The evening world., 1911-02-15
BELIEVED
ROOSEVELT WOULD
Be NEXTPRES|DEN
But That Doesn't Suggest Lack
of Capability, Mr.. Nicoll.
Declares.
NURSE CROSS-EXAMINED
Reilly Tells of Arguing With
General About Western
Union Management.
NURSE CROSS-EXAMINED

In an effort to discredit the testimony
Clendenin Eckert in his contest Of the
will of his father, Gen. Thomas +. Eek
ert. which left the bulk of a s., 00o, 900
estate to r. r. Eckert jr., C%lendenln's
jected the nurse TO a gruellins cross
examination before Surrogate Cohalan
to-day.
Mr.. Nicoll. who is the younger Eek
crt's chief counsel, wanted to know all
about Reilly's interest in the case, draw
ing from the nurse the fact that he had
written several questions which he rs-
quested Clendenin Eckert's lawyer 10
ask him on the witness stand.
reilly nursed Gen. Eckert from 1905
undl the latter's death last October. His
description OF the Generals mental and
physical condition during the last two
years OF his life is relied upon by Glen
denim Bckert as an important factor 70
prove his claim that r. r. Ecker, ,r
and r. G.. Page, secretary TO Ger. Eek
ert and executor OF his will, exercised
UNDUE influence on the General when he
made his will.
Couldn't Catch Nurse.
But try as he would. Mr.. N,col failed
to tie up Reilly in any way.
Tell us all the questions YOU prepa-ed
for Mr.. Earle. counsel on the other side.
to ask you?" said Mr.. Nicoll.
oh. I cam say finland. You heard
'hem' lie wasn't anything unusual. I
o1ered TO do the same for your partner.
Mr.. Sullivan"
But you didn't. did your"
NO. I told Mr.. Sullivan my testi-
mony would not be favorable TO his
side. and so he dldn't want me TO pre-
pare any questions for him
Mr.. Nicoll then went over tho testi.
mony Reilly gave OF his direct examlna-
tlon yesterday, !nterrogatlng him as to
the minutest details OF his service as
Gen. Eckert's nurse.
Mr.. Nicoll wanted to know ALI the
conversation Reilly had with the Cen
eral in August last. Reilly said he
couldn't recall any special one, but they
talked about horses. politics and vari-
Gus other subjects.
Eckert for Roosevelt.
What dill YOU say about politlcs?"
on, We talked about the election. Gen.
Eckert wanted to See Mr.. Roosevelt
defeat the bosses-the Old Guard. He
said IL was time to clean out the old
politicians, they were dishonest"
DID the General ever say he thought
Roosevelt would be the next Prcsl-
dent?"
lie said he thought so. provided
Roosevelt was successful in cleaning
out the bosses"
Surrogate Cohalan interrupted Mr.,
Nicoll to inquire II he was trying TO
prove lack OF capacity. and there was
a laugh over the courtroom.
Mr.. Nicoll assured the Surrogate such
was not his purpose. His Ease hinges
on his ability to show Gen. Eckert was
In full possession Of all his mental fac
ulties up to the time he died.
Western Union Arguments.
Reilly told of conversations he had
with the General about the Western
Union Telegraph Company The Cen
eral told him He had 1900 shares of the
stock. Reilly said, for the sake of argu-
ment. he told the General he didn't
think the Western Union was we'll man.
~aged-that 1t didn't pay enough In divi-
bends.
what" said Mr.. Nicoll. You told
the General, who was once the COM
pany's head, that you thought the COM
pany vas mlsmanaged?'
YES"
Reilly declared further the General
told him the closing OF the race tracks
cost the Western Union 81, 900. 600 Of bust
ness a year.