Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-25


taking Win = RIA banned Miller ALA
say leatne would never make viii, -
the laws OF the state of Michigan were
good euouga Tor hln. suoss4 1entays
betsecu 1857 aud 1855 the witness over
beasd Ar. Brown say that Mrs Ha. nss
~as 4 "enip on the old beck The
other testimony OF tue witness Was
simply e1rEobofatsye OF that gwen by
others
tn. oid Mas Retort.
Miss Mary Blssels testified that she
had resided ia Grand Rapids about
eighteen years, and thai during all 81
that time she lived next door 10 The
Brown residence. She was a frequent
visitor At Mr.. Brosn's and we'll se-
quainted With the entire family. She
remembered when AIcs MAS married
aud when Maud, her daughter, died.
MIR. Browns treatment OF Alice and his
wife WAS good, aud the witness thought
he MAS 4 most atfectionate father aud
husband. tie continued To treat bis
wife and daughter well. After Naud's
death there was a change, and Mr..
Brown begap to treat MS family differ.
entiy, aud Was close III money matters.
When ne was aske for money ne would
tuning him to Ego To HI" Mrs.
Brown accidentally broke her arm, and
the witness was sympathlzlng with her
and telling Mr.. Brown that he should
treat his wife better. He did not seem
he might break his own arm some
day and want sympathy him.
self. He said that when he
a A a Il. - -
TO offer il. The witness ex-
pressed II as her opinion that Mr..
Brown Was grieved at the death OF
Maud. and never seemed TO rally from
the shock which it gave HIM. His
mind wandered and he appeared en-
ratio. Mrs. Haines never came to the
house until Mrs. Hayden moved TO
Denver. Subsequent to this time Mr..
Brown made many visits to Grandville
to see Mrs. Haipes, and when he re-
turned he was even meauer than when
he went.
Miss Lucy Bissell corroborated what
her sister had sworn TO. but gave MOTH
ing new. Neither we're cross examined.
William w. Thomas testified that al
one time he attempted to negotiate a
loan for Mr.. Brown on property located
at Byron Center. Mrs. Haines was
| present and told her father that he
should loan no money OIL such trash,
that If he could not loan his money on
farms he should keep it. Mr.. Brown
told her that the property was worth
three times the amount wanted, but she
/ said she didn't care If II Was worth ten
times as much she shouldn't allow it.
| Mr.. Brown didn't loan the money. The
! witness regarded Mr.. Brown as compe
tent TO loan money.
DIR. spaidins's Deposition.
On cross-e1amination Mr.. Russell
| asked the witness If after that he wa!
not mad at Mrs. Haines. He replied
that he was not, that he had only seen
her once since that time. Mr.. Russell
then wanted to know IL the witness did
not make the remark IN the PROBATE
court when the will vas first protested
that 1--WE will break the will" The
witness said that he did not.
Mr.. Uni read the deposition Of Dr.
Erastus Spalding. When the deposi
ton was taken Mr.. Uhl did the CUES
tioning and Mr.. Maher represented the
| proponent. DIR. Spalding said, among
other things. that he had resided IN
Grand Rapids twenty-four years. and
during twenty years of that time knew
Mr.. Brown intimately; also knew hi
wife, daughter Alice and Maud
DR.. Spaldlng was familiar witt
the circumstances surrounding
Maud's death. He used to set
Mr.. Brown with his grand-daughte
often and thought the Old man was ex
| tremely atfecuonate toward her, ant
Alice, too. When Maud died Mr.
Brown said he hated to lose her, tha
he worshipped her, and when she wa
taken away he had lost his all, had los
his ambition, his head troubled hin
and affected his eyes and he could no
attend TO business. The doctor said
"You have your wife and daughte
left to help you through" Mr.. Brown
replied: Eyes, have them, but the,
do not seem to fill the uacancy. ] have
a daughter at Grandville. She is m,
main dependence, and leave every
thing to her. She is business. all bust
ness" The doctor was of the opinion
that Mr.. Browns brain trouble led Il
/ his blindness. His mind, how
ever. changed soon after Maud
death. Beginning with 1880, b,
was susceptible to influence from
those in whom he placed confidence
From that time forward until his death
he was Eighty and erratic. He coult
not cling to . subject, but would con
tinually speak about lis family, show
ing that something was bearing upoI
bis mind. Mr.. Brown occasionally dis
cusscd business matters. The wstnes
heard him say he was going to dispof
of some of his Grand Rapids property
but that Marguerite had induced hin
TO hang on to it. Court adjourned uu
til this morning at 0 O'Clock