New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-11
The COURTS.
THE STOKES WILL CASE.


FURTHER TESTIMONY OF MRS. DALE-SoME oF MI.
sToKES's PECULIARlTiEs.
The examination of Mrs. Dora Stokes Dale,
who is contesting codic Of the will of her father
James Stokes. continued yesterday before Sur
rogate Rous Mrs Dale said that she hal heard In the
beginning Of the year 1881 conversation between her
father and her brother James about Mr.. stokes's
sons-in-aw, and the conduct OF Mr. sade
toward his children since the death Of his first wife, the
witnesses sister The substance OF the conversation was
that Mr. Shades second wife enjoyed the property OF Mr.
stokess deceased daughter rather than her children
The witnesses brothers had spoken to her in regard TO
the provisions to be inserted in their mothers WILL and
alluded the small amount which Mrs. Stokes intended
to her children and the large amount to charity
The subject was spoken OF almost daily during week.
and during this time she her brothers drawing UP
some papers with their mother which the witness sup
posed was her mothers will About the time her
brothers conversed with Der in regard to her will
Odd not Of your brothers persstenty urge you
to make a certain dispO sitiOn OF your property
The question was objected 70 and excluded;
Mr. Bangs said he proposed TO show that the brothers
had mania for III aking other peoples wills.
Mrs Dale said she was not present at the reading OF
her brother William had made to her; She was not
allowed 10 state wh1t TIE remark was she
framing of their fathers WILL lie remarked that their
mothers properly had passed ont Of the family and
largest share that If he did he wouid contest the
fathers will bit Arson had refused TO allow him to do
So He said that William was staying In his fathers
| Office as a sort of watchdog" to prevent Arson
from getting an uneqa share OF his fathers properly
One day when he was trying 10 examine sOi wi ~
elmer through accident design. and would nave been
Obliged to sai there s M1. n5t sa g haG newer had
any difference with her father During the last weeks OF
times on the same day forgetting that he had previously
been there On day he called a. often as TOUR lines
on occasions he said nothing at ALL but sat WIN
| his hat on looking at her. In the month OF July
| he insisted upon having fire made In the
room and having the windows closed He wore heavy
winter OyercOat which he never took on MT stokes
when in good health was always very polite and never
kept his hat In the presence OF lady lie was man
OF cheerful disposition. quick ia all his ana
BEGAN To- f HE movements were SLOW countenance
du aud vacant In expression, ana ms speech was
snG hs sons 0ISsH oten TOOK It OF for him Mrs
had noticed a falling of her fathers andeI jaw,
very peculiar during the last months OF his life. He
ordered the dishes of the table ana would not let tho
oolored waiter take his plate He called the waiter by
a diherent name every dag. lie called the waiter
"a black niger" and declared that lie tho waiter
aw ays very polite to his Servants On the occasion
serss of UNPLEASANT Gr re%arks about tho
aiteTs personal appearance IN to ms sbes
which then taken away aud directly arer served
without his noticing H. lie also acted very pecnllau!
about the carving OF fowls He sometimes spent twenty
minutes the carving OF chicken, ana then alter
serving The filling" sent the chicken OF the table an
carved lie had formerly always been very prohpttm
regard his meals but IN the latter months OF Ms lie nc
olieI kent tho family waiting for hours. MIS- Dale sau
tnat father very frequently during the lAs
mouths OF his life. Sometimes he spoke of his wlie shi
M oher there seemed To be cause for s tears
which rolled down his cheeks. His articulation "as
very in'tstuct, that she could seldom delslan1
him She mad seen her father all kinds OF hqGon
eXropt champagne. lie always drank liquor when she
dined with him, aud she had also seen nm use 4aV,
1uring the day. Jamaica and whiskey were krpsb
the dining ROOM and he helped himself she mrs. ~
teed tue of liquor ON the par or her rather IN 100
| lie used stimuiants constantly from tnis ume. -
Mrs Dale made the above statement under the @ulloe
OF counsel, having first expressed preference -
10 10 So she refused 10 answer the question "Ie'h,4
her father Affected by the liquor which ne tiAnn
she sad her fathers habits Of drinking had tieiueL.y
becn the subject Uf conversation between hcf anu ne
brothers James aud william at her. mouse
Mrs Dale said that one occasion when she wa
rating from her father shOrt absence, lie wac w
emotional ana Wept all the time lie had an lupf.esi'o
thnt The witnesses house at Orange Was norm Oh ns
when an reality II south, ana he would starr oI ~
house in the wrong direction Usually wheh nc $3.50
~ her bouse he accompanied by Que OF heI pIvn
or sisCrs twice lie went INTO y sterios
mittent hts OF crying H.. -. AZ Evarts.
Mira ia said that her father aud mother, TWO sis,es
and :wo OF her brothers were present al her M
r.e to Mr. Dale her other brothers were IA bnrops'
Her father before the marriage, had offered 10 taho '
nale an with hi Us "a partner when he beoano ms So
,nw. hut Mr. Dale said lac did not wish 10 le"e Wv
situation he then had. In 1879, Mr. Daie went luz
with her brother jaime the latter Puns
s75 600 and Mr. Dale nothing Hef iA'nef ael
In ned Mr. Dale 500, 900 on his noe wnoh was tepa
sih q Der cent interest MI stokes never Aad any uH-