Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07
SuSIANSs 0L0 WILL
Verdict of Jury in Famous
Hughes Contest.
CONTAINS LOCAL REQUESTS
Estate of Late Octogenarian
Shrunken From 100000.
DISTRICT GIFTS CUT IN HALF
Four Nieces of David M. Hughes
Will Continue Opposition to Final
Settlement in New York.
CONTAINS LOCAL REQUESTS
DISTRICT GIFTS CUT IN HALF

The will of Mrs Louise A. B. Hughes,
the octugenarian widow of David NJ.
Hughes of New York, dated March "a.
1892 and codicil of June 2S, 1900, were
sustained today by the verdict of jury
in the Probate Court, Justice Anderson
presiding. The will contained requests
of 100000 of which $4,000 is payable to
Georgetown University and 5000 to Cuno
III. Rudolph, former president of the
Board of Trade. Judge Ivory G.. Kimball
and Attorney w. HI. Sholes are executors
under the&will.~; =;
At the time of the execution of the will
the estate is said to have been ample to
cover all the legacies. but now it consists
of $4,000 of the estate of Mrs Hughes
husband, which by his will she was au-
thorized to dispose of at her death: a
house in this city. worth 5000. and about
$4,000 in securities in New York city.
The beneficiaries will probably not re-
ceive more than half of the amounts be-
queathed..
Declared Insane by Jury.
Last May jury determined that Mrs.
Hughes was insane in March. 1902, when
she executed another will giving the bulk
of her estate TO the late Edward G. Niles,
a local attorney and his wife. The widow
of Mr.. Niles offered the will for probate.
but at the trial the jury set the paper
aside on the ground of insanity.
The will and codicil sustained today
were found among the papers of Attorney
Niles and were mutilated by having the
signature of Mrs. Hughes cut from them.
The proponents Of the will contended that
this attempted revocation was made, if
at all by Mrs. Hughes, subsequent to
her coming under the influence of Attor-
ney Miles, who took her to New York,
had her adjudged insane and placed in a
sanitarium there.
Only Witness on the Stand.
Attorney Joseph j. Darlington, who,
with the late DR.. w. W. Johnston, and
Miss Alice NJ. Burke, witnessed the execu-
ton by Mrs. Hughes of the codicil in
1900. was the only witness before the
jury today. He testified that at that time
Mrs. Hughes was sane, but declared that
later. when the alleged revocation was
attempted. she was not of sound mind.
He gave as an instance of her conduct at
the latter period that she came into his
Office and declared she had placed de-
posit of $4,000 in financial Institution
in the lower floor of the building In which
the attorney had his Office
MIR. Darlington told the jury that the
lower floor is given over to the furnace
and coal bins. =,
Released From Sanitarium.
Mrs. Hughes was released from the san
itarium. ip which Niles is said, to have
placed her, by habeas corpus proceed
ings, and she was again adjudged insane
in November, 1902, and Andrew j. Ship
man of New York appointed committee
of her estate. vx..
Four nieces of David NJ. Hughes who
would re6eive the $4,000 of his estate if
no will was sustained, opposed the admis-
sion Of the will, but at the trial today Of
fered no testimony. Their opposition, it
is understood, will be transferred to
contest now pending in New, York over
a will made by Mrs. Hughes shortly be-
fore the last adjudication in insanity
proceedings.
Attorney w. H. sholes represented the
beneficiaries under the will. and Attorney
H. II. Classic appeared for the nieces of
Mr.. Hughes. who are nop-residents.