New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-01
OBSTINATE REBECCA JONES.
A WITNESS WHO REFUSED TO TESTIFY.
SHE PROSPECTS THE DEAD" AND DECLINES TO
nnHN uEn Mon ru-LIIIIE PKnGKEsS MADE.

SHE "REspFCrs THE DEADn AND DECLINES TO
OPEN HER MOUTH LITTLE PROGRESS MADE.
Miss Rcbecca Jones, little woman, WIN
black hair black eyes apparently sixty years DID, ana
dressed In mourning, "A witness In the SurrOgates
Court yesterday In the Hamerslcy will contest and she
created a sensation. She proved eccentric and un-
manageable witness. The first OF her pecularItles
displayed when she refused to place her hand upon the
Bible when she was being and she made affirm
alive answer when the oath administered. she held
book in her hand. entitled Christians Secret or
Happy Life" Franklin A. II. Bartlett. who with Clifford
Bartlett appeared for tho contestants I'm doubt
to whether Miss Jones understood believed that she
had taken an oath, and put question to her to that
eject The little woman who seemed to he suppreSsng
good deal Of excitement responded with tense gaze:
My name IS Rebecoa Jones That has always been my
name and Il always shall be-" James c. Carter and
George c. Dewitt. the lawyers supporting the WILL grew
vsbly interested in the witness and John i. Parsons.
who appeared FOR John W. Hamersey, directed bis at
tention closely to her also did James L. Scott, Miss
Jones's counsel. Surrogate Rollins and tho few specta
tors present evidently expecting Developments
The witnesses next to the question was:
understand something but don't Know what It means
Mr.. Bartlett then urged that Miss Jones should be sworn
with her hand Oh the Bible. She cScitedly cried ONT
don't understand anything" The Surrogate said he
thought that the witness understood that she was sworn
tell the truth. M Bartlett asked her Il she had
known Gordon Uamcrsiey the father Of the tcsiator
whcreupon she jumped to her feet. and ecstculatne
wildly excahncd: lam going TODD just what Mr. Gordon
Hamcr,ley and his would say thcy were alive They
would say: Becky keep su" am not going to answer
any questions respect the dead, and say Will not
answer It's no use asking another question for
VIII speak" Mr.. told the Surrogate that lac
thought Miss Jones ilborng under dcluson. she
denied that hOty, and replied to MI Baretts former
question: The idea of bringing Old woman Ike me
to testify about such thingsl alu going 10 do it, tell
you" She equally obduratc against the bAndlsh-
ments of the Surrogate, bringing her hand down with
force upon the railing and insisting that she would re
spoct the dead" She refused to tell whether she WAS
the housekeepcr OF Gordon Hamersey during hi- life
wanted the OF wasting all Ter breath IN
Court adding: want it for something else" she adj
mttcd that she had known Louis &. Hametaley, iOi
lowing this mp by saying But nc Is dtad ana gone
Now do not wake hlu.'
Miss Jouc- a.an confronted M Scott with denial OF
his suggestion mat she was me Nctim OF an ctor ,i
then announced his doubts o. the Wltnesss mental
condition stating that he had been unable to get any
thing ont OF her" She had been pursued by persons
seeking 20 a summons upon her MI BaIllett ur
took Departing refuge IN sESe'ihS thaI tHo ,"t't
power OF commitment for contempt should DE Ohcd
Tho Surrogate thought tins too harsh meiaAte Mr.
Scott rohear-od his labOrs with Miss jones for month
past ana told how tickle she had been regarding her IN
tenOns a. trStifyug I'm court. The witness was sun
Then the Surrogate held up the horrors OF dungeon
cell Miss Jones' unterited replied firmly as Sac looked
him In the eyes: IOa could lock ne up until tue IeS-
rectiOn day ana wouldn't care NY eoA9oIoAco "o"u
Inc Surrogatc. in despair. let Miss Jones 20 until to-
day, that her montu condition may De determined she
smiled behind her book which she hcd before her iac9
while the Surrogate giving his opinion and then tOu
Nh Bartlett that she from Ballo0n spa the nigh!
before, and had been In Saratoga on Tuesday Size Sd
that she had ncad OF the name oil Moore enc Ne
clared that she had never been subpunacd but tba'
called upon her with paper at Ball>toh spa ana
said that she should have pleut! or money one tlo"
the paper the door, because she thought that some one
try wing to fool her
Miss Jones was ordered by the Surrogate TO hand to
Cricr Hastings the book which She carried and when
she began reading with smile OF satisfaction dt Inc Sl
interval She obryed willingly, saying TO the otiiccr;
Il j. very good book. hope You VIII abide ~ IT,
The witness informed the Court that size had made
NJ her mind not 10 appear witness, uHtll she got
ready, aud when she had determined to come on. she
would have IL she had been brought "a corpse.
Cduer Nic bcmsuaut smile OF Surrogate Rollins Miss
Jones was induced admit that she had been house
keeper tor the lamerseys. She then discovered that
she mad been caught mapping and shut her mouth iIc-
her c0uu.ers charge saying that she would not run
away. and ad ling: Like you too we'll Oticer last
in4s meaiianty refused To accept Miss JOAcss 1ooA
which size urged upon him.
Mrs Loui7 c. Hlmersley, q good looking blonde
woman tHeuty uiuc Old who was IN heavy mourn
ing. and was evidently just recovering from illness
testified that the only VIII OF her husbands when she
had Of besides the o l~e} under contest was
shown her 10y her husband In l-16; this sac ana not
read MI BumhaW. nephew % Miss Jones, testified TO
souuduess Of her mind lie had not talked with Eer
however Tor five or perhaps ten years