Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-03

BRADFoRD.-An interesting hearing took place
In one of the sitting-rooms OF the Trotter house,
last week, concerning the estate of the late Han
nah Coriss OF Corinth, who was we'll known to
many OF the residents OF Bradford, where she
had several relatives. Mrs Corliss died on the
fifth OF February, 1882, at an advanced age, leav-
ing an only child, Miss Hannah Marian Corliss,
now fifty-six years old BY her last will executed
on the 2lst OF April 1879, Mrs. Corliss left her
property, OF the value of about $1,000 to James
l.. Woodward OF Chicago and N. Byron White of
Bradford, as trustees, +" to pay over the use, iu-
come and interest accruing from the same annu-
ally to my daughter, Hannah Marian Corliss, OF
Bradford, Vermont, and also to pay over to her
and for her benefit any portion OF the principal
that may DO needed at any time to save said Han
nah from want and restitution during her natural
life, and at the decease of said Hannah, il she
leave surviving her child, or children then the
said trustees and executors are To pay over the
balance, II any, OF said estate remaining in their
hands, to said child, or children, they to hold it
in fee, and their respective heirs forever And
In case said Hannah dies having no issue surviv-
ing her, then said estate remaining, II any, di-
| rect shall be paid over to Melissa NJ White OF
bradford, Vermont, and shall be held In fee by
! her and her heirs forever" Woodward and Mr..
I and Mrs. White are near relatives Miss Hannah
Mariah Corliss was dissatisfied with the will be-
cause 1t did not leave her the property absolutely
and she soon began proceedings TO break 1t, which
are impending. But Lawyer Charles b. Leslie OF
and Mr.. Barron Hay of Bradford having been APP
| pointed commissioners upon the estate, Miss Cor
liss filed claims against It, as follows: 1S4S to
cash In trusiifor Hannah Marlah Corliss, from her
fathers estate, $3.50; January 8, 1852, to cash in
trust for Hannah Mariah Corlss, from her father
| death, Si9i 20; TO cash held by her in trust re-
ceiyed at diif erent times, S0O0 interest above
items, -" Her counsel are Mr.. J. X. Oar
| ling OF Fast Corinth, Messrs Farnham and Cham.
berlain, and MIR, John II. Watson, Of bradford.
| The counsel for Mr. Woodward one OF the trus-
tees and executors under the will who resists the
| claims, are Mr., 4 W. Smith of Wells River and
| Mr. John L. Edwards of Newport. The hearing
| upon the above mentioned claims was begun last
| week Tuesday afternoon and lasted till Thursday
| evening. The great contest was over the item OF
5000, which Miss Corliss claims Is money which
| she earned AZ weaver in the mills at Lowell
Lawrence, Manchester and other places, anc
| which she sent TO her mother to keep for her
| Miss Corliss herself cannot be a witness, and
| large number OF dispositions given by book-keep
ers, overseers and other officials OF the mills yer,
read, showing how much money she had earned
In these places, for the purpose OF establishing
the fact that she might have sent her mothe
5000, inasmuch as she had earned II. In tina
way II was proved that she had been paid abou
SO, 400, by the mills. Out OF thaqmust have com,
her support for a number OF years, and II wa
claimed by Messrs Edwards and Smith that tn
surplus was very small. Miss Corliss also pu
upon the stand Henry O. McDuifee, Horace q
McDufIee, John ID. Aidrch, John d. Wilson, N
W. Cunningham aud others, who testified to dec
larations made by the old lady that Hannah Ma
riah had from time to time sent her money. Tn
McDuffees testified To buying United States bond
for her with money which she said Hannah Maria
had sent her. On the part of the executors 1t wa
claimed that Mrs. C0rliss had worked In Boston 70
many years as a nurse, after her husbands death
and had laid up from her wages all this none
which constituted her estate. For some years be
fore her death all her money was In Mr.. Wood
ward hands who kept 1t invested In good wester
mortgages ut ten per cent Whichever way tn
commissioners decide, whether for or agains
Miss Corllss' claims, the case will be appealed t
the Orange county court, where II will stand f.
trial at the next December term