Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-10-20
WEIGHTMAN CASE
ENDS STRANGELY
Note, Yellow With Age, Ends Fight
For s6O,OOO.OOO.
No FURTHER ACTION PROBABLE

NO FURTHER ACTION PROBABLE
Philadelphia. OCT. Is. - The night
between two women over the distribu-
ton OF the $50 900. 900 estate Of the
late William Weightman. the chemist
who was Philadelphias wealriiest
man was abruptly halted by the pro
duction OF small white piece Of note
paper that had been turned yellow
with age. What the piece of paper con
tains was not made public and the
less than a dozen persons who have
seen 1t have pledged themselves never
10 reveal its contents. The halt N the
proceedings was made at the sugges
tion of 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 oenefciarics OF the will jubilant.
They freely predict that the case has
been ended forever
William Weightman in 1854 made
will leaving his vast estate equally be-
tween Anne NJ Weghtman Walker
his daughter. ana two sons. William
and John Ten years later he made a
new will. leaving his entire estate tn
the daughter the two sons having
died leaving eight children. The
widow OF William Weightman the
mother OF five OF the children. mar.
ried Jones Wister and when Mr.
Weighlman. her fatherin-law died She
contested the will on behalf of her
minor daughter. Martha. on the ground
that he left codicil in which he pro
vided 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 the sole heir 10 the for
tune denied that her father had made
codicil The contest was begun
nearly two years ago and was called
for trial before Judge Ashman in the
orphans court with a great array Of
counsel on each side
Edward r. Davis. for many years
private secretary TO MIR Weightman
and who was a witness To the signing
OF the last will was witness Coun.
sci for Mrs Wister asked him II he
remembered Mir Weightman subse
quent 10 drawing up his will having
written something on piece OF note
paper and then place it in his desk.
He said he had but did not know
what Mr. Weightman had written.
- ft,ffA fp n
counsel for Mrs Wister. demanded tho
production OF the paper and after At
torney general Carson OF Pennsylva
MIA and John G. Johnson OF counsel
for Mrs. Walker had fumbled through
their documents they produced H. The
paper was carefully read by Mrs. Wis
ter's attorneys and then handed 10 the
witness. who said it looked like the
paper he mad seen Nh Weightman
write
When court reconyened Mr. Simp
son announced that counsel for both
sides had held conference during the
recess and at the request OF Mrs. Wis
ter's lawyers the opposing side had
consented 20 a continuance Of the
case This sudden halt in the pro
ceedings caused a sensation and ri.
more were quickly put in circulation
that the case had been compromised.
All attorneys denied that a compro-
mise had been agreed go and none
would give a reason for the postpone
ment Finally MIR. Carson admitted
that the piece OF paper presented al
the morning session was the probable
cause OF the turn Of affairs and his
statement was confirmed later in the
day. The lawyers for Mrs Wister
positively declined TO discuss the case.
and all that the attorneys for Mrs.
Walker will say is that the paper was
neither will nor a codicil II is be
lieved that the attorneys for Mrs. Wis
ter thought that the paper placed in
the desk was the Codicil which Mrs
Wister says Mr. Weightman executed.
and that when the paper was pro
duced and not found 10 be- what they
thought it was they asked for con
tinuance.
There are many surmises as 10 the
nature OF the contents OF the paper
but none OF them can be confirmed
When Mr.. Johnson was asked what it
contained. he said:
Il will not tell 1t is beyond human
possibility for that paper 20 he made
public
While the lawyers will not express
an opinion as 10 whether the case will
ever be again called in court they
plainly intimate that the Wisters will
take no further action.
Football Player Crippled For Life.