Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-08-15
BlrIne's Grandfather.


Old Neal Gillespie, father-in-law OF
Ephraim Blaine, the father O: Jim, livtd
ont in Washington county. lie was g
shrewd business man, wcll-lked BY his
neighbors, but always considered little
queer. Ono Of his favorite pranks was to
hitch horse to his sleigh in midsummer,
throw in lot OF buffalo robes, and drive
over 10 Washington. think the whole
trouble with him was, that the more his
family cndesyored 10 prevent his doing
queer things, the more he would do thom.
When his sons and daughters married and
left his roof he gave each one fine farm,
aud when his daughter married Eph
Blaine she shared like the others, though
Eph. hadn't very much of this worlds
goods at the time. Matters moved along
FOR good many years, Eph. Blaine sold
the farm his fa;her-in-law had given him,
and the proceeds soon disappeared.
Old man Gillespie still carried on In his
queer ways until finally the sons and sons
in-law petitioned court for lunucy COM
mission in his behalf, rs they claimed the
old gentleman was mentally incapable of
taking care Of his estate. The question
came up before court for a hearing, but
old Neal Gillespie declined 20 have any
attorney and proceeded 20 conduct his
ease himself. Ephraim Blaine, his son.
in-law, was the first witness called. lie
went eXhsustively into the causes which
led the family TO take tho sep they hal;
told about his father-iu-law' crazy ways,
and was turned over 20 the alleged luna
tic for cross-cXamination.
"Tou are my son-in-law Fph., | b.
lcyc2"
"YeS, sir" responded Jim'5 father.
"Dii you get any dowry with M daush-
ter when you married her?"
Eyes, did"
"Teil the court what property you had
yourscl: when you were married."
The witness objected on the ground
that It had nothing 20 DO with the ease.
"But I'll show you that it has" re-
sponded Gillespie, and TO humor him the
judge required Blaine to answer the qucs-
ti0U.
"Wel!, dn't have anything" said the
witness, reluctantly.
"Now, tell me what became of the farm
l gave you and my daughter when You
were marricdY'
"Ah-wcii-it has been sold"
"And where Is the moncv?'
"Oh-it has been spent fox household
and other purposes"
"Got any of it loft now"
"Not very much"
That will do" said The old man. with
Il tNinklc in his eye, "I'm doUo with you
for the present"
lie tool, up the next witness, another
son-in-!aw, and subjected him 10 the same
eXcrucIatng cross-fro, and 50 on to tho
end, the result with each relative being
the same. Ephrain Blaine was o.lledup
again.
"Eph., want you to tell tho court ii
my estate was diminished any when
gave part Of It to you and your wIrc:"
eyes, sir; It was"
"Well, since then hnvo added to or
kept on diminishing IN"
al believe you have bought some land
since then"
"hdded several farms, aud stocked 'cm
too, haven't II"
eyes, sir"
"You have sold your farm and got
nothing left of it!'
eyes, sir"
"And you want me declared lunatiJ,
and you take tho management OF my cs-
tate?"
That's what we want the court 10 do,
SIR"
Tho old fellow, tall, gaunt and awk-
ward, arose in court, g'arcd around on
the members of the family who had vast
ed their substance, and yet wanted him
adjudgcG n lunatic, and blurted out
"Wcll, you arc all fine set of ducks TO
want TO manage my estate after you've
squandered all your own," and lie strobe
from the courthouse in towering rago.
The court refused 10 adjudge him luna
tic, and the s0ns-iu-law failed 10 get their
fingers on the old mans property ty.-Pas-
burg Dispdth.