New-York tribune., 1913-06-22
His Story Of Will Case.

These are the facts John Anderson
was tobacco man in New York City.
He died and left very large estate. run
ming up into millions of dollars. He left
a will. in which he left all his property
practically to his son, John Charles An
dcrson. In the will he disinherited a
daughter.
John Anderson was a spiritualist lie
believed, on account Of what some
medium told him. that this daughter was
illegitimate II broke the daughters s
heart She had married farmer in Yer
mont She left a daughter. This daugh-
ter married the secretary of Governor
T. Pngree His name was Watson Gov
ernor Pingree was then Governor of Yer
mont
Mrs Watson was then about nineteen
years old. Governor Pingree took up her
case. investigated II and decided that this
granddaughter had a good cause Of ac-
ton. He employed George NJ. Curtis to
bring action in the City Of New York.
Curtis brought the action-whch was a
suit Of against the present
Plaza Hotel property; It was the Plaza
Hotel then that was part OF the Ander-
son estate
Curtis is a poor lawyer, and he re-
tanned counsel The counsel he retained
at that time was Richard s. Newcombe,
who IL now dead. and Joseph S. Auer-
bach, who is now alive.
Joseph S. Auerbach is a very good
lawyer and drew the complaint which
was an action in ejectment That COM
plant was q masterpiece OF pleading-all
due TO Auerbach.
That trial came before Mr.. Justice Van
Brunt in the City OF New York and
after the case was tried Judge Van Brunt
dismissed II on the ground that the
plaintiff had no right Of action. New
combe and Auerbach really tried the
case. Curtis had had very little TO do
with IT, After that Newcombe and Auer-
bach refused 10 do anything further in
the case unless they had a retainer d.
rect from Mrs. Watson and from Gov
ernor Pingree. who was her guardian.
Curtis had a contingent retainer, and
he urged Governor Pingree and Mrs.
Watson not TO sign retainers for Auer-
bach and Newcombe. They then got out
Of the case. Neither one of them ever
was paid a dollar. Mr.. Auerbach will cor
roborate that. Mr.. Newcombe cannot; he
is dead.
AT one time long before this I had a
room I'm Curtis's Offices, at No. 239 Broad
vay. New York City. I only occupied a
room in the Offices with him short time.
] paid no rent. l rendered legal services
for the rent ] had one little room. and
for the ONCE rent I did legal services,
drew legal papers. tried cases and such
things as that. was young lawyer and
anxious 10 get on.
AS ] say, l was only with Curtis a
short time. left him and began 10
practice law for myself at No. "a Park
Place. New York This was some time
before the Anderson case was instituted.
After Newcombe & Auerbach with
drew from the Anderson case Curtis sent
for me and asked me TO read over the
testimony in the case and see what !
thought about H. / did so. and then in
formed him that in my opinion the case
could be reversed OH appeal. lie said he
had no money 10 so ahead. that The
Watsons had no money, and he wanted TO
know whether / could raise the money to
20 ahead with an appeal. ! said ! would
do the best ] could.
II had a little money which ! had
saved. ] put that into the case. bor-
rowed some money from my mother and
] put that into the case. made this
case part Of my life, because my sym
pathies were with Mrs. Watson. and J
felt ali the time that there was some
thing wrong about Andersons will, but
] could not hnd out just then what was
wrong.
However. I believed Mrs. Watson was
hight started in and die all the work.