daughter. Martha. the contestant,
and the sudden halt in the case made the
benehciarles of the Will Jubilant. They
freely predict that the case has been end
ed forever
William Weightman. in 1884. made a will
leaving his vast estate equally between
Anne NJ. Weightman Walker. his daugh-
ter. and two sons. William and John. Ten
years later he made a new will, leaving
his entire estate to the daughter, the two
sons having died, leaving eight children
The widow or William Weightman, the
mother OF five Of the children, married
Jones Wister. and when Mr. Weightman,
her father law, died, she contested the
Will on behalf of her minor daughter,
ell In which he provided for the grand
children. The other seven grandchildren
who had reached their majority. were
satisfied with the sums the wealthy
chemist had. during his life, left them
In trust.
Mrs. Walker, sole heir to the fortune,
denied that her father had made a codi-
ell. The contest was begun nearly year
ago and was called for trial before Judge
Ashman In the orphans court yesterday
with great array OF counsel on each
side.
The morning session OF the court yes
terday was taken up with the examina-
ton OF three witnesses, one OF whom was
Mrs. Walker. one OF the other two wit
nesses was Edward T. Davis, for many
years private secretary to Mr.. Weight
man, and who was a witness 10 the Sign
ing OF the last will Counsel for Mrs.
Wister asked him II he remembered Mr..
Weightman, I'm the drawing up OF his will.
having written something upon a piece
Of note paper and then placed II I'm his
desk. lie said he had, but did not know
what Mr.. Weightman had written.
Thereupon Alexander Simpson. Jr of
counsel for Mrs. Wister. demanded the
production OF the paper, and after At
torney General Carson OF Pennsylvania
and John @. Johnson. OF counsel for
Mrs. Walker, had fumbled through their
documents, brought II forth.
The paper was carefully read by Mrs.
Wster's attorney and then handed 10
he witness. who said IL looked like
the paper he had seen Mr.. Weightman
write.
The examination of Mrs. Walker, who
IS one OF the richest women in America,
followed.
When the court reconvsned for the
afternoon session Mr.. Simpson announ-
ced that counsel for both sides had held
a conference during the recess, and at
the request of Mrs. Wister's lawyers,
he opposing side had consented 10 a
continuance OF the case.
This sudden halt caused a sensation.
The lawyers denied compromise.
Finally Mr.. Carson admitted that the
piece Of paper presented at the morn
ing session was the probable cause OF
the turn OF affairs.
Mrs Walker was not aware that the
case had been continued until she ar
rived at the court room in the after
noon. There was every indication that
Mrs. Walker was exceedingly satisfied
with the sudden ending OF the pro-
ceedings
All that the attorney for Mrs walker
will say is that the paper was neither
will nor a codicil. There are many
surmises as TO the nature OF the con-
tents OF the paper, but none of them
can be confirmed When Mr.. Johnson
was asked what II contained. he said:
Il will not tell; IL js beyond human
possibility for that paper TO be made
public"
Richard w. Meirs. son-in-law Of Mrs.
Wister and nephew of Mrs. Walker,
who is siding with his aunt. said he
hoped IL would never see the light of
day.
II would rather have my tongue cut
out than reveal what was in that
paper" he said. up TO today, when II
| vas privately shown in court. only
four persons In the world had seen II
| The paper is in the possession OF my
aunt's counsel and its contents Will not
| ne made public unless IT is done by the
other side, and l am sure they VIII not
| 10 II"
While the lawyers will not express an
| opinion as to whether the case Will
| ever be again called in court, they
plainly intimate that the Wisters will
AXE no further action