Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-02-18
Orleans County Court.


Orleans County Court.
The first case tried was the somewhat
noted case, Carrie Bridgman VS.. Simeon
r. Corey's estate. The suit was brought
soon after the death of DIR. Corey, h
lived in East Craftsbury, to recover $500
on a note which it was alleged. that DR..
Corey gave. Carrie Bridgman, "a step
daughter of f. t. Bridgman of South
Hardwick. The first trial was had at the
September term of the County Court in
1886, the jury disagreeing.
The plaintiff claimed that Dr.. Corey
borrowed three hundred dollars of Carrie
Bridgman, juno II, 1881. The business
was lone through f.. T. Bridgman, who
wrote a note in Mrs. L. V. Edwards mil
Ifnery store, where it was signed by DIR.
Corey. Both parties then went to the
house and the money was couted out and
handed to the Doctor by Carrie. The
plaintiff also claimed that DR.. Corey at
different times and to different parties
stated that he owed Carrie, and that on
June 6, 1888, DR.. Corey was in Hardwick
inquiring for Carrie, and stating that he
wanted to pay her some money on a note.
The defendant claimed that DR.. Corey
never borrowed the money and that the
note was a forgery. 1t was also claimed
that the alleged visit of DR.. Corey to
Hardwick, June 6, did not and could not
have occurred. Evidence of various
character was given which tended to show
that the note was a forgery.
The following testimony, made brief
from the necessity of the case, will show
the main points given in the case:
F. T. Bridgman gave a history of the
making of the note, stated that he was in
the Edwards store and wrote the note on
paper which he found in the store, went
with DR.. Corey to the house, where the
money was obtained. Mr.. b. also gave
other evidence relative to the transaction.
He was or the stand several times and
was cross questioned at great length, but
his testimony was not shaken by the Sc
we're examination.
Mrs. Bridgman was sworn and testified
that she saw Carrie count out the money
and was cognizant of the fact afterwards
that the note remained in Carries hands.
f. d. Dutton testified tina he saw DR..
Corey in Hardwick in the spring of 1888,
and heard him tell +. Il. Bridgman that
he would come down in "A short time and
pay the note.
Here the plaintiff rested.
The defendant submitted the affidavit
of Mrs. /. V. Edwards of Chicago, H.,
the lady who ran the store in which +. L.
Bridgman claimed to have been when the
note was made and signed. Stated that
Mr.. Bridgman and her husband were in
her store on a matter relating to pensions,
but that Brid9man asked for no paper on
which to write a note, and that 10 bust
ness relating to borrowed money was
transacted. Mrs. Hunt, also of Chicago,
affirmed by affidavit that there was no
business done in the Edwards store on
money loaning. Her statements were
calculated to corroborate the evidence of
Mrs. Edwards.
Judge Perley testified that after the
death of DR.. Corey, Mr.. B%ridgman show
ed him the note and tried to raise money
on it.
J. w. Simpson, deceased, testified at
the former trial, and his testimony was
read. Stated that f. L. Bridgman told
him that there was nc one present in the
Edwards premises except Mrs. Edwards
and Mrs Hunt.
w. d. Crane, and others, testified that
when the note was first shown them there
were pencil marks and certain letters on
the note, one corner of the paper which
did not now appear or so plainly appear.
f. T. Bridgman was recalled by the de-
Tense. Stated that after DIR. Corey came
out of Ways store Con his alleged visit
to the place in June 1889 that he, the
Doctor, went to the hotel barn, and that
he told me that he wanted to pay Carries
note. Mr.. b. also testified that he had a
talk with Nelson Ran of Craftsbury
about tie note, and told him to slip into
Dorman Bridgman's and see If the note
was not all right.
Mr.. Rand testified that after DR.. CO.
rey's death, Bridgman said he had u note
against DIR. Corey, which was in Dorman
Bridgman's hands.
Dorman Bridgman swore that he never
saw the note till after DR.. Corey died, and
was them requested by f. T. Bridgman
to present the note to the commissioners
to save him trouble.
DIR. NorcroSs, a student at DIR. Corey's
in 1888, testified that he was with Dr..
Cnrou in tho Cnrinn Of 1891. that nr
Corey was ill-unable to ride much, but
that on May "a, himself and the Doctor
drove to Hardwick, stopped at Brush's
drug store, went to DR.. Wards, but did
not go to the Way store. He stated fur
ther that DR.. Corey did not go to Hard
wick at any other time that spring. On
cross examination Norcross stated that
DIR. Corey walked up the steps at the
drug store unassisted. Here was some
evidence in regard to DIR. Norcross'
diary.
DR.. Fairman testified that he attended
DR.. Corey professionally for some
months; that during the latter part OF
May, 1888, DIR. c. came to his place and
stayed over night, was very weak and
was falling rapidly. In cross eXamina-
ton DR.. f. testified that he took great in
terest in DR.. Corey's affairs, and advised
the commissioners in regard to the note.
Mrs. Corey swore that she was inti-
mate with DR.. COrey's business affairs
and knew all about his books. DIR. Corey
went to Hardwick in June, 1881. From
January, 1888, until his death he was i'll,
some of the time in bed, at other times
able to ride some and to walk out. He