The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-10-19

Philadelphia, October l5.-The fight
between two women over he distri-
button of the 100000. 600 estate OF the
late William Weightman, he chemist
who was Philadelphia's wca.thiest
man, was abruptly halted today by
the production OF 4 piece of note paper
that had turned yellow with age.
What the piece OF paper contained was
not made public, and the less than a
dozen persons who have seen IL have
pledged themselves never To reveal tts
contents The halt in the proceedings
made at the suggestion OF the counsel
for Mrs. Jones Wister, who Is acting
as guardian for her daughter. Martha,
the contestant, and the sudden turn
! in the case has made the henefciaries
Of the will jubilant. They freely pre-
dict that the case has been ended
forever.
William Weightman in 1884 ma le
will leaving his vast eS' al" equally
between Anne NJ. Weightman. ms
! daughter. and two sons, William and
John Ten years later he made an-
! other will leaving his entire estate TO
: died. leaving eight children. Tho
| widow OF William weightman tnyf
mother Of five children, married John
Wister, and when Mr.. Weghtman-
| father-in- law died, she contested tho
} will on behalf of her minor daughter.
Martha, on the ground that he left
, a cOdicil, in which he provided for
the grand children. The other seven
grand children who had reached their
! maturity were satisfied with the sums
| the wealthy chemist had during hts
life left them in trust Mrs. Walker
the sole heir TO the fortune, denied
! that her father had made a cOdicil.
The contest was begun nearly two
years ago and was called for trial
before Judge Ashman in the orphans
court today with a great array OF
counsel on each side.
The morning session was taken up
| with the examination of three wit
neSSes. one of whom was Mrs Walk
er who plainly showed her bitterness
| against Mrs. Wister. One of the
other witnesses was Edward T. Davis,
for many years private secretary TO
Mr. Weightman. and he was witness
to the signing of the last will. Counsel
for Mrs. Wister asked him IL he re-
membered Mr.. Weightman subsequent
10 drawing up his will having written
something on a piece of note paper
and then place 1t In his desk. He
said he had, but did not know what
! Mr.. Weightman had written. There
upon Alexander Simpson. Jr, 1f
counsel for Mrs. Wsster demanded
the production OF the paper. and after
Attorney General Carson, OF Penn
sylvania and John G. Johnson. of
counsel for Mrs. Walker had fun
bled through their documents they
produced The paper was carefully
read by Mrs. Wister's attorneys and
then handed TO the witness, who said
it looked like the paper ne had seen
. Mr. Weightman write. It was then
marked for Identification and return
ed to Mr.. Carson. The examination
Of Mrs. Walker, who Ia one OF tha
richest women in America then fol-
lowed, no further attention being paid
to the piece of paper.
When court re-cOnvenei for The
afternoon session Mr. Simpson an
nounced that counsel for both sides
had held a conference during the re-
cess and AT the request OF Mrs. Wis
ter's lawyers. the opposing side had
consented To a continuance of the
clse.
This sudden stop in the proceed
ings caused a sensation and rumor5
were quickly put In circulation that
the case had been compromised. All
attorneys denied that a compromise
had been agreed to. None would
give a reason for the postponement
Finally Mr.. Parsons admitted hat
the piece OF paper presented at the
morning session was the probable
cause OF the turn of affairs and his
statement was Confirmed later III the
day.
Mrs. Walker was not aware that the
case had been continued until she
arrived In the court room In the
afternoon. There was a general shak-
ing OF hands and every other indica-
Ftion that Mrs. Walker was exceeding
" satisfied with the sudden ending
/. of the proceedings