New-York tribune., 1912-01-09
COURT HELD IN HOSPITAL
Singer Will Contest Begins, and
Children Claim Estate.
H0USEKEEPER'S SHARE BIG
Physician Completed Will at the
Dying Mans Dictation,
He Testifies.

The contest over the will of John A.
Singer. son Of the sewing machine manu-
facturer. began yesterday before Surrogate
John p. Cohalan, in the Surrogate's Court.
and ended for the day at the Tahnemann
Hospital
Mrs. Lucia II. Thatcher was one Of the
subscribing witnesses to the will. and is in
the Hahnemarn Rospital having broken
her leg. Her testimony was needed yester-
day. Surrogate Cohalan made the sugges-
ton that he hold court in the hospital, to
which the opposing attorneys agreed. and
the judge and lawyers adjourned to the
sick ward, where court was held and the
testimony of Mrs. Thatcher taken.
Mr.. Singer left the bulk Of his estate TO
Mrs. Charlotte J. Donnelly, his house
keeper. She inherited ia shares Of the
sewing machine company and the interest
of the testator in his house No 10 East
nth street, The Bronx. The contest was
brought by Merritt A. Singer and Jean
Eta Singer, son and daughter Of the tes-
tator by his second wife. who live in Chi
cago. They said their father was not
mentally competent when he executed his
will. and was dying. i'm fact. when he made
the instrument with the aid Of his physi-
clan. DR.. Edward l.. Corbett, Of No 1886
Alexander avenue, The Bronx
Or. Corbett. who testified yesterday said :
Il sat behind him and with pillow
propped him up. Mr. Beach held geography
10 support the document" Mr.. Singer died
in October last. DR.. Corbett said that on
one Of his visits to Mr.. Singer. after he had
suffered a stroke of apoplexy his patient
said he wanted to make will Walter
Beach. his personal counsel, began the writ
ing Of the will. hut was taken III. and the
physician finished taking the dictation OF
the sick man. Dr. Corhett said h" remem-
bered that Mr.. Singer had 100 shares of
stock in the Singer Sewing Machine Com
rany. which he divided into four parts. As
10 the Bronx house the witness testified
Mr. Singer said he owned small interest
in it Mr.. Singer had returned III from
Port Jarvis the physician said. and he had
trouble in artiCulatlng. Dr. torhett was
one of the witnesses Of the will. and David
r. Thatcher and Mrs Lucia II. Thatcher
caretakers II the property, were the others
II developed that Mr. Singer and his sec
ond wife separated eleven years ago ana
Mrs. Singer took her children 10 chicago
Counsel for Mrs Donnely said he had the
copv OF contract between Mr.. Singer ana
the contcsting son and daughter by which
they agreed for a valuable consideration
IN relinouish all claims upon his estate at
his death II was said the son and dangh-
ter received 10000 each under this agree
ment in 1854. Mr. Baldwin. the Chicago at
torney retained by the contestants said:
This property for which the contestants
make a claim was supposed 10 b" worth
millions. but we have revised our estimates
for much of II, We find, has been squan-
dered in recent years.
Under crosse ss-examination, Or CoTh"tt said
that II took Mr.. Singer half an hour to
make his will and sign H. Thatcher said
on the stand that Mr.. Singer had much
difficulty in signing Il. "Iie didn't know
ANYTHING" said Thatcher. He went on 20
say I'm answer TO questions that Mr. Beach
asked him to go to Mr. Singers room. hut
did not tell him that he was 10 witness
will II signed Just because Mr.. Beach told
me TO-" said the witness. He added that he
was satisfied the old man was unconscious.
in spite Of the fact that Mr.. Singer signed
the will.
When he entered the room. Thatcher
said. Mr. Singer was I'm bed aud his eyes
were closed lie and his wife put their
names to the document after Mr.. Singer
had been raised in bed for his signature.
when we went to say goodby 10 Mr..
Singer he could make no response
Thatcher said he did not know he was
witnessing the last will Of Mr. Singer. and
in some respects contradcted Mr. Beach.
When he finished his testimony counsel
for the proponent asked that his state
ment that he did not know II to be a last
will be stricken from the record. Surro-
gate Cohalan said lie Is an old man
and ] am not going TO believe his asser-
ton in opposition TO a reputable lawyer
Ike Walter Beach"