Daily Republican., 1886-05-18
rb,.Moru,nr,s Court.

Court resumed proceedings ut 10
O'Clock this morning, with CHIEF JUS
tice Comegys and Associate Justices
Wootten and Houston on the bench.
Immediately after the opening the
ICourt announced that Mr.. Nields' mo
ton for non.suit was dismissed, and
he commenced his opening argument TO
the jury.
understanding of either Benjamin
Kent or his wife: that they
were to be charged any board
by Caleb H. Bradley, and that they
had gone to live ut his house through
his urgent invitation, and that Mrs.
Kent did work enough about the house
to fully pay for their board. He also
said that the other children had invited
the old people to come and make their
home with them, without charge, but
that they were prevailed upon to 20
with their daughter, Annie Brad ley.
When he closed the argument he COM
menced the examination OF witnesses
for the defendant.
Patience W. Kent testified that she Is
the wife of Henry s. Kent, the executor
of the estate of Benjamin Kent. MT.
Higgins objected to. her testimony being
received, ON the ground that she IL the
wife of the defendant, who is an inter.
ested party. After argument by coun-
Sci the objection was sustained by the
court and the witness retired.
| Mary l.. Kent affirmed, and testified
that she is the wife Of j. Simmons Kent,
when Mr.. Higgins objected to her testi-
mony being heard on the ground that
she was q wife of one Of the distributin 4
oA,.aN n
brought, and therefore debarred from
being witness. Another argument
ensued, which was again decided
against Mr.. Nields and the witness re-
tired.
j, Simmons Kent was affirmed, and
testified he Is son of the late benjamin
Kent. He remembe when his father
and mother went to live with his sister
and her husband, Caleb II. Bra Hey.
He had been at their house number
of times aud saw his mother engaged in
household duties. He also knew that
during the illness Of bis sister, Mrs.
Bradley, his mother nursed her and
was attending to her wants, day and
night, which he considered the hardest
kind Of work. 1t was his opinion that
the service rendered by his mother was
Iample compensation for the board OF
his father and mother. After search
ing Cross examination by Mr.. Higgins,
the witness was dismissed.
Henry 8. Kent was affirmed and tes-
titled that he Is the executor of the es'
tate OF Benjamin Kent. Mr.. Nields
showed him The paper that was produced
by the plaintiff, and which purports to
be an ackno led cement of BENZ min
Keut that he was indebted to Caleb II.
Bradles for board for himse and wife,
and he testified that this paper had
never been presented TO him since he
has been executor, neither did he know
of its existence until recently.
Several questions put by Mr.. Nields
were objected to by Mr.. Higgins and
arguments eneued, after which the wit
ness continued and said that his mother
d was a strong, healthy woman, consider.
ing her age, and that each time he had
visited the house Of Caleb II. Bradley
he found his mother at work, and
thought that her services were worth
their board, and probably more. He
testified that his wifes father and
mother had boarded with them, and
also kept horse and carriage, and that
: all he charged them for their board and
: the feed for the horse was IS per week
which he considered sufficient. He
visited Mr.. Bradley's house about once
in two weeks and generally remained
. day and night, but his wife sometimes
went and stayed longer. His visit
; were more frequent during his sister
illness as he was anxious on account O
her condition.
- Lindley G. Kent was affirmed, anC
testified that he knew Caleb II. Brad
ley, and that Mrs. Bradley was his sis
ter. He remembered when his fathe
> and mother went to live with Caleb H
Bradley, and knew that they were In
). vIted 20 come. He thought they wen
there to live in 1877; at that time hi
), sister, MIS-. Bradley, was in poo
X health, and during tho last yea
! or eighteen months Of her life 81
was in very bad health and needle
almost constant care, which was give
: by his mother. 1t was his impressio
that his mother earned her board, an
he thought If the same care had bee
: given to his sister by some one else
70 would have cost great deal more
Almost every question asked the wi
~ ness was objected to by opposing coun
~ sci and the examination was lengther
= ed out until l o'clock, when Coul
:. adj urned until 3 O'Clock this after
noon.