Morning journal and courier., 1888-11-09
BETsEx nRADLEY,s WILL

COurt-AttOFney DOO1tGt1e Says She
 Destroyed the VIII of Captain John
 Bradley and Secured S1IO,OOO That
 Was Never Intended For Her-Some
 Surprising Testimony.
 The hearing on the will of the late BetseY Bradley was continued yesterday before Judge Robertson. It will be recollected that she died after having lived more than three score years and ten leaving an estate valued at from $25O, 900 to $500, 900, the bulk of which was to be held in trust for her brother Josephus and at his death to be divided and spent in works of charity. Betsey married Captain John Bradley and at the time he agreed to give her $22, 900. When the cap tain died his estate was settled and Betsey took $110, ,000 as the captain left no will. In this respect there was surprise in court yesterday morning, which was foreshadowed in news item in the COURIER few mornings ago.
 Judge Luzon B. Morris late candidate for governor, was called as witness. Judge Nor ris said Mrs. Bradley talked with him about drawing will ten years before she died, but he had no distinct recollection of the conver- sation now. He thought Josephus had been provided for as in the second will The small legacies were different in the first will. After the death of Josephus the son of Samuel was to get the homestead, but subsequently this was revoked and the idea of providing a chapel sustituted. The residuary legstee in the first will the judge thought was St. PauPs church, but whether the provisions were the the same as in the second be could not say. Judge Morris said the reason Mrs. Bradley cut off the son of Samuel was because she thought his father was well enough off and he would not need any money from her. The iugde called to mind that in this first will Ill I-a I. pital for sailors. He thought she gave $6, ,000, but could not definitely swear upon this point.
 John Bradley, son of Betsey's late hus- band, was recalled and testified that before his father died he told him he had left will, but after his fathers death he had been un- able to find the document. The inference to be drawn from this is that Betsey, when she married the old captain, secured his will, and finding that he had carried out his part of the anti -nuptial agreement and only given her $20, ,000, she destroyed the document.
 "What was the amount allowed her by the agreement?" asked Attorney Doolittle.
 fI object to the admission of such testi- mony," said Judge Morris. "It is 8 ques- tion not of amount, but of the validity of the will in question:"
 s'It is for the purpose of showing the lack of mental capacity on the part of the testa- tor, that wish to introduce such testimony, i" replied Mir. Doolittle.
 ''If that is your purpose" said Judge Robertson, CT will hear it."
 The witness then said that the amount in- volved in the agreement was $3, GOO, and his relations with the testator were always pleas ant.
 This finished all the testimony of the witt nesses and the arguments began.
 stAs matter of law" said MT. Doolittle in his argument, "one clause in this will is void, and if the will is admitted to probate it will be done with the specification that this clause is void. I turn your honor's at- tention to the fifteenth clause"
 This related to the clause providing for the founding of an old ladies' home. MT. Doo- little said the provision was too uncertain and made no specific choice as to who was to establish the home. The fact that Betsey wanted to establish Episcopal church in East Haven where she would have to pay congregation to attend service as there were no Episcopalians in the place was conclusive proof that Betsey was insane. MT. Doolittle said that the fact no one had been selected who was empowered to determine who was eligible for admission into this home also tended to establish the invalidity of the clause.
 ''She was incapable of making will, ," continued MI. Doolittle. She was not capa- don't believe she ever had sane moment in her life. She didn't like her brother Samuel, and her single idea was Josephus, and she continually reiterated to General Mer- win, who made the will, that she wanted -Josephus to have the $500, 900. Her writ ings about the will are the productions of mind stamped with decay.
 ''It is, too, an undutiful will. She did not nave much regard for truth. She got $200,- 900 from Captain Bradley, and told his son she only got $100.000 She destroyed the captains will and got thereby $110,00 and committee a State's prison offense by this action. Possibly like the robbers of the middle age, she imagined by leaving part of her estate to St. PauPs church she felt that she had atoned for her robbery. She wanted to have $100,000 ex- pended in building chapel on the site of her old homestead. It would take $100, ,000 more to furnish a vote for it. Forbes that she wished the building called the Forbes chapel, when in reality it would be known as the Forbes folly. Your hon. or, in conclusion will say that will leave 1t to the Christian conscience of the members of St. Paul's church, if they have any, to keep this wealth acquired in crime to be ap. piled by them to charitable purposes"
 Judge Morris, for the will, said the only question for his honor to decide was whether the instrument before him was the will of the late Betsey Bradley and whether she was of sound mind when she made the will. He thought inasmuch General Merwin and Broker Warren, the witnesses to the docu- msnt, testified that she was of sound mind, Mir. Doolittle'a objection was of little value
 Judge Robertson took the papers and said he would announce his decision Monday morning at 10 o'clock