New-York tribune., 1912-02-20
-ONSLEY TESTIMONY IN
Says George w. Young Financed
W Mrs. YerkeS'S Suit.
SECRETARY'S $4,000 CASE
Chicago Executor Says Wife of
Traction Capitalist Used
to Drink Heavily.

Testimony OF Louis S. Owsley filed in the
County Clerks office yesterday. brought out
the fact that at the time of the death Of
Charles T. Yerkes, the Chicago traction
capitalist. his wife. Mrs Mary Adelaide
Yerkes, came near being sent to an institu-
ton for dipsornaniacs.
The testimony further disclosed the all
legation that George w. Young, the banker
and husband of Nine. Nordica, the opera
singer, was financially behind the ltiga-
tion which the late Mrs. Yerkes instituted
against Owsley as the Chicago executor OF
her husbands estate. This testimony was
given in the examination of Mr.. Owsley be-
fore trial of an action against the estate
of Mrs. Yerkes by Miss Mary A. Fitzpat-
lick. who was her private secretary.
The suit is for $4,000. which Miss F1tzpat-
rick says Mrs Yerkes promised her in 1906
for services that she rendered and was 20
render after that. MIR. Owsley was present
when this promise was made. and that is
why his testimony was sought. This prom
ise was made few months after the death
OF her husband. who died I'm December. 1905.
In the autumn preceding the death of
Mr.. Yerkes, said Mr., Owsiey. Mrs. Yerkes
drank heavily. and at times he had 10
pacify her. Before an attack of appendi-
-oitis that she suffered Mr. Owsley said
there was an Arrangement to send her to a
sanatorium for dlpsomaniacs.
The witness said that when Mrs. Yerkes
made the promise to her secretary he
demonstrated with her because Of the large
amount He said: Il demonstrated with
her and said that 1 thought she was very
reckless in giving such a large amount OF
money, as the estate might not pan out
well. For that reason thought $4,000 was
a very large amount"
To this Mrs Yerkes replied: Il think she
saved my life, and l am going to give her
$4,000"
Mrs. Anna Sims, a sister OF Mrs. Yerkes
and one of her, executors, was in the Yerkes
house at the time. and Mr. Owsley testi-
fed that Mrs. Sims said: 1T is better for
her to get it than for the money TO so 10
charity"
Z Mr.. Owsley said he had known Miss Fitz-
patrick several years. and that she had
complete authority in the household Of
Mrs Yerkes long time. To show this
authority, Mr. Owsley told Of the secretary
telephoping in his presence in the spring
Of 1896 to Wilson Miner, whom Mrs Yerkes
had married and divorced. that she was
sick and he could not go to the house.
Miss Fitzpatrick represented herself as the
nurse, and told Miner, Mrs. Yerkes hus-
band. that nobody could see her. At the
time Mrs. Yerkes was recovering from an
operation for Appendicitis. However, when
She made her promise, Mr.. Owsley said
Mrs Yerkes was in normal state OF mind
aside from the effects of the operation.
James W. Osborne, counsel for Mrs.
Yerkes's executors, asked Mr.. Owsley II
ne did not call at the house Of Mrs. Yerkes,
at Fifth avenue and 6Sth street. and say
TO her that II she did not give him per
cent OF the proceeds of the sale of the
house and furnishings he would blow her
higher than a kite" Mr.. Owsley denied
making such a statement.
Mr. Owsley testified further that George
W. Young was defraying the expenses of
the litigation of the executors of Mrs.
Yerkes's estate against the executor OF
Mr.. Yerkess estate Before that, said Mr.
owsiey, Mr.. Young paid the expenses Of
Mrs. Yerkes's litigation. The action by
the executors appointed by Mrs. Yerkes Is
merely a continuation OF the one that she
begun while she was alive. They seek 10
remove Mr. Owsley as executor Of the
Charles 7. Yerkes estate. He, on the other
hand, Is trying to get possession of a large
amount Of jewelry left by Mrs. Yerkes,
which Mr.. Owsley says belongs 10 the es-
tate Of Mr. Yerkes.
The late T. Russell Soley was counsel for
Mrs Yerkes. He was counsel for Mr..
Young also. When Mr.. Soley died Howard
Dickinson, his brother-in-law, became
counsel for Mrs. Yerkes's estate and ike
wise took over some cases in which Mr.
Youns. Ras interested.