The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-07-13
BLAlNE's GRANDFATHER GILLESPIE.

Old Neal Gillespie, father-ir.law
of EphTaim Blaine, the father of
Jim, lived cut in Washington
county. He was o shrewd business
man, well liked by his neighbors,
but always considered q little queer.
One of his favorite prRnks was to
hitch a horse to his sleigh in mid
summer, throw in 8 lot OF buffalo
robes, and drive over to Washing
tor. | think the whole trouble
with him was that the more his
family endeavored 10 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 a fine farm,
and when his daughter married Eph
Blaine che 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 petltioned court for a 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 hearing, but old
Neal Gillespie declined to have any
attorney AMI proceeded to conduct
his case himself. 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 fathers
in-law's crszy ways, and was then
turned over 10 the alleged lunatic
for cross-examination.
"You are my son-in-lRw, Eph, 1
believer"
eyes, SIR" responded Jim's ia =
ther.
"Did you get any dowery with my
daughter when you married her?"
"Yes, I did"
"Tell the court what property
you had yourself when yol were
married"
The witness obj.cted on the
ground that it had nothing to dc
with the case.
"But I'll show you that it has,
responded Gillespie, and to humol
him the Judge required Blaine tc
answer the question.
swell, 1 didn't have anything
said the witness reluctantly.
"NoW tell me what became OF
the farm I gave you and my daugh
ter when you Were married ?"
"Ah-well-it has been Sold"
"And where is the money ?"
"Oh-it has been spent for houss
hold and other purposes.
SCOT any of 1t left now?"
"Not very much"
"Ihst will de-" said the old man
with a twinkle In his eye. "PR
done with you for the present."
He took up the next witness.
son>in.law, and subjected him t
the same eXcruciating Cross fire, anC
so on to the end, the result viii
J each being the same. EphIain
J Blaine Was called up again
"Eph, / want you to tell me i
my estate was diminished an!
when I gave q part of it to you az,
, your wife?''
"Yes, cir, it was."
swell, since then, have / added t
or kept on diminishing it?'
"I believe you have bought som
land since then"
added several farms, and Stoke
,, 'em, too, haven't y"
eyes, sir.,
"Haye yon sold your farm and G
nothing left OF t."
, ayes, cir"
sand you Want me declared
lunatic. and you take ths manage
l ment of my estate?''
s'That's Whst We want the cou
I TO do, cir"
| The old fellow, tall. gaunt an
3 awkward, arose in court, glare
? around on the memb RS of the fam
{ ly who had wasted their substanc
a and yet wanted him adjudged q IL
. matte. and blurted out: "We
| you are a fine set of ducks TO wal
' to manage my estate after you''
: equandered al your ewn," and b
!. strobe from the courthouse in
q towering rage. The court refuse
to adjudge him a luuatic, and Il
) sons and sons-in-law failed to G
: their fingers on the old mans pro-
! elty.-PittsbeIg Dispatch.
}. Business Failures fer Six Months
:, The total number Of failures