The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-09
THE PARISH WILL CASE.
surr0gato's Court.
Before A. W. Bradford, Esq.

EXAMINATION OF DIR. DELAFIELD CONTINUED.
Q. Did you attempt to hold intercourse with him, or
convey information 70 him other than topics Of yo
medical attendance2 A. Some subject that l thong
would interest him in any way that had hear
persons that knew he had felt interest in, tina
had known about would be the subject Of such conve
sation could only judge from his manner and cxprd
sion Of countenance, but precisely in the mode ID
should Judge of those Of TIE Surrogate whether he
derstOod me- and had any reason 10 doubt IN
OConor here objects 70 the opinions OF the witness
head) that he understood what said 70 him. with the
cepton that occasionally when very severely suerin
he might not pay the same attention to me AZ usual
Did suppose, in your intercourse with him. whcth(
OF medical attendance, such other topics as I'd
have referred 70, that he did understand your IN
OConor objects to the question as calling Tor opnio
most certainly. Q. Did you ever see Mr.. Parish RED
after his attack A. Often, very often
have often found him reading the newspape
q. DO you know Of any attempts at writing on his part
A. There frequent attempts; the first that he MAJ
was under my direction; he seemed shortly afer d
covering his after the first attack 10 be anxious
communicate something and this was repeated from d
day not being able to understand IT, not then havi1
ecome SO familiar with his modes of communication
tried the experiment whether he could wrie Ipresent
TO him. am not quite TO the real object but nj
impression Is It was book to write the ny leaf
was lying In his bed at the time with very little streng
and as or some other person held the book, an nj
certain at all events the book held before him und
my direction he began TO write with his le hand with
tried several times; certainly paper than ond
and my strong impression Is, on slate several Nmd
the characters always the same, and were CD
strued to the word wills" sometin1
commenced and the word partly dnished, al
then beginning again; that Is all as 70 thai Lperd
O. Who was present on this occasion that you have 4
ferred to-? A / know that Mrs. Parish was, amp pr
sumo the nurse attendant was but thae merely p1
sumo because he was without these persons ab
him. Q. About what time was tins occurrcncef Al
presume il must have occurred after returned from
country, about the 18TH OF August am not absolute
that II did not take place prior 70 my going into
country the LIST Of August but the latter is very
probable. q Please state such other attempts at wrt
as came within your observation Some time,
think in the of the first winter after his attack
took and caused 10 be taken great deal Of pains 70
duce him to write with his eft hand; the first attem
were limited 10 his writing his name, and IN this, I'd
certain degree he succeeded he wrote his name so II
it could not be mistaken as being his, more nan ond
but II the after attempts his hand would seem
tire before finishing the entire name; the process was
very difficult him. and would urge il upon hi
from day 10 day he would become more ana more ais1
these trials made also at other times IL consequent
Of my directions. z. We're the spasms OF which VI
approaehs "' A. Mrs. Parish could generally p
dict them. (Mr. O'Conor objects TO this evidencf
He was evidently not SO well, and, most strikirI
ly, his temper was more irritable; he was md
uncomfortable and after the spasm there woq
be . sudden and marked change In these particual
A. They commenced in the autumn or early winter an
his attack they required at hrst q intervals Of foi
perhaps eight days three weeks; the intervals gr
ually Increased and with occasional exceptions the Cd
vusions sghter; In 1850 they were mest frequel
In 1851 52 and '63 they gradually diminished In q
quency 10 1854 and 1855 they occurred at long interval
once six months AMI think almost, year int
vened. Q. After Mr. Parsh's attack was your attend
drawn 70 the condition Of his mind, and IL so bow cd
did you observe consider concerning III 4. lmme|
stely after the attack Of the subjects d nd
ject rom The period Of his attack down 70 The 7osS
August followiDgS A. That he quickly, within Q 4
days, can't again fix the time, but within very sh{
enabled to &c. intelligent answers, eilhsr yes Nd
not speaking Of words mean that understood nj
and as the time went on from one period 70 the ether,
facility Of these communicy tons became greater. Q.
you during thu period respecting which have inqui
form judgment 10 the condition OF his nAndf n
OConor objects to the question. Question alIowsd)
did form such Judgment, rs my previous ansyeSs ~
already declared. O. What was the coudtSon Of
mind during the period last mentoaedY (nS. 0'Col
objects; Question allowed 4. Well, as have .lres
TER, and during the greater part Of the time conside
his intelligence of what WAS said " him clear and
,Ss o% hs
October ls4e, down TO the period ofhis death, what
the condition Of his mndf A. considered him IS
sessing great degree Of intelligence; fully capabl
understanding everything that was said to him, and
being able 70 answer far could be done with
the power Of speech; might say that during the |
weeks Of his life he was very dull and heavy, but
with the power Of understanding and answering
Cross. examination by Mr.. 0'Conor-Q. Had your SD
any property at the time OF her msrragcS
Chr. Cutting objects TO the question as irreleva
A. Not a, that time. Q. Did any property accrue
her subsequently, and when, and bow muchs A. Al
death Of my mother and at the death Of my brother
liam; my mother died about IL years ago, and my 81
received from her personal estate only not o.
from William Mrs Parish received personal estate %
and that to about $4,000. Q. what's the age u n
hrshf A. She must be nearly mayor thcrcab OF
Q-A the time OF the marriage Of Mrs. Parish Vas |
Parish merchant In business here, reputed 70 be vi
thyf A. He was, both. q. Did ron understand Al
time, that he Was q director In the Pbnuix Hank1 Al
did not know the fact at that lime O Dd you o
know ~ A. have kno IN II since, certainly. q. Wi
did II first come 10 your knowledge A. can't AZ
period II matter In which took special inter
nothing to TX H. 2 Ind your late brother, John n
field reside In New York at the time Of the marriage
what was his occupation A. My brother resided In n
York al the time, and was then cashier Of the Fh1
Bank. O. Canyou now remember whether you had
any way upon your mind during the life OF Henry rAr
the fact that his father had had ApoplcxyY A. can
remember ~ but must have In own a. from The scixr
10 wiNh Henry Parish was subject 4. do you mear
say that these seizures themselves informed you OF M
NO. that they would have naturally led 10 The qucst
but The whole matter Of slight importance In my
Of the q. When did Mr. Henry Parish FIRST call
your aid or advice In respect 10 his eyes7 A. Betw
two or three years before his attack. Q. WI
was the eye which you supposed 10 have b
affected with cataract A. The Ieft eye. o md
was u neutral in IL effects FAR you perceived
The operation failed, and probably rendered " somew
more blind than before; was Of little value
FORE and the operation probably made q httle wol
o. Was he ye, living in Barclay street when you opera
on the right eycf A. Yes, think so; certainly he
a. nd this mslady the operation Tor his cure con
bun % the hou,e any Other period than tsc -four wed
speaking OF there other confinement FOR that
but there longer confinement after the operation
the FIRST eye possibly perhaps SIX weeks there was
Inflammation following H. which made logger continent
necessary. q nd not Mr.. Henry Parish tell you Il
during these attendanccs his nephew Henry used 10 cd
IN and read for him A: u u were so u has escaped