New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-14
THE FORMAN IT'LL CASE.

In the Supreme Court, General Term, before
Justices Barnard Cardozo and Sutherland, the latter
Yesterday delivered decision In the Forman will case,
which has been brought before the Courts from time to
time for several years past. The property involved
amounts 10 about $3.50 Co., and the suit was brought by
Mr. Forman husband Of Anna Maria Forman, the tesla
tri1. and others, to protest the probate OF two
papcrs which were propOunded as the law
ful will and testament OF the deceased.
Mingled with the interest which the possesses
legal grounds matters far moro interesting to the
public generally for the testimony adduced at tho
trial OF the suit IL appears that the poor lady led sad
and wretched life which she ended in mad
house Her wealth, instead Of rendering her
happy and cOutented, excited the cupldlty OF
certain parties, and during portion OF her married
and this very fear was subsequently made one OF the
points which the contestants sought 10 prove her IN
sanity Mrs. FOrman was married In 1851 at which time
sic was Al years OF age and her husband a.. The
rage appears rather have been OF convenience
her father Ia her father died leaving the property
which proved 10 be the source OF ali her troubles Soon
after ms death she made will deysing the larger pOr
ton OF her 10 Mr. Forman. In 1889 she made
other Will In which Mr. Forman was not well provided
for aud in August 1851 she revoked the last will, and
made n third, I'm which her husbands Dequest was much
smaller than In either OF the others SIX months from
which formed the basis OF the suit and In these she be-
queathed to Mr. Formm bare plttance-Sl'GW Having
no children, Ner her heratlaw Mrs. Hayiland,
halsser whom she Is represented TO nave dsked she
Left the bulk OF her property to collateral relations some
forced from her home 70 private mad house aer nav
lng llved iIle OF utter usety, ~" s, am
hc surrounded her. aud IN constant dread OF poison Her
habits were eccentric IN some RESPECTS UIL no more go
every day she had for instance Ondness Tor gathering
the watesmoothed pebbles from the brook side, and
had formed collection of them; she ornamented her
room banners, and lived IN studous seclusion, av
ing ceased occupy the OF her husband some time
after the death OF her father These little pecuarites
were seized evidences of insanity, and she was con-
signed to mad-hOuse whore she died after nearly two
wears confinement In delivering the decision Mr. JUS
lice sutherland very torcby commented on the conduct
OF Mr.. Forman throughout the ease. He saldi .
Mr. Forman, the husband, the prominent contestant
and perhaps, the most important prominent ana indus
rious witness on that SIDE stooI ana sanus Win open
hands willing and eager to catch and take, use and en-
Joy whatever the law VIII gave Nun as husband ana
she is iudicially declared TO have been insane |
do not wish 10 be unchartaoe TO Mt Forman, but
must say that his position IN the case his industrious ef
orally, absolutely; his uDiusthable conduct in
forcing, her into private mGaiit sSt' as |
legal proceeding or legal adjudication as TO her |
insanity, without advising with her friends ana rela
even the certificate of ply scan OF any physician
his keeping there for six months without her seeing
the papers from Mrs. Wright and Mrs Wes |
tervet and putting them into the , hands |
they we're torn 10 pieces by her. and other circumstances
to Which It not necessary 10 refer should greatly i'm
ar N not entirely destroy the weight, not Only OF any
opinion Of his wfe's sanity or insanity but also the fat
and credit be given 70 his evidence ana TO facts ana
when or where his evidence IS not supported by other
evidence or other circumstances
Ero, HE prOofs IN this case, Mr. FOrman appears TO |
ae been AZ the time his marriage, aud 70 have con
tIuusd 10 be- common place COOL cOnpacent, caculat
w. circumsnect man. without vices virtues 20 excite
or attract he attention OF women, with little edu
caion and with little means, ana at the time |
canon hs am marriage and for some years after |
vrard engaged In a business which OF all others |
a east calculated TO add To expand the ideas that
% had After he left off business IN 1858 he appears to
have mad nothing do but TO attend 10 his wfes prop
erty, collect her rents, DC a, l., 49, -. -, -, 49,, |
n the history which proofs In this case give OF this
man and his poor wife, who died In private luuac
imTn after being forced and kept there for |
nearly two years. without any adjudication |
OF her insanity (uness the habeas corpus |
nvoiyed such adudicationl does not sufficiently |
acconnt for Mrs Fornans feelings toward her husband
shan the two papers executed with resorting
ha Necessity OF refOrng TO any superstition theory
~ delusiOn Authorization to her husband his
oandnct motives character then those feelings
t accounted for the proofs In this These proofs
do NOT show these feelings came from, originated In
husband or OF which he his character conduct
the subject A wife may trust or fear husband un-
reasonably, love or hate him excessively, without
being expected 20 give very satisfactory for IT,
Mrs FOrman one or more occasions reminded |
Of tho apparent kind and atectionAte attentions |
OF her husband She said, Yes; "but a
man could smile and smile and DO
villain" do not say that she did not mistake mis-
indge tho character and designs OF her husband do not
will or nor property. do not say that he or is
villain But do say that the proofs IN this do not
satisfactorily show that her fear and hatred Of her hus
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