St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-02-27
ROMANTIC STORY COMES T,
LIGHT IN LESLIE CASE.
Deathbed Talk By Publisher Repeat.
ed in Court Fight Over
Wealth.
New York Herald:

Extreme steps to prevent the loss
Of $2.OO0,OO0 left by Baroness de Ba-
Gus to the cause OF women's suffrage
have just been disclosed by the law
firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, repre-
senting the proponents of the will OF
the Baroness. Testimony thirty-dive
years old is to be submitted to COM
bat the allegations of the opponents
of the will.
Recently James H. Westcott made
an investigation in the files of the
Surrogate's Court, finding records to
show the tangled marital experiences
Of the Baroness, who was the widow
Of Frank Leslie, publisher. Mr.
Westcott, represents the relatives OF
Mr.. Leslie, who seek 81 100000 from
the estate on the ground that the
Baroness disregarded the direction
of her husband, which was to give
his estate to his heirs at her death
Evidence just found by the suff-
rage interests is put forward to prove
that Mr.. Leslie wished to cut off his
children from his estate and did not
direct his wife to turn the properties
over to them. It was found in testi
mony taken in 1880, when the will
of Mr.. Leslie was admitted to pro-
bate. Alfred Leslie, son, contest
ed the document. His children now
are endeavoring to overthrow the be-
quest to suffrage in Mrs. Leslie's will
Frank Leslie left his entire estate to
his wife, the late Baroness, whom he
married a few years before his death.
January 10, 1880, and soon after
the mother of his three sons had Oh
tanned divorce from him. 1t was
alleged that Mr.. Leslie was too Ill
to execute his will with understand
ing.
Circumstances In Making VIII.
Edward N Dickerson, attorney,
who has Offices at No. 141 Broad
way, but now lives in France, drew
Mr.. Leslie's will and was one of the
witnesses. The other was George
H. Evans, his managing clerk. Their
testimony contradicts the assertion
that the publisher left his estate to
his wife on condition that she turn
over the principal to his sons at her
DEATH. Mr.. Dicherson testified in
1880 of the execution of the will q
few weeks before Mr.. Leslie's death,
saying:
"Mr. Leslie, on the day the will
was dated, asked me if / had the
will he formerly had executed safely
in my office. / told him had. He
suggested that we do it over again,
in view of the then existing circum-
stances. He then gave me instruc-
tions, and went to my Office, where
/ prepared the will.
Dickerson said he returned later
with the new will, whcih was then
witnessed and signed. Before sign
ing Mr.. Leslie said to Evans: II
want you to satisfy yourself that
am of sound mind" Evans and Les
lie then talked for few minutes be-
fore the signatures we're affixed.
Asked what we're the changed cir
cumstances Mr.. Dickerson testified:
"At that time he was engaged in 2
law suit with his son, Harry, who
had taken his name, his son, Alfred.
who was engaged in rival publica-
ton under the name of Leslie & Go
Mr.. Leslie said that the conduct OF
his sons caused his depression.
Children Called Hostile.
Mr.. Leslie" continued the wit
ness, said his two children had be-
come hostile to him, although he had
always treated them with kindness
He thought they had treated him
most ungratefully and ungenerous-
ly."
In what terms did he speak OF
his wife?" the present Mrs. Leslie
was asked.
Zone of the most solemn CONVEX
sations with Mr.. Leslie l ever had
in my life," said the witness, was
after he had been told that he must
die in very few hours. That was
perhaps ten days before he died, but
he had been told that morning that
there were no hopes for him. He
was lying on the sofa and at his in
sat down and took his
hand. He was cheerful and smiling