New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-29
Won So Often Friends
Are Sure He Was
Wholly Rational.
A CAREFUL BETTOR
AND A GOOD PICKER
Guessed Days Run on Trip to
Europe and Took Down
S625 Pool.

Surrogate Cohslsn refused Yesterday
10 take judicial coenizance Of the ex-
istenee Of bookmakers at the Saratoga
Tscetrsck, though for purposes OF the
record testimony was admitted that
Amos +. Emo, whose will is being con-
tested, made numerous successful bets
ST the track in the summer of 1915.
Mr.. Eno's heirs are contesting his
will on the ground that he was not
mentally competent when he executed
10 last summer. George F. Johnson,
real estate broker and longtime friend
Of the dead millionaire. told yesterday
how NJ. Emo picked the Give ones" at
Saratoga.
Mr. Johnson said he saw Emo pass
be- 70 bookmaker.
There are no bookmskers," inter
rupted Surrogate Cohalan.
The witness seemed to think his
testimony was doubted, but Austen G.
Fox. chief counsel for the proponents,
explained that in the eyes of the law
there are no bookmakers.
Johnson said Emo. an alleged suf-
fsrer from senile dementia, was "a
careful bettor and successful picker
Of horses" He believed Mr. Emo was
rational.
Jefferson Seigman. the banker. who
had met Mr. Emo under similar circum-
stances, expressed the same opinion.
Mr. Seligman said he was a graduate
Of Columbia University, which is the
Tesiduary legatee in the contested will.
Contestants Use Letters.
John B. Stanchfeld, chief counsel
20 the contestants, submitted Edward
". CogGeshall, founder OF the Lawyers
Title and Trust Company. formerly its
president and now chairman of the
board Of directors, to a rather severe
examination. After the witness
had said that one of his duties was to
see that the company scrupulously car
ried out its contracts, Mr. Stanchfeld
Introduced letter written by Mr.. Emo,
$50 a director in the company, in
which he expressed the opinion that
TIE company had not fulfilled all its
contracts.
Would you say that Mr.. Emo was ir-
rational when he wrote that?" asked
Mr.. Stanchheld.
1T was lack of knowledge" Mr.. Cog
Ceshall replied.
Mr. Stanchfeld then read the letter,
which was dated August -, 1914. 1t
was TO Mr.. Barnum. Eno's Office man
ager. Mr.. Emo told Mr.. Barnum TO
ind out whether the Lawyers Title and
Trust Company was going to live up to
a certain guarantee.
If they do. it will be a new thing;
If not, we are through with them he
wrote.
Mr.. Stanchheid asked the witness
whether this letter was rational or ir-
rational. Coggeshall hesitated.
You'll have TO answer that question
II it takes all afternoon" said the
lawyer.
1t Was Rational
From his point of view." replied the
witness, 1T was rational
He said he knew no reason for the
letter. Mr.. Emo wrote another, in
which he said that II the trust com
pany did not live up 10 its contract he
wanted to close his account there.
Mr.. Coggeshall said that Lucius H..
Beers one Of the executors of the Emo
will. is also a director of the Lawyers
Tile ana lruSl Company iAe fNONtu
Mr.. Emo as saying:
81 have no one 20 leave my money
70: my family are all rich"
He was certain that the testator was
rational.
R. Fulton Cutting and s. Stanwood
Menken, two other witnesses, expressed
tn same view.
The testimony Of Samuel Elliot fur
Their brought out the sporting proclivi-
ties of the dead man. He and Mr.. Emo
sailed for Europe on the same steamer
and became partners in the daily pool
on the ships run-that is, Mr.. Emo
furnished the money and Mr.. Elliot
took care of the business management
Of the partnership. Luck was against
the two until the last day, when they
won q pool that amounted to $3.50.