The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

but the fact is that their profits from this
trade in the Crimean war were vastly
greater.
Mr.. Weightmsn and his family never
manifested the desire to be conspicuous.
Although Mrs. Walker. his daughter. was
we'll known in a restricted cOteTie OF the
Philadelphia social set. even before she
was announced as sole heir to her
fathers enormous fortune. she spent most
Of Der time after her marriage in vii
ll1InspOrt-from which place her husband
was sent 10 COngress-and IN Washing
ton. She entered very little into the So
ciaI activities Of Philadelphia. and when
she came here 10 live in the great red
mansion In Walnut street below Broad
her entertainments. although rich, were
quiet and little discussed.
Leaves All TO Daughter.
Mr.. Walker died five years ago. and
then followed the death OF Mrs. Walkers
father. When his will was read it was
found to contain this simple clause:
I give, devise and beQueath absolutely
all my property and estate. real and per-
sonal. Of which I shall die seized and
possessed TO my only surviving child. my
daughter. Anne NJ Wsightman Walker
wife or Robert J. c. Walker. TO her and
her heirs and assigns forever"
TSo far as outward signs were concerned
the viii caused little disturbance among
the chemists grandchildren. but those
in close touch with their families say that
there were murmurings of bitter dissatis-
faction.
All appeared calm for several months.
and then, as if it had been the explosion
of bomb in the midst of Philadelphia's s
ment that Charles T. d'Invilliers, guard
ian Of Martha r. Weightman. a grand
child OF Mr.. Weightman. and daughter
of Mrs. Jones Wister by her first hus-
band. William Weightman. jr.. had filed
q petition in the orphans court 20 break
the will and obtain for Miss Weightman
a share OF her grandfather's fortune.
/ The house at once became divided against
itself, some of the grandchildren siding
with Mrs. Walker and others with Mrs.
Wister and her daughter.
Ending Is Dramatic.
/ The case. which promised TO be full Of
sensations, and which did not fail TO
fulfill this promise. came TO trial on
October 10. 1905. and the contest which it
was thought would be OF almost Jarndyce
VS. Jarndyce length. was dramatically
concluded on the same day.
Dramatically and mysteriously. For it
ended absolutely and completely a few
minutes after counsel for Mrs Walker
had handed the lawyers for Mrs. Wister
| a small slip of yellow paper. on which a
/ few words were inscribed. These were
read by Mrs. Wister. who paled. left the
courtroom almost Immediately. and the
case was dropped. Mrs. Walker had tri-
umphed, but it had been guessed from the
first, from her indifference to the suit
that she had a winning card that would
! be played at the proper time 70 was
played and il had it's contemplated effect
Society spent weeks gossiping over this
| scrap of paper" which caused as much
OF a sensation as did the one in the IA
nous play OF that name. but, excepting q
very few persons. no one was let into the
secret as to what was written on the
yellow slip. All sorts OF conjectures were
made, and perhaps some Of them were
correct, but those who guessed Alright
were never told Of their success.
Reason for Dropping Case.
1t is now. however. indefinitely conject.
ured. in view OF recent decisions announc.
ed by Mrs. Walker. that some inkling OF
her intentions regarding the division Of
the fOrtuned was contained in the cele
brated piece of. yellow paper, and that OF
this account the case was dropped and
nothing more was said by either side.
Soon after this sensation had ceased Il
be a theme for drawing-roOm gossip
Mrs. Walker removed 10 New York, FOL
which city she had always professed
great fondness, and her visits to Philadel
phia became less frequent and OF shorte,
duration. She recently began TO entertain
elaborately in her New York home. br
few Philadelphians were ever numbered
among her guests.
Mrs Walker announced only a shor
time ago her engagement to Mr.. Penfieid
! A few days later, on being pressed, sh