The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-08
.ITD.JTDGED 4 ITN.ITTC.
Singular Proceedings IN Brooklyn. In which n
sheriTs Jury FAN to Gain Credit.

In the proceedings begun some time ago to
have Mrs. Anna spraguc. aged "A. only heir TO
the estate of John Pope. wealthy hotel keeper
Of Bay Ridge. adjudged lunatlc. Justice
Barnard Of tho Supreme Court has appointed
Mrs. Hannah Pope. tho young women's mother
as committee. under bonds of $1,000. As n
deputy sheriff appeared IA the petitioner in the
casc. md as the jury was selected by deputy
shcrfr. and managed Ivy the Sheriirs officers
all through the casc attracted much attention.
IA IL seemed to demonstrate that Il was only
necessary to make bargain with "a deputy
sheriff for n designing person to have any rea-
tive ndjudgcd insane, and to get control Of his
property.
Anna Pope was. before her fathers death.
marricdto mechanic who wns Catholic Her
parents being opposed to her marriage they
induced her to leave her husband. Then her
father began proceedings in the City Court to
have the marriage annulled on the ground OF
the girls insanity. The girl was not introduced
into the proceedings at all and no effort was
made TO establish the fact that she was not
taken by default; Aiterthc death Of Mr.. Pope.
Anna Pope developed taste for strong drink.
that she. being the only heir could sign away
all Of her property Will" under such influences
she hastened the prospective marriage Of her
daughter 10 Benjamin Spraguc IA He'll Gate
pilot. In May last they were married. and in
juno Mrs. Pope, on beginning to suspect that
her daughter might sign away 10 her Husband
all her property determined to have her adj
Judged lunatic second time and to have the
control of the property taken from her
ON the trials Mr.. Sprague employed counsel
10 defend his wife. Tho sheriff as usual. sum
momsd The lgry IT. 6cnE madS a, e, up Of men who
looking for such employment. One WIS n per
son who II. said io have received aims from
lawyers and oflrinls few weeks before to keep
him from starving. Another was an employee
in the Sherf's oillcc. but To him Mr.. Clement
Of the alleged lunatic's counsel. objected and
he was pu, aside. The acts Of insanity alleged
were that Mrs. Sprague had exhibited u VIC.
lent temper, and had frequently abused
End @uarrelled with her mother; that she
shore as though contemplating suicide; that
she had given her not, for $50 .fol
she had struck her relatives who lived in III,
same house with her Mrs. Sprugue testified
ntellisenty and nationally. and when askcc
whether she could Writ. wrote on slip OF pa
per for the counsel am lunntick.'
II was not presumed thot the Jury would ad
nudge her a lunatic on the testimony. but. A. Il
was aiterward learned. whilc they were consid
cring the question one of their number sui,
that i they did not Ind for tho sheriff the,
would not get their pay. and this turned all bu
about six or eight over to Il verdict against tn
girl, An affidavit was niterward made by on
of the Jury 10 the offrNt that had they known
that they would have been paid any way. thci
verdict would have been different.
On the motion for the confirmation Of th
Comm ssion in lunn 'y's report. these iA'ts an
others .Nhihiting the gross character of th
pro eedings were nade known. Justice Bar
nard ruled that an appeal must be tax II To- tn
General Term. Since the lury's verdict how
| ever. there have been 80 many quarrels in tn
Pope home between mother and daughter. tina
| Mr.. Sprague. who alone II disposed To- cout,s
| the nnlins. has con ,mdel 10 accept the situa
| tion. and not appeal. He has lcft his wife. AN
i s,n" back t. plotting vessels through He'll Cat,
| with her daughter. which ended In her quittin
| the house. she. II Il said. intends T. begin pro