New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-13
ODDITIES OF JOHN JONES.
WHAT HIS NIECE is SUING TO OBTAIN.
THE BLIND JUNK DEALERS TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
TO HIS BROTHER CONTESTED.


TO HIS BROTHER CONTESTED.
John Jones' the blind junk dealer, who was
brother Of Morgan Jones' ex-member of Congress.
died in June, 1888 Morgan Jones has possession OF
property at Pearl and Centre Nos 30 ana 90 Centre
St, and IN EightyfOurth and observation-disclosures
ueh SITS, which formerly belonged to his brother and
which he claims decided to him in August 1879, for
consideration OF 5000 He claims that bis brother
made a will In 1888 confirming to him the title to this
property. Miss Mary c. Jones, niece OF these
brothers. has sued Morgan Jones and his wife
to recover what she claims 10 be
her share of the prOperty-one III 900 dam
ages, averring that John of unsound mind when he
executed the deeds and until his death The entire
property Is valued at $4,000. The before
Justice Van Brunt and jury in Supreme Court Cir
cult. Part ~. yesterday. John f. Parsons and Beck
man ogden appeared for the plaintiff, and Jacob F.
Miller and Townsend Wandell for the defendants.
Mrs Margaret Jones' mother Of the plaintiff testified
that she the widow of William Jones' brother OF
Morgan, Evan and John Jones. She did not
know whether John married or not He said
he was and lived with a woman whom he called his
wife, They had one child
Mary G. Jones deposed that she was employed as a
teacher in public school
The deeds signed by John Jones were placed ev
dence The will offered In evidence, but Justice
Van Brunt ruled it out the ground that 1t not
properly attested
For the defence Evan described the property
Thomas Wandel told how the deeds had been prepared
lie testified that where there an actual conveyance
or property Tor consideration usual to convey
with without instructions from John Jones
he used the bargain sale form OF blank In the
memorandum on the deed the witness had written: Z"
fully explained &c John Jones the contents and the effect
Of tho hin deed" BY these deeds ne transferring
all his 'al estate 10 his brother. Morgan Jones The
witness stated to John Jones that IL deed OF all
his real estate describing it, by which his property
by MST the Witness ssG
that Morgan Jones told him. in regard his brothers
tniu tnS Itraa flo. afoL
consumption and as he had house to which he could
take MIN he arranged TO send him to the hospital Nor
gan Jones TO pay the BILL but the witness did not
know whether he was to pay the funeral expenses:
These papers took away all Johns real estate. lie had
Francis sheridan testified that he read the deeds to
John Jones and they we're signed in Morgan JGnes,s
nd MFGr0ng and Trayers signed as witnesses @o
vent to wndes wSndS asked jd inf he
bet do" The witness was Morgan Joness foreman for
tweniy.one years. Philip Furlong was attache OF
Edward Travers doOrnan in the Fifth Police Pre-
cinct corroboraed the testimony of Mr.. sheridan
Thomas Maher NquordealeT and Assembyman- elect,
testified that he had paid rent to Evan Jones and John
Jones It'll the latter told him that the property was no
longer MS ana that no must pay tue rent TO Morgan
Jones' John went to tho store OF tho witness almost
eoGgk day The would there so6eboay
to read the papers to him aud then go out again. return
ROOM but never came to blows. lie excited about
history politics, family troubles and religious matters
The witness had heard him say there was no God
Margaret Eggert said she had been tenant of No. 3S
Cenret paying the rent to John Jones for four years
aud afterward 10 Morgan Jones'
william j. Finncgan, lawyer. who drew will for
John Jones In April 1872 testified that he appeared to
be perfectly rational at the He sand he would give
all his real and personal property TO Morgan but did not
say what II consisted OF.
Numerous witnesses testified that John Jones
eccentric in his habits had violent hts Of passion and
after the death OF his child much changed for the
Drs Frank Ferguson and samuel Thomas King,
who attended John Jones his last Illness testedtthu
autopsy showed that he IN advanced stage OF
consumption, had Brghts disease and had, In
the words OF DR. King, "whSt IS popularity
known drunkarPs liver" DR.. A. T.
Macdonald superintendent Of the insane asylum
Wards Island testified that on the evidence which
lie had heard John Jones OF unsOuud mind at the
time that he executed the deeds William Eckhardt.
who had been "A companion OF John Jones, produced
riment In court by his testimony.
"What Mr.. Jonc.s habIt5I" inquired Mr.. Par
sons.
" Firs-class, was the response.
what Is your nationality ~ was asked.
"a butcher" was the prompt reply.
The trial Will be continued to-day.