The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-01
FOURTH EDITION
The Bennett WIN Cnse.

made his openingto the jury for.the de-
Tense. He claimed that before Mrs.
Bennett owned dollar, Mr. and Mrs.
Pyle were her friends, and that when
she became possessed OF property
through her second husband, 1t was
managed and cared for by Mr. Fisher.
lie said that the plaintllf finding
that Mrs. Bennett had property. came
to this city time and time again, until
She finally persuaded the old lady to
accompany her to Trenton. That when
She had been with the Ether dyes
about one year, she wrote letter to
Mrs. Pyle asking her to como and see
her. When Mrs. Pyle went to Trenton
Mrs. Bennett told her that she had
been deceived i'll her niece, and that
she was i'll treated, and in great trou-
BILE.
Mrs. Bennett afterwards sent for Mr..
Pyle and MIR. Fisher to come to Tren-
ton, and when they saw her told them
that she wanted her will written SO the
Etherldges could not get her property.
lie said he would also show that the
Etheridges moved to Chester and
opened hotel, when their treatment
OF Mrs. Bennett became so outrageous
that she was Obliged to leave them and
come to this city.
She went to live with Mr.. and Mrs
Pyle, but the Etheridges followed her.
and after renting n house on King
street, gave her no rest until she left
Pyle's and went with them. That she
afterwards told some friends that she
did not intend that the Etheridges
should have her property; that she
was keeping them, and that was all
she intended they should have. Mr.
Hilles also claimed that she was not in
her right mind when she made her last
will, and also that she was influenced
and overawed by the Etheridges
DR.. l.. klttenger was called, and tes
TILED that lie was called upon to at
tend Mrs. Bennett on December !. 1890,
aud attended her at different times
during the month. On January 3,
1891, she was taken very lad and was a
very sick woman from the 5th to the
18th of the month. The sickness had
bad effect npon her mental faculties.
as II weakened them very much. He
saw her on the morning OF the 9th, the
day the last will was made, and con
sidered her in very critical condition.
He was asked that morning by Mr..
Etheridge who would be II competent
person to draw up n will for Mrs. Ben
nett, and he recommended Mr.. Lore.
lie considered that her sickness had u
u,
cr of thinking and her Judgment The
doctor said that he was not prepared
to give an opinion in reference to her
mind being sufficiently clear to make a
VIII, but she answered all his ques.
tons, which were OF II professional ma.
ture, in satisfactory manner.
MIR. Hilles said that Ida Bloodgood,
a witness before the register, has mov-
Ell out Of the State, and as She is now
sick, he was unable TO have her pres
ent. lie therefore asked to be allowed
to present her testimony. rs it was
iahen before the register, which was
granted. He Jhen read the type writ
ten testimony Of Mrs. Bloodgood,
which tended to show that when the
Will was written on anuary 8, she
was not in her right mind, and una bic
to transact business
William Is. Pyle was sworn, and tes
titled that he is a son of William NJ
Pyle. He knew Mrs. Bennett and had
known her ever since he could recol
lect. The relations between his pa
rents and Mrs. Bennett were OF the
most cordial nature. They would
| visit each other at least once week
and at one time she remained five
weeks at his fathers house. Her last
visit was on Thanksgiving day. 1890,
ana tho witness took her home in the
evening.
The witness called one Sunday to
| see Mrs. Bennett, and was mot by
Mrs. Bloodgood. Mrs. Bennett also
came in the entry, and beckoned to
him. Al er he went in the room with
her, Mrs Bennett told him that
Etherldges were worrying her about
her will, and that she had told thom
her will was made, and that the prop.
or time to talk about it would be after
she was dead. She also told the wit
ness that she was bearing all the ex.
pence OF the hous., as Mr.. Etherldge
had not done any work since he was
married.
Mrs. Bennett said she had no obiec-
ton to paying the bills for the house
as they became due, but it must end
with that, for as these people were al.
have her property The witness, with
his father and mother, called again OF
hristmas Day, but were not alloweC
to see her.
Nillinm j. Fisher testified that he
first knew Mrs Bennett IN 1885; he was
then in the employ cf Samuel McCaui
Icy. and he attended To Mrs. Bennett
business Mrs. Bennett placed the
management Of her property in biz
llandS IN lSS5 or 1883. Sine had three
houses, and Just before she left thi,
city To 80 to Trenton, she gave tht
witness three Delaware City bonds oi
s5DD each, to take care of for her.
lie paid the rents to her quarterl,
and called at the King street house thi
day after Christmas, 1890, in leicrenc
to them, and to sne when she wantet
them paid. This was the last time h
saw her alive. as when he called aEaii
MIR. Ethcridge refused to let him SCI
her. Mrs. Bennett sent for Tho wit
ness to come to Trenton, and when h,
visited her said she was disappointe,
with the way things were. and wantet
10 make II will. She also said that sh
did not intend TO leave her niece any
thing a as she was paying them for al
she got
The witness was In her room abou
two hours, and during that time drey
up her will which was real to her. /
was signed by three witnesses, ono q
whom was secured hy Mr. Pyle, am
he obtained the uthertwo.
Alter long Cross.oXamination b.
Mir. Nields tho witness lett the stand
and at ! O'Clock court took II reces
until $50 O'Clock this afternoon.