New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-15

Judge Swami has information which
leads him TO believe that as early as
the autumn Of 1915 a scheme to probate
an alleged new will was Matched IN
New York City. II would seem that
at that time lawyer was consulted
snd from then on no attempt 20 oher
the will for probate was made. some
people may consider this peculiar.
Finding of New Will
This will MIR. Schurz produced was
dated October Q, 1905, and, according
10 Mr.. Dooling, this will was supposed
TO have been found in tin box IN
August or September. 1915. in chicago
which previous 10 that time was
believed to have been in New
York. Mr.. Kings frst will was drawn
UP in 1901. The names OF Mary q Me,-
win. Mrs. Kings sister. Addison 5. Mel
vim and Byron l.. Smith, of Chicago,
appeared as witnesses in the sceonu
will" Mrs. Melvin is the only sur
viviug witness. Mr.. Smith dlea o"
March %. 1914, and Mr.. Melvin IN WI.
Mr.. Dooling said that Mr.. sehurA
had also turned over an afhdaVlt pea,
ing the name Of Mrs. King, when toiG
story of the finding of the secona
will, and the time and the manner Vi
its execution. The document appear
TO have been signed at Chicaeo on
June 6. 1917, but Mr.. Dooling SAID ne
was not certain that the sigha'ure
was genuine. Papers when are eN-
pected to-day from the Chicago prose
cutting attorney are expected 10 eien'
up the matter somewhat.
THE statement is made IN tnat
document" Mr.. Dooling said, mat
Mr.. Means had advised Mrs. King that
they would have to move cautiously
and ascertain whether all the details
she had stated were correct
Mrs. Hing Suspected Banks
Mr.. Schurz said last night that he
had been retained by Mrs. King IN
November, 1915. 10 investigate the
manner in which certain trust com
panies had for the last nine years
been administering funds which she
had received from the estate OF her
late husband. Such work, Mr.. Schurz
said. made il necessary Tor him TO have
several interviews with CASTOR b.
Means in his capacity as Mrs. King
business adviser.
"ln March. 1916" said Mr.. Schurz,
"Mr. Means informed me that n Will
executed by the late Mr.. King bear
ing q date later than the one al
ready probated had been discovered,
and that Mrs. King wished me to act
as her attorney. Mr.. Means asked me
to draft a tentative agreement set
ting forth the terms on which | would
undertake the matter with Mrs. King,
and told me that he was to get
certain percentage of whatever moneys
she might receive TO compensate him
for collecting and verifying the evil
dence relating to the execution of the
second will.
IL made my consent to act as Mrs.
Kings attorney conditional on my be
ing satisfied as to The authenticity and
validity Of the newly discovered will,
and imposed the further condition that
before executing the foregoing agree
ment Mrs. King. who was at that time
at Chicago, should submit it to Mr..
Melville, Of Chicago. for many years
her personal counsel, and obtain his
approval. The agreement was never
executed by me. and az far as | know
exists only in draft form. The matter
rested thus until July 81 last, when Mr..
Means brought what he said was the
original later will. and also the opinion
Of five handwriting experts as to the
authenticity Of the signatures attached
to the will. This was the status Of the
matter at .he time when Mrs. King met
her death"
Mr.. Doolng summoned an expert on
typewriter documents TO examine the
will last night, and declared that,
though the document was apparently
carefully drawn UP, il had several IN
teresting mistakes in il. !
Alton Means Yesterday retained
George Gordon Battle to represent him
self and his brother in this city. Mr.:
Battle last night admitted that he had
been retained and said he would watch
the grand jury proceedings.