New-York tribune., 1907-09-13
TO CONTEST BIG WILL.
Nephezc and Niece Seek Part Of
Estate Talued at So ,0O0,0

nenhew and niece OF the late Mrs Mary E. S.
De Grauw widow of Colonel William w. De Grauw,
Of Jamaica. began contest yesterday of her Will
The estate is estimated to be worth about $4,000"
The contestants allege fraud and undue influence
The first hearing will be held to-day before Surro-
gate Darrell Noble. of Queens Borough. Many wit
nesses will be called
The contestants Mrs Alice A Crocker, of No.
217 East 22d street, and Edwin B. Lewis. of No a
King street, ask the court to refuse the probate OF
the will and divide the estate If Mrs De Grauw
had died intestate in that the principal bene-
ficiary. William A WarnocK. who nherits almost
the entire property. would receive only one-quarter
Mrs. De Grauw born in 1880. and made her
will on November II. 1900 She was therefore sew
enty years old when executed the will The
large property left by Colonel De Grauw to his wife
distributed by her in accordance with his
wishes and that the counsel for the estate be
lieve, will act very strongly in favor of the va
ldity of the instrument Colonel De Grauw ar
ranged for many OF the annuities given by his
widow the event that she died before himself
The entire property left to her if she survived
him.
The will names William A. warnock and Charles
A WiIlets as executors and drawn by William
". Gillen. of Gien & Weller. A considerable sum
of money is tied in trust TO provide for annui-
ties but upon the death OF those who beneht
by this provision the principal reverts 10 William
A Warnock the favorite nephew. who is heir to
almost the entire 100000 estate
Mr.. Warnock who is president of the Jamaica
Savings Bank and a director and shareholder IN
numerous other financial institutions, is the son
of Mrs De Cfrauws sister. His mother died when
he was six years old. Their children having
died Colonel and Mrs. De Grauw brought him up
Mrs Crocker and Mr. Lewis are the children OF
the late William F. Lewis. who was half bTother
Of Mrs De Grauw.
Edwin b. Lewis. when seen at his home. at l5Sd
street Eighth avenue. last night. said that. al
though his aunt had died on June l6. after long
Illness copies Of the will had only been sent to
him and his sister month ago As soon as
they read it and found that the bulk of the es-
tate was to be left William A. Warnock they
decided to contest the will a just distribution
of the property.
Reading from the will. Mr. Lewis said that Mrs.
De C;rauw left $4,000 to Charles A Wiletts. She
also bequeathed, according the will, 5000 70 the
trustees Of Greenwood Cemetery for the care "f
the plot where her husbands children were buried.
She instructed her executor. Warnock. to pay
s4nn as rent for = pew in the First Reformed
Church. of Jamaica, and she bequeathed $1,000
for the endowment of a home for children ut
Mineola Long Island. part OF this amount 20 I've
used to pay the teachers. and $1,000 10 Hannah
NJ P Bates, a sister Of her father. If she dies the
amount is to GO to her children. To Aaron De
Grauw Warnock she left $500. and to Morris son
Of Charles Willetts 5000 To Annie and William
Kammerer she left $500 each. and to Warnock's five
children 500 a year each. al their death the
amount TO go TO Warnock