Year: 1877

The HeudrIckson wi II case which has just been de-.
cided In Monmouth county. N j., before Judge scuc-
der Is full OF piquant details. Cornelius Hendrick.
son was an oysterman at Fair Haven, Red Bank,
who amassed snug property in his business, and died
last spring. aged sxtyave. In 1855 his nrst wife died.
leaving three children behind her-Mary Jane Samuel
and Charles. Mary Jane had been married, and was
then Mrs Chadwick. In a few weeks atci
his we's death he married again, and at his death u
was found that while he had provided moderately
well tor his sons he had left the bulk OF his property
TO hts second wife, Deborah and his child by her. and
cut OF Mary Jane with $500. Mary Jane entered
caveat against the will, and set up the plea that u
was made through the undue influence of hie second
Wife Counselors Robbins, Tranord and Cor.
don appeared Tor the caveator and coun-
selors Haight and Allen for the will
There large array OF family and friendly
partsans Of OF the parties in the court room,
which was filed during each Of the three daya
the trial occupied Mary Janc was In tears through.
out, while the fair widow was smiling and serene,
After formal proof of will had been made by the
subscribing witnesses Mary Jane took the stand
She said that before her mothers death her father
had built her house and tnat he promised her
mother her deathbed to give her q
deed for 1t and to make his future home
with her; her mother was buried on Wedncs-





across the Shrewsbury River Captain Brown's and
went to church with him and his daughter Deoby,
who then pretty young widow of about Mary
Janes age and was a neco OF his deceased wife He
said all night aud day he asked Mary Jane what
kind of housckeeper she thought Dolby was Sho
did not know ana he told her he had hired Debby for
year. She was installed next day and Mary Jane
went Indignantly homo. Two weeks aiterward, and
within two months after nor mothers death, she
heard they married. Her mother mad LETT
her a set OF china with gilt band and quilt
which was an old heirloom she did not get them iii
six months afterward, and then tho china cups had
the handles broken of and the gilt scratched OIL II
by design Two years ago her father turned her out
her own, and went to live il with his new family


WHAT BECAME OF THE BEDcLorHRs.


Maria Ward, fat but firm woman, who lived At Mr.
heard Debby tell him that Mary Jane had carried OIL
all the bedclothes with her. and they had to buy new
DobDy's folks take bundle of things
across tho river week before. Debby. she said,
kiss ana hug him and MAKE much of him and call him
"Poppy, dear" and all such things Potter Wibour,
Deghbor. had talk with tho old man before he died
about his will. Deoby had asked him to stay while
she went TO Red Bank on an errand. He stayed, but
found that she had boen all the while listening at the
door, When Poppy spoke to her about II she cried
and said It ddn make any difference whether he loft
her anything or mott she could work In some gentle
mans Kitchen IN ms OPINION pm sne Sla man cOd'c o.
He was uncommonly fond OF her.


Eliza Parker, dressmaker, made black dresses for



She said Poppy. wanted to see her in hers before he
died, to see how she looked III he dies
day. S''Iasi and l A want Sr you TO to hurry and get
them done soon as you can" The PLAINTIFFS coun.
sci wanted to prove by this witness the change in
Dcbby's demeanor whereby, rs no put It. as soon az
he was laid under the clods OF the valley she kicked
up her heels like lamb IN a pasture, because her
object was accomplished" !" but the Court would NOT
listen to evidence about Debby's friskincss.


AN "PoPPY"


The vcliest kind OF testimony was givon by ChnrioA
L.
who lived with his ather for several years after the
second marriage. He said:-"l sec she was rather
his lap an kssin' him occasionally, an thought
there was somethin' wrong about It II hap
tack. So concluded I'd watch, an one night
l hid At tho head OF the stairs. see her come
WI" s asr ha s..
BEDROOM went In, and bolted the door. l sot up all
night on the corner Of tho lounge waitn' for her
to out. So about the break Of day the door un
bolted, an she come out an passed right by me I
got up an tapped her shoulder an said, Good
God i she says, am started am run back by falhers
room, an up through tho girPs room,
% Up as
When she did come down tod hor she had TO prove
to me whether she was married or NOT to save her
OF weeks before the time they went to New York an
come back an claimed they were married went
R INTO s % %s ss s %ns %
your wen,' says l, Il think there's enough.
l didn't think har'y that Debby was crawiin'
mother's DEATH .well, says he, wore married.
But he followed out the barn an begged not
to report IL round the place. lie said he'd give
four hundred bushels OF oysters an plant 'em for
II I'D keep It still / kcp' pretcndn' I'd tell but
io. ashameder , than ne d,d an, nnaiy promised not
tor year. Alter they went 10 New York she began
TO kiss him an hug HIM more an more, an then
suck her tongue out at him to me an her
mother an laugh at him am make fun OF him behind
ised him that r he would go with her against hts
brother and sister he should have his full share. II no
didn't get II under the Will she would give Il to him
aitcrward, and her mother told him the same thing.
She told bim Poppy wasn't fl Tor any business and she
could just wina nm round her finger She used TO
put Poppy against Mary Jane every way she could
on one occasion, when she had persuaded him
to offer q house for sale, she met him
at the dock on his return from trip to the oyster
grounds, aud, alter kissing him afcctonatcly, tolo
him that q man named Murray had been dssu aded
from buying the house by Mary Jane, VINO told HIM q
was haunteu whereupon he said 1t beats the devil
that Mary Jane will work SO hard against me. IN ix
her for tnat" On another occasion he brought his
SON letter from Mary Jane, which ne said
Dcbby had read TO him, and he thought It
was very strange that Mary Jane should writo
HIM such abusive letter, telling HIM 10
take his house and 60 hell Charles read the lot.er
and found that IL contained no abusive expressions
whatever, but was perfectly respectful, and Poppy
said Debby had read It different from that. Debby
afterward told Charles about the abusive letter. aud
he laughed her and said II was something of her
own getting up ON one occasion whea M, Mary Jane



better not eat them; they might be poisoned Ths
old man, who was very penurous, would
talk freely behind her back about her cxtrav.
agance Charles had seen him throw his hat on the
dock and Jump with botn feet and curse the day
that he married her; but the moment she met him
and kissed him and rubbed his forehead and said
.A-w-w Poppyln that would END It,


There was some Iurther testimony TO show Dcbby's
,ll.wiII 10 Mary Jane and her influence used with
Poppy against her Mary James tears flowed airesh at
each reminder OF hcr woe while Debby smiled and
never shed tear


KICKING DOWN THE BULwARKa


For the defence number OF Poppy's old associates
were called TO prove that he was man Of unbending
viii, VINO could not have been influenced by DeDDy
duly. To several OF them no had said that
IN consequence OF Mary James writing him
that impudent letter and for her other III be-
havior she should never get cont from him.
Louisa Parker, who attended him In his last illness,
said he told her that he had made will aud built the
bulwarks strong and put under good captain. This
supposed to refer 10 Counsellor Robert Alien Jr,
OF Rod Bank, one OF the executors, the WILL
He told her lie supposed they would Try kick down
the buwarks, but he did not fear the result His
had come TO the house and abused him, anu he
thought Mary Jane had put them up TO II. He never
wanted TO her again. but desired TO be left die in
peace. He told Mrs. Parker lurther that ne had di-
rected Mr. Sebley to go and get the black dresses,