Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-10

A STARTLING STORY.
Was Mason's Death
Hurried By Poison?
TOOK STRANGE MEDICINE.
Relatives Will Attempt to Break the
Will of the Aged Negro.

SrRINGFlELD. Mass, March l0-The su-
preme court will soon decide whether or
not Primus l.. Mason. the colored man,
who bequeathed a large sum to establish a
home for aged men in this city, was the
true and willing author of the last will
and testament that bears his signature,
affixed by q trembling hand. The case in
v.lve. thousands OF dollars, and all the
legal talent in this region is likely to he
engaged in the case, which promises TO be
the most important of the kind In recent
loca! annals.
Among the heirs who will attempt to
break the will are Mrs. Ella V Smith of
this city and Mira Harriet Macomber Of
Monsun, whom the attorneys will attempt
10 prove was sister of the late Primus
Masnu. She came here TO attend rhe fu.
neral Cf her brother. who died from the eff
fects @; a cold, sustained by sleeping In a
damp room.
Others are Jane Maria Mason, Clara
Eliza Mason of Springfield. Mary II. Fos-
ter OF Suiiield, and Hattie Il. Dorsey of
Chicago, all children OF Lyman Mason, a
brother of the deceased
Mr.. Ella V. Smith is the proprietress
OF hnir-dress!ng parlor on Wortington
street She has been q long resident of the
Primus Mason as her uncle. She tells the
following stoiy;
Mrs. smiths Story.
There is no doubt In my mind that
Uncle Piimns Mason was administered
poisonous drugs by some unknown per
son several months before his death.
''T"o women, she said, had recently
callc t. One brought bottle of medicine
.r;s 4, l.. al 80 III alo II L.
takct herself and found immediate relief
She advised him to take the medicine and
be followed the advice, but told that since
then hc never saw well day. He dosed
good deal and was inclined to think IL was
TINT
That Made Him Sleepy.
Mrs. W. Chaplin, next door neighbor,
who often bcfriended Mr. Mason In his old
age, told me that a domestic employed by
my uncle, who was unknown and has
since left, was the recipient of n strange
letter that she carelessly laid aside. Mr..
Sparrow was the white servant employed
by Mr.. Mason.
Il think he asked Mrs. Chaplin to read
the letter, but am n OF sure of that, at
any rate Mrs. Chaplin says she read the
letter and 1t said, among other things that
the writer of il would soon be there, and
cautioned her TO see TINT the coast was
clear.
"This letter is now said 10 be in posses
sion Of Lawyer Barrows, the executor,
who is also interested in keeping the will
intact. There are other strange things
contained in the letter, which are said TO
be stranger than fiction, but l will not
attempt to repeat them.
The Estate of Primns Mason
Is variously estimated at from $4,000 to
Sy0,0On He owned nineteen houses In this
city. lie was an eccentric negro, and
made nearly every dollar of his money by
hard work and shrewd speculation. Law
yer Burrows, the executor, said he met
Prinlus Mason on the steps of the city
hall in 1885. The latter suggested making
the will. aLd wished to make provision
for Mary Mason, widow of his brother.
Another interview was held in August.
1891, when Lawyer Barrows went to the
testaior's house. lie had been informed
that primus could live but a short time,
rs he was in feeble health. At the house
white woman, whom the lawyer did not
know, opened the door. Uncle Primus,a ,as
he was sometimes called, was seated at
table
The old man said that Charles Cornish,
who claimed to bc his son, and went under
the name of Charles Mason, was no rela.
tion of his, but admitted that the young
mans mother had been his housekeeper.
He bequeathAd $500 to Mary Mason and
left Charles Cornish and Charles Ackerly
81 each The testator wished to leave the
rest of the property in fund for twenty
years for the purpose of establishing
home for aged men.
The trial will develop some very sensa.
tional testimony, and the case will I've
looked forward TO with intense interest.