The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-12-19

mended and made for him. He never
gave away but soc to my knowledge and
"A guess he did that to get rid Of the wo
man.
Never could figure interest up to the
time married in 1874. Kept no accounts,
carried everything in his head. Ihad no
more to do with his business after Josiah
Booth married. When Josiah's wife
died, Mrs Bronson and L. B. Booth did
his business. He commenced business
when 20 years old and made his home
with mother while he learned his trade.
Zion always had compound interest or
double security. Did not spend any
money foolishly.
At Russell's grave, Elon told me Mrs
Bronson wanted US to go there for din
ner. Nothing in this indicated weak
mlndedness, as | know of. First men,
toned his monument there, $1,000 one
OF Westerly granite. He was mason
by trade and acquainted with the differ
ent kinds of granite.
Elon finally bought Russelrs burial
lot and paid $40 for our share. Nothing
indicated unsoundness of mind in CONVEX
sation about the lot. Elon always plead
1 ed poverty; couldn't afford comforts or
pay taxes. Didn't show unsoundness of
mind in that. Had the same right mind
he always had.
| Elon told me II or Is years ago abont
trying to make will. It was after his
hard sickness at Henry b. Glover's.
Charles Warner was called to draw it up.
Said that he went as far as his Toledo
money and stopped. Did not know how
much there was or how to fix it. All he
knew was what agents told him. Did
all his buying and selling there through
agents. Think that showed unsoundness
of mind. He should have looked after it
more himself. 1t was not so much what
he said as what he didn't say that to me
indicated unsoundness of mind. All his
investments were made through agents
for the past 40 years. After his proper
ty became SO large he could not carry it
all in his head, then he trusted it to 9TH
ers. That showed unsoundness of mind,
in my opinion.
Don't know that any of the boys ever
went to see their uncle Elon or did any
kindly act for him. Never conversed
with Elon about the boys.
Elon knew all about the adoption of
my daughter and was not in favor of it.
Never very kindly disposed toward her.
ElOn met me at the cars when Elon
was buried. Saw nothing that indicated
he was not all right. Went and looked
at my mothers lot. Elon said he wanted
to put up a monument that would show
Newtown people that such man as
Elon Booth had lived in the world.
! C. N. BRINsMADE.
known Elon since married his sister
and little time before. Last saw him
alive the last day of September. 1889.
Mrs Bronson sent for me, at Elon's re-
quest,t to see about taking him to Trunl-
bull. He wanted to get out of Newtown
to avoid paying State taxes. l found him
at L. B. Booths store. He concluded he
would not 60 down then, but would go
down later. Said he could not get rid of
paying State taxes and had sent his pa
pers to Hartford and wanted to wait for
their return. He was very feeble; had
failed much since 1 last saw him.
Defense waived cross-examination and
the prosecution rested their case.
C. B. SHERMAN.
Known Elon Booth for 40 or so years.
Saw him the Tuesday before he died, at
Mrs Bronson's in bed. Knew me; said he
felt no better; spoke of Josiah's death
he then lay dead in the house. Saw him
the Sunday night preceding, sitting by
the stove, conversed with him ome.Per-
haps was there an hour.
Elon says, 81 don't know as want to
live mnch longer, if I've got to go
through with what l did last Winter"
Saw him very often before that, often
in l.. B. Booths store, talking or read
ing paper. Worked for me off and on
for six or eight days in 1888. He never
told me about making will.
Never saw him when he wasn't ration
al. He was set in his own way. Never
saw anything peculiar in his manner at
any time. He mourued over his inability
to work toward the last and said if he
couldn't work he should die. Elon was
strong man when first knew him Men
tai condition always good, so far as
knew. Never had occasion to think OF
his mental condition. Have borrowed a
little money of m,perhaps 80 years ago
Always pleading poverty, very econom-
ical. Never knew of his giving any mon
ey away.
Saw him the Sunday before he died he
was afraid he should have to go to the
poor house. l knew he knew better, but
he was always saying it.
\ It was a common thing for Elon to say
that he was poor. Never saw any change
in him that led me to suppose he was Of
unsound mind. Should think him OF
sound mind January "A, 1890.
4 In June, 1888, / said to him, ssOld fel
low, if you ever make will, your heirs
will fight over it,"
His reply was, IF / make one, wan1
to make it strong and want my execu
tor to stand by it and fight it if it takes
the last cent
i Never knew of his making any invest
ments on his own judgment; very rigit
economist. Never heard him say wha
it cost him to live year.
Went to Danbury with Josiah Boot
to see Judge Brewster abont the Law
suit Josiah had brought against Elon TO
board. Told Brewster, if he would writ
Elon letter / thought he would settl
it. Brewster wrote and Elon settled.