The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-05-26
A Lady Witness i'm the Brand
Case Much Overcome.
The Contestants Certainly Max
ing a Very Strong Case
Some Testimony
Which Seems In
cOntrOyer-
tible.

non and others was called. The pc
tition was brought by the mother and
her children to set aside the will of
her daughter, Sarah Brand, but better
known as Kitty Brown, who at one
time, previous to her death had been
the proprietress of a bawdy house near
the corner of 4th and Wyandotte streets
in Kansas City and who on her death,
cut her family off with small allow
ance and left the bulk of her property
to Mary Conner. known as Georgia
Thomas, and who was her house
keeper. The children's Orphan Home
In Kansas City was also beneficiary
and is represented in the case.
The case was sent here from Jack
son county on a change of venue.
The principal point at issue is whether
undue influence was used on deceased
when the will was made.
The attorneys for the plaintiff
are Mr.. Fine G. Farr, of
Kansas City, and Messrs. jackson
and Montgomery of this City. The
attorneys for the defense are G. w.
Chase, Judge j. K. Cravens and j.
w. G. Brown of Kansas City and
Sangree d Lamm Of this city.
The defendant in the case, Miss
Mary Cannon is voluptious woman
of full round face, light blue eyes and
bleached blonde hair. She wore a
black silk dress cut in the latest tailor
made fashion. She entered the court
room early in the afternoon accom-
panied by a colored maid.
The plaintiff Mrs. Sarah Ann Brand
who claims Excelsior Springs as her
home, is decidedly fine looking old
lady, short of statue, but
of rosy complexion. The
daughters who are also plaintiffs
n the case are Mrs. Julia LaMonte
iof Kansas City and Mrs. Efie B.
Peirepont of Connecticut. The for
mer is decidedly voluptious and ex-
ceedingIy beautiful woman with
Spanish eyes and complexion.
A great deal of the time was taken
up in the selection of jury, the at
terneys on both sides being very par
ticular and rejecting each juryman,
who had at any time in his life been
interested in a will contest case.
p The jurymen selected were;
G. III. Baldwin, Jacob Miller,
George Lacey, E. w. Goodnight, I.
C. Anderson, w. III. 81, McVey,
Clark Richie, VIM. Sharp, John
Caulifower, M. III. Pearson, S. I.
Mahin and VIM. Barnhardt.
The remainder of the jury panel
not selected to try this case was ex-
cused by Judge Field until May 21st,
at 9 a. m.
The statement of the plaintiffs side
of the case was made by Fine G. Farr,
who stated that the object of the
suit was to show that the deceased at
the time of her death was of unsound
mind and was influenced to will her
property to one, not relative cutting
off the immediate members Of her
family and only relatives
and,heirs, and that the document pro-
porting to be her last will and tesla
ment, was not her last will and tesla
ment.
Attorney Brown, representing the
Children's Orphans home, one of the
defendants, made statement of the
case for his client and said he expect
ed to prove that the will was the one
made by deceased and that it was in
proper form and that at the time of
the making, was of sound mind.
Mr.. John K. CraveDs, also an
attorney for the defense, said
that the defense expected to
prove that the deceased did not neg
Iect her family but that she provided
for them in the will and that the
deceased took care of her business up
to within few days of her death and
that no suspicion had ever been enter
tanned of her being of unsound mind
until the provisions of the will were
maze KnOWn.
Frank d. Aims, saloon keeper
and one of the witnesses to the will
was the first witness called for the
defendant. He said he had known
the deceased for about nine years.
During all that time he had seen her
as often as three or four times month
and had transacted much business
with her.
He saw deceased on the Goth day
of October, 1888, on Wyandotte
street, between Fifth and Sixth on
the east side of the street," l went
there at her request to witness her
will and / thought her mind was
sound. She was suffering from her
;r;r~;o, .nd mos soon tn howe ON