Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-06-17
WAS Hr A CRANK
How Neal Gillespie, Blsine's Grandfather,
UutgenersIed His Relatives.

outscheraicu Ills neHAtNcs'
Related by Chris Magee.
Old Neal Gillespie, father. in-law of
Ephriam Blaine, the father of Jim, lived
out in Washington county. He was q
shrewd business man, swell liked by his
neighbors, but always considered little
queer.
II don't know whether he could be
called a crank, but he had that reputation
nevertheless. One of his favorite pranks
was TO hitch horse to his sleigh in mid
summer, throw in lot of buffalo robes,
and drive over to Washington. think
the whole trouble with him was, that the
more his family endeayored 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
tiue 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 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 sops aud
sons-in law petitioned 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 q hear
ing, but old Neal Gillespie declined to
have any attorney and proceeded to cen.
duct the case himself. Ephraim Blaine,
his son-iu-law, was the first witness
called. He went exhaustively into the
cause which led the family to take the
step they had told about his father.
In laws crazy ways, and was then turned
over to the alleged lunatic for cross-exam
nation,
You are my son-in-law Eph,
| believe 2''
eyes sir ;" responded Jim's father.
"Did you get any dowry with by daugh.
ter when you her married ?"
| Eyes did,"
Tell, TEL the court what property you had
| yourself when you were married ?"
Tho witness objected on the ground that
it has nothing to do with the case
"But III show you that it has" re-
sponded Gillespie, and to humor him the
judge required Blaine to answer the ques-
tion.
well, Ididn't have anything" said the
witness reluctantly.
"Now, tell me what became Of the farm
gave you and my daughter when you
were married ?"
"Ah-well-it has been sold"
Sand where Is the money ?"
"Oh--it has been spent for household
and other purposes"
"Got any of 1t left now ?"
"Not very much"
THAT will do" said tho old man, with
a twinkle iE his eye. r'm done with you
for the present.
He took up the next witness, another
son.in-law, and sub bjected him to the same
exoruciating cross-iire, and so on to the
end, the result with each relative being
the same. Ephraim Blaine was called up
again.
"Eph, want you to tell the court II my
estate was diminished auy when gave a
part OF 1t to you and your wiie?"
"Yes, sir 1t was"
"Well, since then, have added to or
kept on diminishing it?"
since then"
added several farms, and stocked 'em,
too, hav'nt ?"
"Yes, sir"
"Yon have sold your farm and got moth,
ing left OF it p
"Tes, SIR"
"And you want me declared a lunatic,
and you take the management of my
estate"
That's what We want the court to do,
|, SIR"
: The old follow, tall. gaunt and awkward.
! arose In the court, glared around on the
members Of the family who had wasted
, their substance, and yet wanted him ad
I judged lunatic, and burted out, "well
you are all fine set OF ducks to want &c