The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-30
Supreme Court-General Term.
Rafora Hon Iudgea MItchAlI Clarke and Caviar

Before Hon. Judges Mitchell, C1erke and Cowlse.
THE THOMPSON WILL CAm-srRANGE DELUsIoNs OF
THE T1srAr0R.
MAY 29.-Edoard O. Thompson, infant, BY James
Mcbride his merit friend David Thompson George w.
Thompson and Oths-This was an appeal from the de-
cree of the Surrogate in the matter Of proving the last
will and testament Of Abraham G. Thompson, who died
in New York the Goth Of October, 1851 The appel
ants by their counsel, Messrs. Fullerton and Newman
contend that the paper offered for probate not the
win Of the decedent. II is in nchoste state in the
absence of the schedule the body OF the
viii, and which was TO have been signed and attached
thereto a part Of the instrument
The appellants who are the grandchildren and sole
heirs at law and next Of kin the deceased ailsge
that he cied possessed of large real and personal
estate, each amounting to more than hundred
thousand dollars. The estate amounts to nearly
four hundred Thousand dollars Ths will il dated
October q, 1851 two days before his DEATH aud in
it he bequeAths to his grandson the sum Of $500
in trust for his use when he shah become Of age.
and to his granddaughter and her mother the OF
500 each, the time stating that he limits this
amount because they received large property under thu
will of his deceased Other egacies amounting
about SIS GOO more were left to various relatives
friends and servants and the residue his property
vs,o"s nrone,ans The snnsants inaist that the oil
is Invalid instrument, because the testator sub
ject undue influence a. the time of ITS execution
This influence they allsge, was exerted by Mrs Fila
Hunt, the housekeeper and of deceased who
was hostile his grandchildren and impressed upon hi,
nina that all they wanted his money They further
allege that he laborins delusons,
insanity, at the time of the executing OF the WILL aud
contend that If there real doubt to the testa
mentary capacity Of testator it is proper TO
the decision Of the Surrogate for the purpose of having
the question Of fact settled by the verdict Of jury In
mony, taken at the nearing before the Surrogate is
embodied in the printed case, which goes to show
tuariV tossra the time Of bis death ns was pas
sessed Dy various strange deusions, indicative of
impaired and weakened mind Thus he believer
in the possibility OF discovering the philosophers stone,
which to reveal to its possest0r the secrets
of tue whole EARTH and he owned house ia
Brooklyn which he set apart laboratory
in which to compound the ingredients OF which this
to be composed He had told 0ns witness
that he had q house apart and consesratsd
for this work. thing connected with which
be Grated and that the carpsted and
lined VITA Itsh linen He kept wax candles barning
there for forty and nights because Moses had been
10 the mountain forty days. and Saviour had tasted
during that space OF time. The man whom he had
secreed set apart to spirits and procure the
philosopher stone, and for other poses must not
eat while the sun was up. He could only eat before
sunrise and after sunset and then must eat only un
eavened bread and Boston crackers. He might eat
kinds OF fut but no meat or butter and whatever he
alta must be consecrated. Perfumes kept burang
in the room, and the man dressed in white irish
linen His object, he said, not merely to obtain
the philosopher stone but also to call in this planetary
spirits, whcm he could command, and who would
oDty whatever commands he might give them.
The philosophers stone would cure all diseases,
prolong lite any age, transmute metals into gold;
when teeth had been host through old age, little of
if put gums would be able TO bring teeth,
With 1t he would be able into futurity, any
where ese could possibly 20 To tho panet ana expect
ed 1--we to the age of Thousand He was also
interested in the manufacture OF needles which should
point out where hidden treasures were lying ana had
once be informed witness, made expedition to
Montauk Point with an old man who had q rod which
would attrac. TO the money. On an another occasion
he had sold fine pair OF horses recently pur released,
at sacr because his housskesper, Mrs
Hunt had dreamed that such PAIR had run away with
HIM and because as he observed she always dreamed
right Further evidence of similar nature offered
the of the appellants and some also which, they
insisted sho we'd his part to leave his gra
children the bulk OF his property, from which he had
been ossuaded by the influence and representations of
Others when his mind weakened state He fire..
quenty complained Of pains in his head, which had
ceved severe hurt in bis early life Tho rspondsnts
ed very considerable body Of evidence from friends
and busir associates the testato which went
shcw that, though an eccentric man, he was always
considered perfectly sane.
lhe case still