The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-25 00:00:00

A WILL CASE.

In the Court of Probate, the cause of "Sawbridge and
others v. DM," has been tried

The testator, Joseph Hill, was a grocer at Milesenel,
London, and be died on the 26th of December, 1869.
He was married and had one sob, the defendant, by
his wife. She had been paralytic and bedridde n for
many years, and the teedator had cohabited with his
housekeeper, Mre. Sawl ridge, by whom he had two
children. Mrs. Sawbi idge assisted him in hin business
and also nursed and attended to his wife. By a will
executed on the 15th of March 1860, he made a pro-
vision for his wife doling her life, he left a legacy
to the defendant, and he gave the bulk of his
property, consisting of three fr, ehold houses, to
Mrs. Sawbridge for her life and then to her
ci ddren. He appointed his son and the children
of Mrs. Sawbridge residuary legatees. The instrucs
than, for this will were given in the testator's writing,
and contained his itatement of the reasons which in-
duced him to give a larger share of his t roperty to
Mrs. Sawbridge and her family than to the defendant,
and these reasons were, at his request, embodied in the
will. In September, 1861, he executed a codicil re-
voking the appointment of an executor, but in other
respects confirming the will. Mrs. Sawbridge stated
that she and the testate)r lived together on very affec.
tienate terms RS husband and wife, and that she knew
nothing abut the will till atter it woe xectc ee. The
testator had no intern ,urse with his son for many
years, and frequently complained of his conduct.
The defi ndant alleged that the will and codicil were
obtained by the undue influence of Mrs. Sawbridge.
He and his wife were examined, add stated that,
although they were prevented by Mr& Sawbridge,
from visiting the teßtator at his residence for many
years before his death, they frequently saw and con-
versed with him, and that he was constantly complain.

- The Court accordingly pronounced for the will and
codicil, and condemned the defendant in costa.

'laiei
in gof the control exercised over him by Mrs. Saw. :rt .it: lrh 11 1 strength,taroain.tro. ,,, :nr ,
she ,i beretbi
in th
tthe
bridge, lo.r was afraid to get rid of her became she
tireateue.l to expose him in the newspapers and to t'e&rs That excellent Dr. Smythe took her hwid Will, and
poison herself and him and the children. Several wit • ki. r. W.
oaln t;if,,Ttr.:,l,lecolticjiltbave the money tier pluck
nestles were called who gave evidence of conversations tried to utter thanks, hut the°twOrVutho xi , :,VS.en.Silee.
with the testator to the same dile, t. In meet of them ant, murmuring '' Then I shall have the money, she
conversotions be stated that he was about to make or stepped towards the door. Mr. Herb, rt raid, " Pray
that he had made a will in favour of Mr.. Saw- take it now, so as not to have the tronhle of
ingagain. 11c turned hack, and m,
corn-
bridge awl her family in w conseq nee of her threats 8
her child, In half-ire ,herent langorgbroke out ate,
: •• lii)ing yet
and a 11,1% ion.
know—l can't save her—eighteen months old, Li d Le
Lord Penzance, in eumming up, to!d the jury that it hope. Tease you, ttiaik you; perhaps the change ,I al
was tiecearary to be cautious when they were called to may do her good. ...I shall I have the chocdate mad ,r A
vet aside a duly executed will, prepared in a reguler 1;1:31' 1 sunlight cancel,, through the window upon her wan.
manner I y the testator'e solicitor frem inetru itions in taiee'ol Let% rag fi'manleydoeaeraTiohrrtoVtlii7„Llacrie:mlste
lie own writing, upon evidence ef declarations alleged all fo:lowed her respectfully to the door. There Is cottoning
to have been made by the testator WI to the nor eb, in in such misery as this debt inspires more than orothary
wlich the will was obtained. But if they were satisfied compassion : and I went away lion afterwards, not ,jibing
that the instructions were given and the will was made to eee another such epectacle, but rejoicing at the good so
under a nett of moral ascendency which deprived the tenderly and sooty done by these live men.
testatrr of his volition and prevented hiru from gis in
effect to his real intentions, they were bound to find
ag and it.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs.