The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-07-10

0ango<s. 10 thsy had . very sscs htue
feast. - TIE Sx~A~M.
nlains's OraadlAsAaS Otllssyts,
Old Neal Gillespie. the fsthst.is.ls~ ot
Ephrsiu Blaine. the fathsr cf Jim. lived
cut in Washington county. lie vas =
shrevi hnsiscss man, well liked By his
neighbors, hut always considered little
queer. One Of his favorite prasks was to
Liic b horse 70 his alsigh in sidsuamer,
throw in a 10, Of bufals robss. and drive
over 10 Washington. ! thisk The vhels
trouble with him was, that ths moro bic
family enaeavorsd 70 prevent his doise
queer tLings. the more BE- would ds them
When his sons and daughtsrs married and
left his root, he gave each ose 6as farm.
aaA vtss his dsughlsr narrisd Eph
Biaiss cha ahAse1 liks ~ ottsn. thousA
Eph Ladnr very much 81 thh worlds
goods at the time. Matters moved along
for esed many years. Eph Blsias had
sold the farm his fathsr-is.law had gives
him and the proceeds soon disaPpsarsd.
Old man Gillespie still carried on bic
queer ways until 6aslly the soas and scss.
inlsw petiticned court for lunacy COM
mission in his behalf. as they claimed the
cid gentleman vas mentally incapable Of
taking care Of his estate. The question
came up before court for hearing. but
old Neal Gillespie declined 10 have any
attorney and proceeded to conduct his case
himself. Ephrsim Blaine. his son-is.law.
was the first witness called. He went sx-
haustivsly into the causes which led the
family 10 take the stsp they had; tsld
about his father.in.law's crsxy ways, asd
was then turned over 10 the alleged lunatio
for cross examination.
You are my Son.in law. Eph. bslisve.
Yes. sir, responded Jims father.
Did You get any dowry With my daush'
ter when you married her?
Yes, I did.
Tell the court what property you had
yourself v hen you were married.
The witness objected on ths ground that
it had nothing to do with the case
But I'll show you that It has. responded
Gillespie, and to humor him the Judge
required Blaine to answer the quss.
tion.
Well, l didn't have anything. said the
witness, reluctantly. 'f.s5
Now tell me what has become Of the
farm gave you and my daughter when
you we're marriedY A9af4
All well--it has been sold.
And where is tho mossy?
Oh--it has been spsut for liouseoll and
other purposes.
Get any Of II left now?
Not very much.
That will do. said tho old man with .
twinkle in his eye. I'm done With you
for the present.
He took up the next witness, another
sn-in.law, aud subjected him TO the same
sxcrucisting cross fire. and 80 on 10 the
end, the result with each relative being
.he same Ephraim Blaine was called up
again.
EPh, want you to tell the court II my
estate was diminished any when gave .
part 81 1t to ysu and your wife?
Yes, sir, it was.
Well, since then have / added TO Or
kept on diminishing II?
l believe ysu have bought some land
since then.
Added several farms, and stocked en-.
too. haventI? 4
Yes, sir.
And You have sold your farm ssd got
nothing for its
Yes dir.
And you want me declared = luuatie.
and you take the management VI my W..
tatey
That's what We want the court 10 Dc
sir?
The old fellow tall, gsuut and awkward,
arose in court, glared arsnad the members
OF the family who had wasted their sub.
stance, aud yet wasted him sdjudged =
lunatic. and bIurtsd out: Well, you arc
fine set Of ducks TO want 10 nsosse my
estate after you've squsadsrsd oil Of your
own, and lie strods from the court house
in towering rage. The court refused "
adjudge him lnnstic, and the sons'ia.
Law failed 10 get their. fsgsss on the old
mans property.