Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-10-16
Daughter, The Only Heir Mentioned
In VIII Of PhI|ade|ph|a's Rich
est Man, JubI|ant.
PRIZE IS WORTH 100000
Yellow Note Found In Dead Million.
aires Papers Caush Of Halt In Pro.
cecdings-Gr Arc Not PARTY
to the Suit to Break tho Will
Three Witnesses Hoard.
(Dy Associated press.)

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. Oct. I5.-
Tho fight between two women owe,
the distribution Of the 100000, 900 es-
tate of William Wclghtmnn. tho chem.
ist who was PhIindclphn's wealth
lest man, was abruptly halted today
by the production OF n small white
piece of note paper that had turned
yellow with age.
What the piece Of paper contained
was not made public md the less
than dozen persons who have seen
II. have pledged themselves never to
reveal its contents.
Tho halt In tho proceedings was
mad" Mt the suggestion OF counsel for
Mrs Jones. Wlstcr. who Is netting us
guardian for her daughter. Martha,
the contestant. and the sudden turn In
the case has made tho bencficiaries
OF the will jubllant. They freely pre-.
diet that the cnse has been ended for.
ever
Estate Left to Daughter.
William WciGhtman In 1884, made Il
will leaving his vast estate cana,ly
between Anne NJ. Wclghtmnn Walk. .
or. his daughter and two sons, vii
liam ana John. Ton years later, no
made another will. leaving his entire
estate to the daughter. the two sons,
having died, leaving cigh, children.
The widow Of William Wcightman,
~ son, tho mother of five of tho chill.
drcn, married John Wistcr, and when
Mi Wcightman. her fnther.in.law
died. she contested tho Will on behalf
al her minor daughter Martin, on tho
ground that he left n coillcIl IN which,
he provided for tho grandchildren
Other Children Satisfied.
The other seven grandchildren who
had reached their maturity we're sat
isiich with the sums. tho wealthy
chemist had during his life given To
them in trust.
Mrs Walker, the sole heir To the
fortune. denied that hor father had
made Il codicil The contest was br-
gun nearly two wears ago and was
called for trial before Judge Ashman.
In the Orphans Court today. with
great array of counsel ON zach side.
The morning session was tnkep up
with tho examination Of three wit
ncsscs. one of whom was Mira. Walk. /,
er. who plainly showed her bitterness
against Mrs. Wlstcr.
One of the other two Witnesses was
Edward T. Davis for many years priv.
ate secretary to Mr.. WeIghtman, and
who was IA Witness to the signing OF
the last will
Secretary Remembers Note.
Counsel for Mrs. WiRtcr asked him,
IL he remembered Mr.. Wcigh,man sub.
segment to drawing up his Will having
written something on n piece of note
paper. and then place It In his desk.
He said he had. but did not know
what Mr.. Weightman had written.
Thcrcupon Alexander Simpson. Jr., OF
counsel for Mrs. Wister, demanded
the production of the paper. and after
Acknowledgement Carson, Of Pcnnsyl.
vania. and John G. Johnson Of COIN.
sci for Mrs. Walker hnd fumbled
through their documents. they pro.
duccd it.
The paper was read by Mrs. Wis
tors attorney and then handed to tho
witness. who said It looked like tho
parcr ho had seen Mr.. Wcightman
write. 1t was then marked for iden-
tiiicalion and returned to Mr.. Carson.
The examination of Mrs. Walker.
America. then followed, no further at.
tention being paid to the piece of pa.
per.
Case Continued.
When court reconveneI for the after.
noon session, Mr.. Simpson announced
that counsel for both sides had held
conference during the recess. and
at the request of Mrs. Wisters law
ygrS, tho ODDDSiDr eide had f.pnsnnfnA
TO continuance of the case.
This sudden hnlt in tho proceedings
caused sensation, and rrlmors were
, quickly put in circulation that tho
case had been compromised. All at
,crneys denied that a compromise had
been agreed to and none would give.
reason for tho postponemcnt
Paper Causes Delay.
Finally MIR. Parsons admitted that
tho piece Of paper presented at thu
morning session was the probable
cause Of the turn Of affairs and his
statement was confirmed later In the
Il, +. ..U# L d