Morning journal and courier., 1888-10-31
BRrsEx BRADLEx,s WILL.

BETsEK BRADLEK'S WILL.
 General merwin Is Enquired of as
 Trustee and one of the witnesses 50
 she Will-InteresIinE Developments.
 At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the sec ond days hearing in the Betsey Bradley will case began before Judge Robertson in the Probate court.
 Mrs. Bradley left property worth, accord ing to popular estimate, between $S00, 1000 and $4e0,0 900. Some of her relatives are dis- satisfied with the provisions made for them, especially Samuel Forbes, one of the brothers of Betsey. State Attorney Doolittle appears for the interest of MT. Forbes. Mrs. Bradley provided for legacy for St. Pauls church. l Attorney Hamilton is watching the proceed l ings in behalf of St. Paul's church. Ex- Judge Morris is in the ease for the executor, General S. E. Merwin.
 Herbert O. Warren of H. O. Warren 6 O., brokers, at 129 Orange street, was the first witness. He testified that he had signed Mrs. Bradley's will as a witness in front of Gener- al Merwin's office on State street about 10 ! am. on the day mentioned in the will, Gen. eral Merwin and Annie B. Schafer being present. He said he thought Mrs. Bradley in
 
 drawn up, and that he had done considera- ble bushes in bonds, stocks and securities for her.
 General Merwin testified that he saw Mrs. Bradley sign the will in March, 1888, in front of his store on State street. He saw all the ! witnesses sign the will. He had known Mrs. Bradley about eight years. His first ac- quaintance with her was at time when he was settling the estate of s. W. Strong. The general told of another estate, that Of the late John Frisbie, that was indebted to her, and how he frequently met Mrs. Bradley in settling it. He said that one day she asked him to take 8 ride with her, I and afterward asked if he could make will. This he did for her, and she made few changes; otherwise it was to her satisfaction. The General thought she was as competent to make a will as any one he ever saw. He was vigorously cross examined by MT. Doohtele, during which he said: 'I paid Mrs. Schaffer money at Mrs. Bradley's request, on August 29, 1888. Mrs. Bradley called me into the room and gave me $50, and told me to give it to Miss Schafer after she (Mrs. Bradley) was dead. Mrs. Bradley died on October IA, 1888. On the occasion when she gave me the $50 for Miss Schaffer she also gave me $2, 300 to take care of for her. At the same time she handed me $50 to give to Julia Ash- ley. think that's her name, servant, to be paid to her if she (Julia) was in the Brad ley household at the time of Mrs. Bradley's death
 ''On another visit to Mrs. Bradley she said she would like $400, and she told me how she would dispose of $500. That she gave to Rev. Mir. Lines as personal gift, and gave MT. Lines the check for $500. I think it was en October 6, 1888. also gave him check for $1 ,00O at her request about that time" General Aerwin stated that he had de- stroyed the memorandum made while on the ride with Mir. Bradley in reference to the will.
 ''When you have more experience, general, in making wills you will preserve all those memoranda, suggestions and instructions on paper" remarked MT. Doolittle. General Merwin said he supposed the will superseded all previous memoranda, to which Mr. Doolit- tie rejoined that ''If all the documents, which threw great deal of light on the subject, jeot, had not been preserved, should never have been able to sustain the Welton will. general"
 The fifteenth clause in the will refers to the provision made for home for the aged of St. Pauls church. "That clause," said General Merwin, "wss drawn up in pursu- ance ot the instructions of Mrs. Bradley. There was another william old one. I was guided to some extent by the old will in pre- pairing the new. I think the old one was dated somewhere in TO. Ex-Judge Morris handwriting was in that old will. think he drew it up. That will I returned to Mrs. Bradley and don't know what has become of it. There were some provis- ions in the old will that were changed in the new. One of these concerned 8 bequest about providing for the poor of the town of East Haven of American birth. Another was about providing bed in the hospital for sailors of American birth. She wanted me to be executor and charged me over and over again about caring for her brother Jos eph. think Judge Morris was the executor named in the old will.
 On being questioned by Mir. Doolittle, General Merwin stated that memoranda giv- en by Mrs. Bradley summed her property to $250, 900. The court then adjourned till 3 o'clock. The general submitted to MT. Doo- the case in general way. Then Mr. Doo- little requested that the case be continued until Thursday, November 8, at 10 a. m. Mir. Doolittle's voice is in poor condition, as he and he thought it imprudent to go on with the case until he felt somewhat better His request was granted.
 There are many interesting facts connected with the case. In an interview with MT. Doolittle yesterday afternoon he said that Mrs. Betsey Bradley's husband, who died many years ago, had will made out by the late Henry White, who was one of our we'll known and most respected citizens, and that when Captain Bradley died no trace of this will could be found anywhere. Mir. White made the will end left it at MT. Bradley's house.
 Mrs. Bradley had another brother, David, and he also had his will drawn up before he died several years ago. He had declared that none of his property should go to any of the Forbes family. He was in perfectly sound mind. After his demise, or during his last hours, 6 rigorous search was made by BetseY and her brother Josephus for his will but no trace ot the document has ever come to light.
 Continuing, Mir. Doolittle said: "Mra. Bradley has been for long time something of a monomaAiac and had a special craze for making and destroying wills. She also had e chronic habit and love of disappoin ting benefciaries. Before her death she was spe- cially friendly with her brother, Samuel, and it was considered that it would be her first wish and intention that he should be remem- bered with the rest in her will. She was also very friendly with Mrs. Dr. Elliot, of this city, and her niece, daughter of Samuel, and had frequently said that Josephus should be well provided for; but that the rest of the family should be handsomely remembered.
 The case is altogether one of many in- trications, and many isolated facts serve to embarrass and hinder Q clear conception and understanding of the matter. It is exciting great interest among citizens, and the result of the hearing is eagerly awaited. John, a husband) by his first wife, was present at the hearing yesterday. Another son of the late Captain resides in Meriden.
 Three wIl Not Vote.
 The board of registration met yesterday afternoon to strike of the registry list all persons who have been convicted of crime in the courts. The following names were dropped: Frank LiIlie of North Bank street, Frederick Hemingway of 2 DixWell avenue and Michael J. Thumpane of 229