Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-23
MISS ELLIS STRANGE DREAMS.
A Remarkable Story Developed I'm the Nc
Donald VIII Case.

Donald VIII Case.
remarkable story hss developed in the
suit to set aside the will of the late Senator
Joseph E. Mcdonald OF Indiana The heirs who
bring the suit include all the Senator's children
and grandchildren. The amount in contro-
versy is about $4,000. Some time before he
died he bought a lot on the leading business
street in indianapolis and told friends that he
was going to leave this to his children BY his
will, however, it was left to Mrs. Mcdonald.
The suit / over this lot.
1t is claimed that pages OF the original will.
which was typewriter, were taken out and
others substituted. Soon after the Senator's
| death Arthur Hutchins. an Office clerk. became
Insane and was sent to an asylum.
The heirs who are contesting the will claim
that Hutchins made the changes in the in
strument, and that the act had borne upon
ms mind until he became insane in conse-
queuce.
The strnngest par. of the affair now comes in
and is told by New York World special from
! Indianapolis.
MISS ErLIs' DREAM
While the contest of the will was being nci-
| tated by the heirs letter was received by one
| Of them from Miss Anna Ellis of Washington
| city, detailing the particulars of dream which
| she had had short time before Miss Ellis is
| PAL Oh Joseph MCDOnalu. IL.
| and Miss Jessie Mcdonald, grandchildren of
| the Senator. In her dream she though. she
| saw Mrs. Mcdonald and young man In earnest
| conversation in an office. She said that she
would recognize the stranger il she could see
him.
| She was asked to come to Indianapolis. and
when she arrived she again related all the cir
| cumstances OF her dream with great minute
| ness. Her description of the man fitted so
| nicely with young Hutchins that some of the
id l..~ IL.
ms was ushered into the reception room and
| in an instant Miss Ellis recognized him the
| man who, in her dream, she had seen in con-
sultatlon with Mrs. Mcdonald They endeav-
ored to draw Hutchins into conversation, but
he had but few lucid moments and II WIS inn
possible to get anything Ineligible from him.
The heirs believe they see ir this incident a
| confirmation of their suspicious and can ex-
PLAIN IN no other way the remarkable coinci-
| dence between the dream of Miss Ellis and the
positive identification of Hutcbins at tie
| asylum as the second party to the conference.
| The fact is SO noted that Miss Ellis dream &C.
| CURED while the heirs were comforting among
| themselves regarding the propriety of contest
| ing the will but before Miss Ellis herself was
| aware that such a step was neditated.
Hutchns has thus become an important fac
| .oT in the contest proceedings, and both par
| ties TO the contest have made frequent visits
| to the asylum in the hope of recalling the cir.
| cumstances of writing the will &c his mind.
L
and he has perused them, but despite an APP
| parent effort TO recall the circumstances he is
unable to give any intelligent statement re-
| garding the making of the will.
| At times he appears to be in complete pos
! session OF his faculties, and Just when hope
| arises that he will give material information he
| becomes confused, faiters and sinks into men
| tai darkness. On one occasion when a copy OF
! the will was presented to him he read i,
| through very carefully, and then began to read
I it again, but in the second effort be inter
| poiated sentence after sentence. and under his
! reading the entire instrument. was changed.
| Mrs. McDonalds friends believe that even
| the actions of Hutchins are favorable to the
| theory that no change was made in the will by
him after he copied it or wrote it at Mr.. Nc
| Donald's dictation. In all the examinations to
| which Hutchins has been subjected he has APP
parently been perfectly open and candid
| Us far as his scattered mind would permit
| and he does not show any of the symp-
| toms Of fear which insanity experts as.
sert'are common to persons who have become
insane through remorse over the commission
of crime. This fact is regarded by Mrs. Nc
Donald's friends setting at rest the charges
! OF forgery, and medical experts will be intro
duced in the trial of the cause to sustain THU
point.
Both parties to the contest have many warm
friends in Indianapolis. The Senator married
| late in life, and Mrs Mcdonald was beautiful
| and attractive woman and always possessed
great influence over him. The property which
| he left her is worth about 500 600 and is ample
| to support her during life.