The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-12-26
ELON BOOTHS WILL.
CLOSE OF LAST WEEKS TESTIMONY.
DIRE. M, SMITH,

LLO1N DOOlu - w LII.
CLOSE OF LAST WEEKS TESTIMONY.
DIR L. NJ SMITH.
Live in Newtown. Am physician of nine
years practice. Was called on in Spring of
1890, March 49, to prescribe for Elon Booth at
Mrs Bronson's. He was lying on the lounge
In the sitting room. Conversed with him in a
professional way. He felt miserable; pain in
side and feeble. Conversation was intelli-
gent. Saw him, next morning. His answers
correspondent TO the condition he was in.
Saw him every day. No indication of mental
impairment tor the first three days. After
that came a change. He lived just one week.
Knew nothing personally of him before he
was sick, but saw him on the street. Mrs
Bronson was present at my examination.
Said nothing about his money. Said he had
had heart trouble many years; organic dis
ease. He had not been and was not under the
influence of opiates.
MARCUS G. HAwLEY
Lived in Newtown Is years; 81 years old De
business in New York, San Francisco and
elsewhere. Knew Elon Booth; acquaintance
began when first went to Newtown. He sery-
ed me as mason and i made investments for
him, collected coupons, made deposits. Have
invested for him $4,000 or so. Worked tor
me as mason at many different times. My
money relations with him began six or eight
years ago and lasted three or four years Saw
him for the last time in October 1885, on l.. ID.
Booths store stoop. We then conversed on
money matters. He frequently called ut my
house and the general subject ii conversation
was upon money matters, stocks, bonds and
general securities. His general knowledge of
stocks was very good. l am aware that l.. b.
Booth did some of Elon's business at that
time. made deposits tor him with the Union
Trust Co. of New York. He had his peculiari-
ties. don't think that he could be easily in
fuenced. Never Dragged to me about his prop
erty. He was a very economical man and de.
MED himself the comforts of lite. Never had
any trouble to make him understand about
business transactions. Thought him compe-
tent to make a will when last saw him.
GEORGE C. sTAHL.
Reside in Toledo, o. Am in the real estate
and insurance business. Have been there rs
years. Was acquainted with Elon Booth and
had business relations with him, looking af
ter his securities in Toledo. L. B. Booth wrote
to me in May, 1885, that Elon had securities
and property there that needed looking after
and attended to the business little over
two years before saw Elon. First saw him
in my office in Toledo, May 20, 1887. Had
heard through letters from Mrs william Fair
child that ho was expecting to come. William
Fairchild came with him and he spent eight
or 10 days in and about the city. Was one of
my family while there. Conversed with him
frequently. Was with him great deal of the
time. Talked on general subjects and bust
ness affairs. showed him the various pieces
of property on which he had mortgages; ST..
800 invested. Expressed himself satisfied with
his securities. His conversations were intel.
fnan TO
gas wells. He had an opportunity to make a
small loan while in Toledo. Looked at the
property on which the loan was wanted, was
satisfied with it and made loan of $1,000. Saw
him again in June, 1885, at Mrs Bronson's
Seemed glad to see me and enquired after my
wife and little boy; also property in Toledo.
Called there more particularly to see If inter-
est had been paid on notes he held agains To-
ledo parties had been endorsed. He told me
l.. Ii. Booth had the papers. Called at Booths
store and looked over the papers with him.
Found that the interest had not been endorsed
on all the notes. Mr. Booth said that he had
forgotten to endorse some of them, but would
have it attended to. We looked over the notes
and those that had not been endorsed were en-
dorsed in my presence. He had given me
credit for the money on his books, but had
forgotten to endorse the interest as paid on
application for a loan that thought desirable.
He said, 81 have unbounded confidence in
you, Mr. Stahl but am investing money in st
Paul now. Arthur Nettleton is an adopted
son OF Charles II. Peck and n very nice young
man; he pays per cent. and YOU only pay g."
l said, "If you can get per cent, you had bet
tar let him have 1t ;" tor could pay but 6. The
application for u loan of $500 was made in
June, 1888. The loan of 1888 was the last mon
ey borrowed of him. Saw him again in DC.
tober, 1889, at Mrs Bronson's. Told him, in
answer to inquiries, that Toled do was growing
very fast, that a sidewalk had been built along
the lot he owned in the Browns addition
there was a bill against him for that and had
the bill with me-. Told me to pay it out OF the
next interest I collected and did so. Asked
to see the notes. to see if the interest had been
endorsed and found them all right. At this
time, the papers were all in Elons possession.
The notes and mortgages he held against To.
ledo parties he had with his other papers in a
box. which he kept locked in his room up.
stairs. The reason he gave for taking the pa.
pers out OF the care of L. b. Booth was that he
did not like the way Burtis was doing his bus
| mess. In August, 1888, looked over the notes
with Elon. When l took charge of Elon's
property in Toledo In 1885, there was about
$4,000, including note of $4,000 against A. ID
Jones at 10 per cent, which rate had been paid
on 1t for several years. Also included money
4 in Raymond 4 Seagrave's hands at the time
of their failure. wrote my letters to Flor
about his business and l.. B. Booth answered
stating that Elon requested so and so. Not all
the advice and instructions came through L
b.; some Of 1t came through others. When
saw Elon in October, 1857. applied to him fol
a loan and he said he had no money to loan
At that time, the notes and mortgages on To
ledo loans were in the hands of l.. b. Booth
think. Should think that must have writer
40 or so letters year to Elon while did bust
ness with him. Never saw Elon after October
8, 1889. Never observed any want of continu
ity of thought about his conversation or ina
bility to catch on to what was being said t
him. Always thought him a man who wa
self reliant and of strong will, but who woul.
advise with others in regard to business trans
actions.
MRS MARY BRONSON.
Elon Booth boarded with me the last fou
or ffve years OF his life. He did not do yer
much work. When at my house. he waite
on me some. talked, played cards, read tn
, papers and did other things o while away til
time. He enjoyed very much to read "Ta'u
madge's" sermons. as he called him and lOol
up reports of stocks, etc. He had kept all hi
, papers at my house since September, 1883 an
had the whole care OF them himself. Neve
: did any business for him previous to 1883,
june Down ~ July. lsSs L. b. Booth kept q
account OF Elon's income. Elon then kept hi
! own accounts until October. 1889. In July
1888, he became dissatisfied with the way hi
] business with the Union Trust Co. Wa don
. and said, at can't send my checks to tn
J Union Trust Co. and have them safe, whs
!. shall do with them?" advised him to d.