The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-30
FnRTI1NE.
A LILO story Front the Courts-The
WIN In n MadHnnae, ana the nus
band cut on With q Paltry ThOu-
sand. y

~
A Lilo story Frons a Courts-Th,
WIN In the MRdHohse, and the nus.
band cut on With a PsItry ThOp.
From tho New rerk Sun, I4th. L
Aftef n prolonged litigation, the last vii
and testament OfMfs. Anna Maria Fofmfn
has finally been hdjudged valid by the Cen
cral Term OF Tho Supreme Court of this
district. A case moro interesting and
noyol has not often boon presented to the
public.
Mrs. Forman before her marriage was
the pet child of n kind and indulgeni
father, who educated her at the most fash.
ionablo boarding schools. She married
Mr.. Forman in 1851, being then 10 years
Of age, nnd he q triile over iS, after q com
monplaco courtship OF years. She married
him nt the suggestion of her father, and
certainly without my enthusiastic love ON
either side. Her father died in 1866, but
before his death he gave her oil his prop
orty, amounting in the aggregate to $780,
900. She made n will in 1855 nitor her
fathers death, by which she gave her hus-
band the bulk of hor estate. Up to this
time she and her husband appear 10 have
ngreed very vol, but they had no chill
dron, and never had any.
Four years later, with less affection for
her husband, she made another will, in
which she gnvo her husband less. Two
years later, in August, 1861, her affections
again underwent q change, and she made
another will, by which she gnve her hus-
band still less. Six months later sho exc
cutcd tho two papor8 ~ dispute, in which
she gives hor husband only n bare pittanco
of 1000. Although sho lad no children
or descendants, she had collateral relatives
and ono halfsistcr, Mrs. Haviland, who il
her hoir-at-law. ......
Mr.. Formnn appears 10 have boon at tho
time of his marriagoi n cool, calculating,
circumspect man, without vices or virtues
TO excite or attract tho attention Of mon or
women, with little education and little
means, and Mt the limo Of his marriage and
for some years afterwnrd engaged in n bu-
siness which of oil others was least calcu-
lated 10 add 10 or expand tho ideas that he
had. IIe quit business in 1868, and there
after devoted himself 10 the management
of his wifo's estate.
Mrs. Forman not only dcspiscd, dis
trusted and hated her husband-sho feared
him. Thoro is no doubt that soon after
tho execution Of tho contested instrument,
sho was in dread Of her husband, and Of
tho servants whom sho thought he might
control. II Ia n fair inference that these
feelings toward her husband led her 30 exc
cute thotwO papers, which gave her husband
tho 81, 600 inheritance. There il no doubt
that she intended by them 10 prevent her
husband from getting my more. Mrs.
Forman complained often that no married
her for her money, and that he did not pay
her as much attention Ms he did the sery-
ants in the kitchen. During the last years
Of her life they occupied separate rooms,
and tho vito passed her days in lonely Sc
%clusion. She was on or more occa-
sions reminded of the apparent kindness
and nffectionate attentions of hor husband.
She answered by saying, eyes, q man may
smile, and smiling be n villain"
Tho last two years Of her lilo she passed
in n private m~adhouso, whore she was la
kon by her husband, aided by the police.
without any shadow Of authority for tho
deed or cause for tho proceeding, without
advising with hor friends and relatives, and
without oven tho certificate of her physi-
clan, or Of any physician. There she wns
kept six months, without seeing any of her
intimate friends or relations.
After her death tho will, excluding tho
husband from everything but tho $1,000,
was admitted TO probate by tho Surrogate.
This decision Of tho Surrogate was appeal
ed from 10 tho Supreme Court on several
grounds, the most important Of which was
tho insanity of Mrs. FormRn ut the time
when sho executed that last will, and that
tho instruments were not attached in the
manner prescribed by law. . 8
Judge Sutherland delivered tho opinion
of tho Court yesterday, confirming the de-
cree of the Surrogate, Justices Barnard
and Cardozo %concurring. In his written
opinion, His Honor bitterly condemns tho
husband and his selfish motives, which the
Judge declares to DO such that he does
not believe his testimony unless corrObo-
ntod by other witness. Referring 10 tho
capacity OF tho testatrix 10 mako her will
when the two papers wore executed, he
says: "a monOmdnidc or partially insane
person may mako q viii. A believer in
witches and witchcraft, in ~spirituAlism, or
in the doctrines Of Mahomet, may make a
mill"
Tho case, It is said, is TO be carried to
the Court Of Appeals.