The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-11
mrs. HARMON'S MONEY
Trial to Determine Who Shall
Have the Property.
nsR NIECE NAMED IN COURT.
street. Railway Sued for Twenty-Five
rhousand Doilars-Glazier ON Trial
The Blotter.

sns hearing Of the application of E. c. Nc
rq.nnahan for letters OF guardianship over the
ssr.ou and estate of his aged mother-in-law.
- lane Harmon. came up before Judge Lich-
serhnrg at an evening session, which began ut
s.ana'clock last night. At Ills, when the case
80 continued until this evening, the evidence
s.eted great deal of being finished.
Ths fIrst witness on behalf of Mr.. Clanahan
- Mrs Harmon herself Her language plain
!. !, showed that time had had its effect upon her
mind. and her testimony was rather uncertain.
& a. seemed childish, ana after listening to
- oaestsons while seated on the chair or the
~,tness stand she insisted on removing to a seat
esrt to where Mrs. Tanner, who accompanied
~ to court. sat. On one point, however, the
! "a Iady was very decided, and that was that
! ~ property was to go to her niece, Mrs. Smith,
no she was confident would take care
4 her during the remainder of her life
m. ]. s. kloeber testified that he had waited
mon Mrs. Harmon for the past two years, at the
irutancs of Mr.. MeCisnahan. When he frat
vieited her he found her suffering to some
sr.xnt from the effects of alcoholism He did
sot consider her insane, but thought she was
bsing her mind from old age. In the witness
s eplnion she has no ability to transact business.
lpart from esrly impressions she has no men,
~ and cannot remember the incidents of the
nme day.
Huoch NcClanahan testified a. follows:
vas the husband of Della McClanahan.
Nm. Harmon has lived with me for eight and a
hslf years. she wouldn't let me keep women
attendants for her. Mrs. Harmon has been
saksn care of like child. / and a man kept
4 the house took care of her. After my wife
died there was change IN the Old lady. L
learned from Or. Kloebcr that she was getting
Iquos found she got it from the Tanners.
When the drink shut off from her
eha used TO drink up the eamphor.
drew 81, 80 of her money out of the bank and
bnilt house. Mrs. Harmon gave me q special
newer OF attorney. The old lady doesn't know
snything of the value of money. After my wife
died she told me TO teke care of the money and
DO q pleased with i, as II was all to be mine.
always treated her like child, aud took the
s best OF care OF her
cross-sxaminaton-she has been growing
\ gradually worse since my wife died, three and
Cne-half years ago. the old lady made will to
me about two years. ] did not tell b. F. Day
that proposed TO have that property and would
hi anybody that intsrfsred.
Are you willing that the property should be
put in the hands OF trustee, to be managed
under the direction of the court?
No. sir, not unless they settled with me. I
have put In considerable work there myself.
In answer to q direct question, the witness
ssid he did not think that the old lady knew
Nm. Smith, the woman to whom she decided her
property.
]. Newman testified that at different times he
worked for McClanahar. He lived at the house
Tor oysr ysar. During that time the old lady
was not able to take care of herself, and some
one had to look after her. She was very childish
!. and couldn't recollect things that happened q
day or two before. She had to be dressed. She
would not allow women to stay In the house,
and NcClanahan had to take care of her. The
witness didn't think she knew anything about
property, or that she had any capacity to dc
business
Ma Hudson testified that shs was McClana-
hans aunt She was at his house for several
montha NrA Harmon's mind. she thought,
was very weak Her ideas of value were about
the same a. sacse of Q child would be.
Martha Irwin testified that she had rented OF
Nr. NcClankhAn since February. she saw Mrs.
Harmon frequently. She thought the old lady
very feeble minded and childish. She never
complained TO the witness at any time of Nc
CanaAxns treatment AZ far - seen he had
bser Knit 70 her.
y o1g swore that he was formerly in the
csrsrsrtizg business with Mechanism. He had
oee1 kz. Harmon of and on for Eve years.
Some Enes she was very babyish and at other
times she was like an old tiger. Mechanism
was always very kind to her.
John Carson testified that he had worked for
NcClanshsn and stayed at his house. He had
heard her abuse McClanahan in one Of her fits
Of passion without any cause.
o. ". frlee bWOrc tnat ne ma llVeo u NC
Canadians house of an on for three years. Mrs.
Harmon was very childish and had no ideas OF
value or business. Mechanism always treated
her very kindly. - he would child. She always
seemed to think that nobody was her friend but
NcClanahan.
Dr. n. White friedrich was called for the re-
spsndents He testified that with DR.. Sweeney
ne examined Mrs. Harmon ~ to the state of her
MIND They found no evidence OF insanity.
he would pronounce her Of sound mind. He
would say her memory was good one for
person OF her age, and that she il capable of
oifposing OF her property intelligently
Dr. J. p. Sweeney testified to examining Mrs.
harmon In company with DR.. friedrich He
was satisfied ths. she is of sound mind. and 10
perfectly competent to dispose of her property
In an intelligent manner.
III. I. N. Young testified that he had exam
ihed the condition of Mrs. Harmon's mind. He
judged 1t to be sound and that she was capable
OF disposing OF her property.
Al she conclusion of Dr.. Young's testim ony
Ve case was continued until 1880 o'clock this
evening