Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-26
YELLOW PAPER"
IN WATMOUGH WILL
CASE CALLED FALSE
Lawyer for Bene6ciaries
estifies Their Former
Employe Confessed Per-
jured Character of Mem
orandum.

| Efforts of counsel for the beneficiaries
to impeach the testimony of Jules Mau-
| jean. star witness for the contestants,
before the Register of Wills, added q
sensational feature to the controversy
over the legality of the will of John G..
Watmough when hearing on the appeal
of the dsinherited relatives was resumed
before Judge Lamorelle in the Orphans
Court today.
Jules, who for about ten years was JAM
itor in the curio shop OF Mr.. and Mrs
Ferdinand Keller, where Mr.. Watmough
was in the habit of calling nearly every
day, testified before the Register as to
the conduct of the millionaire during
these visits and the relationship between
duced what he termed "the yellow paper
and which purported to be a memoranda
of conversations and actions between Mr..
Watmough and Mrs. Keller as far back
as 10 years ago.
The Kellers. under the terms of the
Will in dispute, were to have the residue
OF the estate. The aged testator gave
100000 to Zalie FACET a French maid,
and small bequests to other domsetics.
The contest over the will. which Is
dated January g. 1873 was started by
DR.. William Watmough Grer, a nephew.
and other disInherited relatives. Mr.
Watmough died in lo fall of last year
The contestants - sed that Mr.. wat
mough was Il hard drnker, not mem
tally capable of making a valid will and
that undue influence was brought to
bear upon him. A score or more wit
nesses in the Orphans Court have re-
pudiated the accusations relative to Mr..
Watmough's habits.
Taking up the yellow paper episode
and the testimony Of Jules the Janitor
Maurice b. Saul, counsel for the will
and j. Hibbs Buckman, representing the
principal beneficiaries, declared today
they would prove Mauiean had commit
ted perjury and his statements before
the Register and the so-caled memo
randum were nullified by the mans own
confession after the Registers hearing.
CALLS YELLOW PAPER DEPLORIOUs
Lawyer Buchanan took the stand him
self and testified mutual friend of the
Kellers and Maujean had informed him
Jules, conscience stricken, had admitted
in letters to the Kellers, 1.-THE yellow
paper" record, which he testified was
made some l2 or Is years ago, had in
fact been prepared only few days or
a short time prior 10 the calling of the
case for hearing before the Register
The lawyer also testified Jules wanted
$1,000, so that he could "go away" after
he had "rlghted the wrong done the
Kellers," After these revelations and the
OF the Confession" Jules |
and the witness did not know |
his present whereabouts.
In answer to Mason and FdmnDds |
counsel for the contestants, lawyer Buck |
man explained all the transactions he |
had with Jples after the latter had CON
fessed' to Mr. Holden, who informed the |
kellers OF the alleged perfdy of their en-
ployes. Mr.. Buckman said he employed
detectives to investigate the matter in an
effort to verify every phase of II. Lawyer
Buckman repeated several times that he
Impressed upon the detectives, Mr. Holden
and Jules himself that neither the bene-
hciaries nor the estate would pay a
cent beyond legal fees for any testimony
as to the alleged perjury which might be
given by Maulean in any further hear
ngs in the case Mr.. Buckman further
testified that on August 6, when Mau-
lean came 10 his office, he said that he
lad been promised from 5000 TO $4,000 for !
MS testimony and the yellow paper"
-ecord and that he had received SO on
account.
Further on in his testimony LAWYER
3uckman declared that in addition 10
demanding 5000 ito get away" after maxi
ns his confession, Jules wanted a larceny
harge against him dropped II was
lTought out that letters passing between
ir Watmough and Mrs. Keller had been
by Jules from a wastepaper
asket, and the larceny charge grew out
f this.
Mr. Mason. who conducted the cross
Examination brought out that the first
etter of admissions written by Jules to
he kellers was not satisfactory, and the
LEGGED perjurer composed a second one.
n the second letter he specifically reDu-
lated as false the account he had given
efore tine register as to what he said
ad taken place between Mr. Watmough
nd Mrs. Keller during their long ac-
uaintance and the time Jules was in a
ositlon to observe what was going on
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