The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-14
MRS. SEAMAN'S LEGION OF KIN
THEY ARE OF MANI NAMES, BUr 1t7
HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE


which Her VIII Denies Them-oetoee-
narian. Abound Among the witnesees-
Joseph n. Choate Cop,piiments Mrs. Van
sise Upon Her Straightforward Answers.
There can Re no doubt In the mind OF any OF
the listeners 10 the testimony In the suit pend
ing before Justice Patterson. in the Supreme
Court, to upset the will Of Mrs. Ann Drake
Seaman. as to the antiquity Of her family. All
OF the lat Shutes. brakes. MorRans, Heus-
tises. Hustaces Valentines. and Van Sizes who
have thus far testified have given ample evil
dence OF the existence OF the parent family In
this country for much moro than century.
THE Sun has already noticed the main fea-
lures OF the suit. and also the fact that most OF
the witnesses and interested persons have
passed the Biblical limit Of life.
Up to yesterday four ootogenarIans and
half dozen who had passed three-score and
ten had been on the witness stand. Yesterday
all the witnesses were over 60. but mono had
reached the age OF 80. Among those waiting
for an opportunity to testify was an old man
with high forehead. q square gray beard and
long military moustachios. and scanty thin
hair. which descended over his coat collar. He
was O cry old person. and made interesting
side rem arks to the lawyers whenever the tes-
tImony recalled to him amusing incidents re.
latine to the bygone times. He must have
been over 70, but bore himself as gayly as o
youngster.
Tho narrow-chested old man who sat In the
middle Of the enclosure in front OF the Judges
bench stood out as prominently from the rest
Of tho audience as O m mountain ash tree loaded
with red berries In snow-covered landscape.
Although his features we're Of the thin New
England character. and his beard was the
gray shapeless affair which is popular in Con-
necticut villages. his rosy cheeks and clear
skin indicated the survival Of good health and
warm blood. Occasionally such a type Is
found in the villages OF New York State. but
he 10 moro common in southern New Eng land.
where many Of Thorn run the village groceries
and Sunday schools. Beside him sat an old
lady who had a pleasing but rather pathetic
face. with dropping lips and downcast eyes.
One OF tho most interesting Of ali the char
acters in that audience was an old man dressed
in clerical garments. He sat at the desk next
to the Clerk and listened to the proceedings
with an dir Of great Interest. His face was
square cut and rather severe in e1nressiop;;
a od sS ssss
ii. ps w sqsT pask s
~ into az inapisitIve but determined EXPIRES;
OtSerwi;s lis SaIf was Srpshea back and
The way In. which It was brushed was much
ana nHx Ths
his face vas Intensified by pair Of old-fash-
81 the
susan Ann. Vine. fhSbe. Abisaii jane. and
Matthias p. Valentine. Annie Z Van sise. and
Mr. Valentine. who was a very frank and
unable gentlemen OF about IS. and who wac
Is asa ~ ts spe"f
ldmitted that he was not himself, a Morgan: or
ames Morgan. who existed some time during
sss Rs q s sS n and Se 81
hin: sharp features, and white hair creeping
s TsSsdy s Shs ff,rsf little
AXE care Of but she. would not let 1t 90. and
leld It on her lap during the three. quarters Of
he wanted It Understood that her uncIe's
hildren's were her cousins. and repeated over
Well. those would be my eou Is. You know"
I was very ready to admit her ignorance
You are one of the defendants. arc you
ot 2" asked Mr. Choate.
Il suppose that is what they call It." was tho
And you have little house on Pearl street
hat Mrs. Seaman left to you In her will. They |
'ant to take that away from you. don't they"
~ suppose SO: that's what am told"
Mrs. Van Sise seemed to please all the coun.
IL the Ease g and at the noon recess Mr.
Madam n allow me to eompliment you. You
We'll. l wouldn't toll nothing but the
ruth" she replied sharply. when / don't
now thing. say So"
The minister had been witness before and
aQ been feuu0Bt6d to DfOtuca tina rh,Irrh
ecords OF births and deaths. !
1t took him several hours to read all the
am es OF members OF the families Interested
nurch register.
Judge Patterson instructed lawyer G. W. J
tement which would indicate the degree OF
relationship to Mrs. Seaman claimed BY each J
the PLAINTIFF together with the am cunt and ,
rare Of the property to which each OF the ,
aintiffs claimed to be entitled. It appeared
atterson before but Mr. Wilson admitted that c
8 had been unable to make the stat ment, as '
. would have to rely upon the testimony
Fought out In the suit to set himself clear as ,
the facts It is probable that the suit Will
st for some time.