556 HELMS v. FRANCISCUS.

of obtaining a decree for her own exclusive benefit during his ab-
sence and without his knowledge, and that all the other matters
and allegations in the bills are correct.

This answer was sworn to before a master in chancery in New
York, and certified by the mayor of the city of New York, under
the corporation seal, in the usual manner.

26th June, 1830.—BLAND, Chancellor.—This case standing
ready for hearing, the solicitors of the parties were heard, and the
proceedings read and considered.

After passing over the will of the late Carsten Newhaus, and
the various allegations of the parties, it appears from the proofs,
that the testator's sister, Geshe Adelheid Newhaus, called ————
Bowers^ of Bremen, in the will, was married to Frederick Bauer,
of that place, on the 8th of July, 1807, and that she died on the
5th of January following; after having had but two children; the
first, Catherine Steinhauer, an illegitimate child, born before her
marriage, and who died, unmarried and without issue, on the 16th
of July, 1817; and the second a legitimate child, Anna G. Bauer,
born on the 27th of August, 1807, after her marriage with Bauer;
this sister of the testator never had any other children; and that
Anna G. Bauer was, on the 23d of November, 1826, married to,
and is now the wife of Diederich Meier.

It further appears, that the other sister of the testator, one of
these plaintiffs, Anna Gebetha Margaretta Newhaus, was born in
Germany, and christened there on the 17th of February, 1775;
that some time before the year 18OO, she had an illegitimate child
named Frederick A. Wandelohr, who is now living; that prior to
the year 1815, she and her child came over from Germany to
Maryland; and some time previous to the year 1816, having put
off the name of Newhaus, she went to reside in Chambersburg,
* in Pennsylvania; and there kept a small store; and was much
respected by the name of Mrs. Wandelohr, At that place, on
the 12th of October, 1819, in the forty-fourth year of her age,
she was married to this defendant Lewis Helms. In the latter end
of the month of November following, Helms and his wife came to
Baltimore; and in a few days after their arrival, he caused a power
of attorney, and a last will to be prepared by a notary public,
intending them to be executed by his wife, for the purpose, as he
supposed, of effectually conveying to him all her interest in the
estate of the late Carsten Newhaus. She positively refused to
sign and execute those instruments; and was much distressed at