Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-28
Special Correspondence Of the watchma
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.


truth and Fiction Ercry Day life and Ro-
nance WcdM and Misery Hrctcbodncss-
Insane Asyhm---Prsccuhoa--A Man may
smile and Smiles lO00-NOt cnOugh-A will
A Righteous Judgment
NEW YoRK, July %, 1869.
The saying q" Truth is stranger than fiction, "
has become trite. And yet we scarcely have an
idea Of the extent to which it is true The ordi-
nary domestic life Of those about us, frequently
possesses more elements Of dramatic interest and
tragical incident than could be invented by the
most skilllul and fruitful romancer. \ case has
just been decided in one Of our courts that fully
oxemplifes this.
I'm 1851 Miss Anna Maria --, the only daugh-
ter Of a wealthy father, was married in this city
10 a Mr. Forman There was no love in the case,
and Anna Maria married in compliance, solely,
with the wish Of her father. She was then
lorty-tmee years of age, and her husband forty
eight. Her father died four years afterwards,
leaving her all his fortune, amounting TO $780,
600. And now with the possession Of this wealth
began her troubles. In 1866 she made a will,
belueothina her property to Mr.. Forman Two
years later She made another not so favorable for
him, and in August, 1866, made a third will,
giving him still less. Six months afterwards She
executed TWO papers, by which she lett the bulk
OF her property 20 collateral relatives ana SiWO
u Mr.. fornan' Meantime her lile was utterly
wretciel She distrusted, feared, and hated her
husband, and was in constant dread of the ,cr-
wants placed undcr--or nther-oycr her, and
wor-e-of poison. She lived in the most secluded
manner, had mo- society," her tastes being sim
/ pie, aud her habits studious. Some peculiar
tiles that would inevitably be the result OF
such life a. tins were seized upon as indicating
INSANITY and without the approval oil medical
mon without any legal ORDER iorcoi}' ana win
t0e ana OF the p'Hoe' she was taken away rom
ler nome 'n'o p'''We INSANE asylum Hefe'
Tor -lN months she was not allowed I" see any
friend OF relau'e' ana mere Tor TWO years she
dragged out miserable existence until death
came TO her felei' 10 was % remarhnpic feature
III inc case that th1-e VINO prosecuted her' eA-
cited her Tears oI poison ana then aaduced the
existence oil these very Tears as proof positive oil
heF insanity Aiier hef DEATH the TWO papers
giving her properly u collateral reiau'es' ana
leaving MIR. t'Tman elVOu' We're admitted to
pr'oate' ana tHe OBJECT oil the present sult before
''J Co','' was 0,''''" a go '''',' s''oo ~.
pu'ii'y .''' ''''' o' ','s' r,PsIs "a N''y VIII
~ uey'i,''s ''e '''' 'u'' 'u''sii'i'u ','u 'o'y
'Vtv''I 'l''su's 'uio"s o'i'' '''''isa H' s"'u'
'''' ''"r''' ,''o nu7D'''u' '.e prominent CON
'e'''n'i "u' p''''7 ''e n''9' III prom.
nent, ana industrious witness on that side, stood,
and stands with open hands. willing and eager,
f, catch and t,le ns, anil eri,, whatever tbe
I,-..-.r ,5
law VIII MIN uuefnuU and next of kin.
either, OF ms poor Wie estate, u she Is judi
eally declared t. have been insane when She exc
o,,t.d ,t,o t,, manor. 10, ,,,o.ti,, ,t,,;.b
~ 80.