The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-28 00:00:00

COURT OP PROBATE MD DIVORCE.

JAN. 27.
Oaken the Jake °Abney.)
ILDWAIUNI In AND IIWIN.-11PICIAL IVIT.

The deciemed, Mrs. Alla Corr!, the widow of Demewleffo
Cord, died et her howls, to Barrow4M-pieen Regentioperin
an the 26th of Annie lest. She was DS pare of ens, end
she left • wen dasi the 22ad of Apt% 1I 6. Ear property
wee worth about 8001. She left oe mast of kin, mid the
plaintiff, • earpetter, who lived at 16, M.
lo
t
w
nam Jelee-wood-
was the wean named is ha examtler la erlotwllltaivr 'The defint, Mr. Seem wee the assentor ender a
former will, sad be im peached the dessieent began the court
en the ground of endue inflames end want of eapreity.
Dr. Addams, Q.C., sad Mr. Janes appeased for the plain-
tiff ; Mr. Craned, Q.C., Mr. Hawldna, Q.C., Mr. Stephan',
and Mr. Moore ice the dellendeate.

The cisTesesa Y lb. say parr of her life had been am-
nesia with the lyric, nage, and had had the wen of 2001. •
year settled upon her by the Duke of Qnsemberry, the
011•1117 Wel •••••13 bY • rial,Ohlirge big P•oll's
ate. In 1834 Me her to bar slater ; but hi
1847 , when her enter bed the mole • sew will, by
which she divided it anceset the the &Odra and grand-
childrea of bar Mara by • previous merrier,. In 18d7
the executors of the Dohs ef Queensberry obtained from the
deceased • nteresider of her rest-charge far • government
meaty of 2001., and • boom of 2001. The plettiff made
his first scquaintants with her about ten yeses ego, when she
eat for him to execute some main at her hens. This ac-
quaintance gradually ripened into an intimacy. The plaintiff
transacted various matters of business foe her, and amongst
other things conducted the negotiations on her behalf with
the Duke of Queensberry's solicitors. On the 4th of Janus,
lan, after she had received the bonus of 200 i., she expressed •
Ina to alter her existing ; and her nephew, Mr. Volans@
Corti, offered to bring her • draft. She told him to do so
and to leave blanks In it for the namea of the legatees. About
three days afterward. she gave the draft to the plaintiff, re-
marking that it waa not what she wanted, for there were
names in it. She asked him to get her a new one with
bigots, sod he accordingly went to Mr. Cap.:ol, of Grey's-
ina-square, and instructed him to make a draft will, ap-
pothUng Patricia, Valentine, and Haydn Cord bar resi-
duary legatees. The plaintiff admitted that the demised hod
not spoken t 3 him on the subject of the resider, and that be
had had tholes names pat in as reriduary legatees, beanie '
the pasties all wanted to be in the will. He thought that If
she objected to them she could strike their names mt. On
the 22a of April the plaintiff end the testatrix called at Mr.
Cspriol'a office to examine the will. Mr. Captiol began to
read it over, but when he reached a passage relating to •
servant she insisted on Its omission. She also reheard to let
the names of the C0e...• stand, because, as she said,
the had had enough of nistrying a Corri. She
added that the plaintiff bad been very tad to
her, end that she would therefore give hint all her
property. A new will wen then made in order to carry out
her wish so ex and on the 22nd of April it wee duly
executed, Mr. Cannel's two darks being the attesting vit-
amins. The plaintiffs, Mr. Capsiol and other perms were
examined to show the perfect capacity of the demised, which
they spoke to in positive teems; but it was admitted that she
lead latterly been In the habit of drinking more wine and
brandy than wee quite decorous in an old lady. Mr.
Edwards said that this change did not take place till after
the outtalks of the will. In July last she went to the Bank
for themeless, selling out 3301. He wept with her, but
was told by the gentlemen there not to Interfere; and they
persuaded her any to take out 601., because they and the
other 3001. would be safer in the Bank than anywhere else.
For the defence it was contended that the habit of drinking '
had been acquired previous to 1867, and that It had in-
crewed nail her intellect had completely failed her. It
was, in tar, urged that she had latterly been quite
imbecile and tameable of akin care of herself. In proof
of this • Mrs. Mellor of Margie, with whomthe testatrix
had been accustomed to lodge, was examined and she
stated that though knurly ea abstentious person, Mrs.
Corti would towards the end of her life Consume ea much as
• bottle of gin in • day, She used to soak bread in it, and
likewise to drink It amt. Other pastas deposed that she
could no longer distinguish between eight and day, recog-
nise persons whom she had knows for years, or tall whether
she was ice her own or some ow she's house. Mr. Edward
Head, her medical attendant, spoke to the gradual decay of
her mental pewees, and mated that he had attended her
twice for delirium tremens. He had conversed with Ed-
wards on the subject, and Edwards said, " Why, what can
you expect when she ha been drinking • bottle
of wine • day r' Edwards said that she had been drinking
for mouths, and that that accounted for her having lady spent
401. or 601. mere than loud. Her memory had never of late
been quite what it ought to have been. She often did not
recognise witness. She used to talk about throwing herself
ea of the whidow, and witness therefore desired a acne to
be hired, and her friends to be collected around her, in order,
if possible, to tranquillise her mind. Had ;told Mr. Caprk
that he should not like to buy her house of her, become If
her Meade ware dientistled with the bargain, they might say
that be had taken advantage of her imbecile condition.
Mr. Overeod and Dr. Addams having addressed the fury,
His lordship summed up and commented on the many
features of the plaintiff.' case.
the jury found ‘ verdict for the defendant!.

Tiaelosirt therefore pronounced against the will, sad ccm-
areavel Edwards in the wan