The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-12
MRS. STONES WILL.

The Celebrated Case Sill in the Courts
BOSTON, Dec. 11.-In the court at East Cam
bridge yesterday, the ease OF contestng Mrs.
Stones viii continued, and the cross-examina-
tion of the nurse Mrs. Pearson, was concluded She
remembered that at Fryeburg, Me-, the testatrix
made Mr.. Spring tome promise; he accompanied
her home, and then Mrs. Stone promised him $2O,-
900, consultation was had with Mr.. Wilcox. MIR.
Wilcox said to Mrs. Stone that the gift could not be
made under the first trust deed. But Mrs. Stone
carried her point and the $4,000 was somehow
paid over to Mr.. Spring. Afterwards, at Mrs.
Stones request, $4,000 was given to Miss Clara
Goodenow. Mrs. Stone was interested in Bowdoin
College, knowing President Chamberlain. Mrs.
Stone and always discussed the little daily gifts
AT the afternoon session, the cross examination
Of Mrs. Pearson was continued. Mrs. Pearson
knew Of gifts of money, varying in amount, made
by Mrs. Stone to different persons, particularly
wedding and Christmas presents, On the redirect
examination witness said she never knew Mrs.
Stone to write anything except her name after the
years 1S72-73. Henry F. Durant was at the house
twice at the time Mr.. Wilcox's brother, professor
in Chicago Theological Seminary was there. Mrs.
Stone was very weary from the journey to Fryeburg
Me.
Mrs. Hannah Page testified that she had lived in
Maiden thirty three years. Was the wife of Mr.
Page, the executor. Knew Mrs. Stone from her
childhood. Married Mr.. Page while he was part
ner Of Mr.. Stone. Lived in Boston when first
came from Earm1DQtOQ. Mrs. stone theu lived at
the United States Hotel, and while there suffered
from hemoTrhage at the nose, and was very much
weakened thereby. She always introduced me
her sister. Knew Of the several epileptio attacks
in 1878. In t874 think Mrs. Stone had serious
illness while calling at my house. Later was In
the church few pews Oft, when Mrs. Stone was
again attacked and was carried out. After these
attacks Mrs. Stone seemed much feeber, and did
not understand readily. noticed q change begin
ming ten years back and after these ill turns her
ten made ridiculous remarks. Did net come to see
me alter these attacks, she had been wont to do
before. Mrs. Stone never spoke of colleges in q
single instance nor anything about the evangoliza.
tion Of France. To my knowledge she never
on bad terms with any of her relatives. Under
cross-examinaton the witness said: 1 purposely
avoided speaking about business matters with Mrs.
Stone. Mrs. Stone became unusually fOrgetfui and
changed rapidly during the last years Of her te.
were trustees of MIS-. stones whole estate, and
knew that they were paying money upon the o. der
of Mrs. Stone. My husband received Sic 900 and
my daughter, Mrs. Mary Shapleigh, received S10,-
ESQ, and perhaps $4,000 more. Mr. G. II Shap-
leigh, her husband, received $4,000, my son, AL
bert N. Page. received $4,000, and my daughter,
Valeria Page So 600. All this money was given
by Mrs Stone through Mrs. Page, during the years
succeeding the death of Mr.. Stone. Mrs. Stone
said she was not going to wait to give this money by
will.
Dr. Joshua W. weliman was the next witness
called. He testified that he was pastor of The Con-
gregat;onal church in Maiden from 1874 till 1854;
was trustee of Andover institutions; called often
Mr.. and Mrs. Stone after becoming her pastor. The
of delicate health, and became feebler with the
years; was conducti the morning service when
Mrs. Stone stricken in my church; heard a
noise as though some one was dying; looked and
saw it was Mrs. Stone After the fit in the church
noticed that Mrs. Stone failed. She was not able
to hold protracted conversation. The change OBJ
served was an increasing one. She never talked
with me about any institutions, except the Ando-
yer and then introduced the subject, thanking
her for her gifts those institutions In my earli
er calls she always came down from her chamber.
bet later always sent down for me eto come up.
Never attended my church after the fit suffered
there.
The court then adjourned.
The was continued this morning. Rev. DIR.
Wellman of Maiden, who was on the witness stand
at the close of Wednesday afternoon took the
stand again and was cr0ss-examined. Witness tes-
titled that Mrs. Stone freed his church In Maiden
from oebt; she also gave $175.000 to the Andover
Theological Seminary witness did not feel that he
had done wrong in accepting the gifts TO the church
or to the And0ver Seminary, of which he was one
of the trustees.
Mrs. L. c. Brown was next called and testified
that Mr.. and Mrs. Stone came to board with her in
1866. Witness related several cases of sickness of
Mrs. Stone from 1873 to the time of her death, and
also gave the game description of Mrs. Stones epi
leptic attacks as the ott er witnesses my husband
received gift of SIS 900 from NTrs Ssone who also
paid off a mortgage his property; Mrs. Stone
never spoke to of her gifts to colleges but often
spoke pleasantly of her relatives; after her hus-
bands death, Mr.. Wilcox called 10 see her nearly
every day. On cross-examination by Mr.. CASTOR,
witness said that Mrs. Stones first sickness
slow fever in 1868; she had other serious ill ness
until 1871, when she was sick for a few days; she
had other sicknesses than the epileptic attacks in
1874; there change in Mrs Stone after her
husbands death. but no more perhaps than any
other lady would who had lived in such close init
macy and had depended so entirely on her husband.
Witness thought that Mrs. Stone knew what she
was doing in making the presents to witness hus-
band and to his sister. Mrs. Pierson. Mrs. Stone
was Of charitable disposition, and loved to do
good and make small gifts
Mrs. Sarah G. Ames testified that she lived in
Maiden and had lived there since 1887; first be-
came acquainted with Mrs. Stone in 1S43; used to
her fre0uontlV the last of her life.
heard of her epiepic attacks; when her af-
ter the attacks she appeared somewhat changed;
her memory appeared impaired, and che complained
much of dizziness in her head.
Mrs. Edward Brown testified to knowing Mrs.
Stone from 1898 to the time of her DEATH and to
neticing gradual decline in her after 1874.
Miss Clara Goodenow. a niece of Mrs. stones,
testified the number of relatives that lady had
and to her personal relations to herself