New-York tribune., 1912-03-06


realized his act. Miss Trowbridge al
legged that her uncle had led a secluded
life for a few years before his death
and that he had become morbid Also
he long suffered from a progressive dis
ease and was daily attended by physi-
clans. Parker was bachelor, and Miss
Trowbridge is the daughter of Mrs.
Lucy Parker Trowbridge, sister of the
testator.
No Opposition at Probate.
The two brothers Of Miss Trowbridge
said in their answer that Mr. Parker.
who was more than seventy years old.
suffered much. and I'm order to alleviate
his sufferings IL was necessary TO ad-
ministC- drugs and narcotics To him. lie
was umid and of a childish nature. Mr..
Parker executed his will on January 81.
1910 about three and half months be-
fore his death. The witnesses were
Thomas Thacher. we'll known lawyer
Seney Plummer and Robert T. Parsons.
The Will was filed for probate on May
16 1910, but the contestants said that II
was not legally filed because Mr.. Parker
did not publish and declare TO the wit
nesses that II was his last will. The con-
testants also alleged that Mr.. Parker did
not realize the purport Of the paper.
There was a clause in the document that
disherited any relative that contested il,
and the will was admitted to probate
without opposition.
The testator gave $4,000 10 Yale Uni
known as the Elise Townsend Parker
Scholarship" in memory of his sister. lie
gave $4,000 TO the American Female
Guardian Society. and To business asso-
ciates not related 10 him he left 1,160
shares of a total OF 1900 shares in his
company. Another bequest was one of
s5, 900, TO Miss Trowbridge, the plaintiff.
The residue he gave to Townsend or his
children. I'm case the lawyer did not sur
vive the testator. All the legacies have
been paid and the president and fellows
IF the Yale Corporation and the other
henefici5ries are named as defendants in
the suit.
Delaney Nicoll. who is counsel for
Townsend. gave out a statement yester-
day. in which he said that the entire
estate left by Mr., Parker amounted to
only sSj 900, and that Townsend is the
son of the late James NJ. Townsend of
New Haven. who was cousin of Mr..
Parker anG his most trusted friend. The
statement of Mr. Nicoll added in part:
Townsend's High Standing.
"All those who know Mr.. Townsend,
especially his brethren of the New York
bar. among whom he has labored hon
ora bly, and successfully for thirty years
and his friends I'm New Haven, where he
was born and where, as an associate
lecturer Of the Yale Law School for
many years he has taught the science Of
law. will require no denial Of the false
and wicked charges against him made.
I wish to say after thorough investiga-
ton that the charges that he ever
sought, induced or requested Mr.. Parker
TO make him or his children the residu-
arv legatees under his will or that the
|
pacity to make "A will are wholly with
out foundation.
"The will was not drawn by Mr..
Townsend, as falsely suggested in the
complaint, but by Thomas Thacher. of
the firm Of Simpson. Thacher & Bart
lett. one Of the leading members Of the
bar. who attended to It's execution as
well as to it's probate. The will made
discriminating disposition Of property,
/ evincing the clear and reasonable mind
of the testator. He made substantial
bequests to nephews. nieces. cousins and
| friends.
The statement Of Mr.. Nicoll goes on
10 say that If not his nearest relative.
MIR. Townsend was "unquestionably the
one relative 10 whom he was most at
J tached and with whom he was most inti-
mate Although he had been his law
yer from 1888, succeeding I'm that rela
ton his brother, the late Judge William
X. Townsend, Mr.. Townsend never had
charge Of Mr.. Parker's business affairs
or any possession or control of any OF
his property"