The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-08-17
Contcsiing n VIII in England.

Tho case ofGrimshaw against Hutton
in which the plaintiff prayed the court
to pronounce for the will of William
Hutton, gentleman, of Manchester, who
died possessed of about S17j, 900 person
ality in September. 1876, was heard
recently in an English court of Justice
In August, 1871, the tcstator married
the defendant, Maria Hutton, and on
the same day made will in her favor.
lie had natural child, of whose exis-
tencc the defendant was well aware,
and for whom there was an adequate
provision in tho above will. In Novem-
ber, 1874, the testator, who was out
which resulted in his giving up his fav-
oritc pastimc. He received violent
kick from his horse, and was permanent
ly injured. An illness ensued. and
softcning of the brain set in. His con-
duct toward his wife, which had since
his marriage been that of an aflcctionatc
husband, changed slowly after his ac-
cident. lie became nervous, irritable,
and suspicious, and exhibited unmis-
takably symptoms of cerebral softcning.
lie swore at his wife and domestics. and
staid out all night without notice on
one occasion. He had q deusion that
his solicitor and agent had robbed him
of 100000 by extracting it from his safe,
when in reality there was no money in
the safe. In 1876 he made will by
which he left all his property to other
devisees than his wife, and this will the
executors, as plaintiffs, sought to pro-
pound, the defense began that he was
of unsound mind at the time he made il.
He turned his wife out of the house
abont this time under the impression
that she was drunk and dissolnte, and
stigmatzed her, her aunt, and another
of her relatives as three bad woman.
He said one night that boy from the
work-house was in his wife's bed room
Another night he suddenly got up and
put on his waistcOat and top coat, and
for some time his wife could not per-
suadc him to return to his bed. After
going to see '.Othello" ut theatre, and
returning home in the evening, he made
frequent alusions to his wife during the
night, and the smothcring of Desdc-
mona with pillow, so much so that
she became alarmed for her personal
safety. She subsequently left him with
her children. lie then sent his carriage
to bring her back again. and on hcl
return he Went on his knees and i'm
porcd her not to drink so, as she was
so young. lie frequently would pu
his face close to his wiic's and grin al
her. Numbcrlcss dclusions wer,
proved by his widow. which left nt
doubt on the minds Of the court ant
jury as to the tcstator's insanity. One
of the counsel stated that the plaintiffs
as executors of the will, had though
ii their duty to take the opinion of tn,
court OH its validity, and that after thu
evidence Of the defendant he did no
propose to offer any further opposition
to the withdrawal of the will of 1876
and also wished to state openly that Their
was no reflection upon the defendant
who left the court a perfectly abstcm
ious and virtuous lady. The will O
August, 1871, had been lost, but TN
draft, which had been preserved, wa
duly admitted to probate as expressly,
l of the tcstator's intention when of sount
mind. Costs allowed out of the estate