Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-10
WILL OF NEWARK
WOMAN LOST ON
STEAMER ARABIC
McCanna Case Evidence, Sent
to England, Went Down
With Liner.

The loss of the steamer Arabic.
which was sunk by a German sub
marine, has brought about one of the
most complicated situations in con-
nection with a will case that has ever
been noted at the office of the surro-
gate of Essex county. Today Surro-
gate Fred S. Sickle, jr., received a
communication from William E.
Hart, town clerk of Sheffield, Eng
land, informing him that important
documents and evidence in the case
of the late Rose McCanna had been
lost on the steamer Arabic.
Upon receipt of the letter Surrogate
Sickle at once began to investigate
the case and found that the original
will had boen forwarded to Oliver c.
Wilson, lord mayor of Sheffield, Eng
land, who was commissioned to take
the testimony of Miss Beatrice North
ern, one of the witnesses. Miss Nc
Gamma died on January 2S at her
home, 303 Central avenue. When the
will was filed for probate Surrogate
Stickles discovered a doubt on the
face of the document. He questioned
the writing of the name Frederick
Newman, who was one of the bene-
ficiaries. In turn he presented the
matter to-the Orphans Court so that
the instrument could be proven. 1t
was found that Louis p. Taylor, one
of the witnesses, was dead There
fore 1t became necessary to forward
the will to Sheffield, England, so that
the second witness, Miss Northern,
could prove the signature and give
her testimony.
The lord mayor of Sheffield was
designated to take the evidence re-
quired. The original will and the
original record of the facts as given
by Miss Northern were then mailed
to the United States. According to
the letter received today, the docu-
ments were sent on the illfated
steamer Arabic, which was lost at sea,
on August 10. Surrogate Stickel upon
receipt of the letter this morning
found that a copy of the evidence
which had been sent to replace the
original had not been enclosed
1t Will be necessary to recommis-
sion the lord mayor of Sheffield and
secure the original evidence. How
ever, the will is lost and Surrogate
Stickel will have to apply to the Or
phans Court for an approval of a
copy of the will, and that was made
here before the original document
was sent abroad. Whether the court
will accept the copy is not known.
This is the second case of its kind
in the history of the surrogates Of
flee.
Miss McCanna, under the pro-
visions of her will. leaves $50 to the
priest of the Catholic parish in which
she died for prayers to be said for
the repose of her soul. The Catholic
Protectory at Arlington receives 800
and Frederick Newman, who lives at
Dickinson. N. D., is also bene-
ficiary He is a nephew of the de-
ceased The real estate and contents
of the home at 303 Central avenue go
to her niece, Catherine Gaskin. and
nephews, Joseph McCanna and John
McCanna all of Newark.
Andrew S. Taylor drew the will for
Miss McCanna. He, together with
Rosanna Mullen, niece, are execu-
tors of the estate, which amounts in
all to about $4,000.
With the loss of the original will
II will be necessary for Surrogate
stickel to file a petition in the Or
phans' Court setting forth the facts
as to the manner in which the doc
ument was lost. He will present a
true copy of the will, which will have
to be accepted instead of the original.