The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-18
BLAINE,s GRANDFATHER.
Tried for Insanity, He Proves Himself Equal
to the Emergency.

to the Emergency.
Chris Magee, in Pittsburg Dispatch
81 don't know whether he could be called a
crank, but he had that reputation, nevertheless.
One of his favorite prankS was to hitch a horse
to his sleigh in midsummer. throw in lot of
buffalo robes, and drive over to Washington. l
think the whole trouble with him was that the
more his family endeavored to prevent his doing
queer things, the more he would do them When
his sons and daughters married and left his roof,
he gave each one fine farm, and 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 a good many years; Eph.
Blaine sold the farm his father-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 petit
toned the court for lunacy commission in his
behalf, as they claimed the old gentleman was
mentally incapable of taking care of his estate.
The question came up before court for hear
ing, but old Neal Gillespie declined to have any
attorney and proceeded to conduct the case him
self. Ephraim Blaine. his son-in-law, was the
first witness called. He went extensively into
the causes which led the family to take the step
they had; told about his father-in-law's crazy
ways. and was then turned over to the alleged
lunatic for cross examination.
you are my son-in[aw, Eph, believer
Eyes, SIR responded Jim's father
''Did you get any dowry with my daughter
when you married herr
Yes i did.
"Fell the court what property you had your
self when you were married.
The witness objected on the ground that it
had nothing to do with the case.
But I'll show you that ii has" responded Gil
leSpie; and to humor him the judge required
Blaine TO answer the question.
''Well, l didn't have anything said the wit
ness, reluctantly.
Now, tell me what became of the farm gave
you and my daughter when you were married.
"Ah-well-it has been sold"
'And where is the money"
'Oh-it has been spent for household and
other purposes"
Got any of it left nowl"
mot very much"
''That will do" said the old man, with a
twinkle in his eye. I'm done with you for the
present"
He took up the next witness, another son-in-
law, and subjected him to the same eXcruciating
cross-tire, and so on to the end the result with
each relative being the same. Ephraim Blaine
was called up again.
"Eph, l want you to tell the court if my estate
was diminished any when l gave part of it to
you and your wife"
Eyes. sir; it was"
''Well, since then, have added to or kept on
diminishing itlT
81 believe you have bought some land since
then"
added several FARMS and stocked EN-, too,
haven't Ip
'Yes, sir"
You have sold your farm and got nothing left
of it,
Eyes, sir"
"And you want me declared lunatic, and you
take the management of my estateF
That's what we want the court to do, sir
The old fellow, tall, gaunt and awkward, arose
in court glared around on the members of the
family who had wasted their substance, and yet
wanted him adjudged a lunatic, and blurted out:
''Well, you are all fine set Of ducks to want to
manage nay estate after you've squandered all of
your own And he strobe from the court house
in towering rage. The court refused to adj
judge him a lunatic, and the sons and sons-in-
law failed to get their fingers ON the old mans
nropertyr