A long driveway led from the street to the main entrance and wound beneath the intertwining branches of two enormous oak trees. The mansion's rear was surrounded by lovely gardens that slowly fell to the edge of a small lake. The Hudson River, which was not far away, as well as the gardens and surrounding countryside, were all clearly seen from the main gate. With a revolver in his hand and an unsightly wound just above the right eye and close to the temple, Hugh Mainwaring was discovered dead in his Fair Oaks office. Less than three months before, they had been introduced at the New York Country Club, where Ralph Mainwaring and Mr. Whitney had first met. Richard Hobson, the uncooperative witness in the previous day's hearings, had fled without leaving even the tiniest trace of his whereabouts. Following Mrs. LaGrange's suicide, there were reports that legal action had been taken to challenge the previous will, but in the names of Ralph Mainwarry and his brother Harold W. Mainwary, since his son had completely withdrawn from the proceedings. On the eve of the contest, each side awaited the start of the battle after the intervening weeks filled with planning for the upcoming litigation had passed.
