The morning call., 1893-10-12
SHE KEPT HER OWN BOOKS.
Conflicting Testimony as to Mrs.
RedfieId's Sanity.

The Redfield will contest was brought
almost to conclusion in Judge Coffey's
court yesterday.
The case for the contestants was closed,
but certain medical testimony was admit
ted from time TO time. owing to the diff
Guilty experienced in procuring these wit
nesses.
DR.. Nathan Rogers testified thai he was
an expert on insanity and had had some
experience in phthisical insanity. He gave
it as his opinion that consumption would
develop the tendency to hereditary insan-
ity. Taking the case of Mrs. Redfeld as a
hypothetical case, he would judge from the
circums tanceS that she was insane.
The proponent was then called and gave
his name as Francis Edwin Redfield. His
testimony went to show that his aunt was
OF perfectly sound mind when she executed
her will in his favor. She had always kept
her own books of account and of late years
was extremely nervous about the disDosi-
tion of her property. She had put her
house two or three times in the hands of an
agent with instructions to sell.
On cross-eXamnation young Redheld ad-
mitted that his aunt had kept no accounts
for the last year and half of her life.
She had spoken to him about his change of
name and had made it one of the condi-
ertY.
DR.. w. F. McNutt was called on behalf
of the proponent. He said that in cases
of consumption the mind was very often
exceptionally clear. Referring to the pres
ent case the witness said that we must be
careful not TO cOnfound delusion with in
sanity.
A special session was held in the even
ing in order to conclude the case with all
speed possible, as Attorney Campbell de-
sirPs to leave the city this afternoon.
1oung Redfield was again on the stand
last night and was subjected to merci-
less examination by Attorney }. c. Camp
bell. He admitted that he had applied to
the court for permission to change his
name and justified his action on the
ground that he had never had anything to
do with his father. whose name was Boyd
He gave plausible explanation of the
alleged eccentricities of his deceased aunt.
He read the correspondence that passed
between her and relatives in the East.
ibid you invite DR.. and Mrs. Clark to
reside at the house after the death of Mrs.
Redfeld?"
II did. told them they could live at
the house as long as my grandmother
lived-if the will was not broken"
"Ah, you did. ell ?" remarked Mr.. Camp
bell, with great impressiveness.
Redfield admitted that the family physi-
clan had been changed during his aunt's
last illness, and that he had not informed
other of her relatives when the doctor told
him that she was dying of consumption.
His conversations with his aunt about
family matters always ceased when other
relatives entered. He spent much of his
time in her room, and on one occasion took
the pieces of letters which she tore up
shortly before her death to the kitchen
and burned them. The letters were from
Dleces and uncles in the East.
Redfed d told tie court that he took care
of his aunt's houses for several years,
cleaning and repairing them when neces-
sary.
You spent most OF your time In her
room, only leaving it when it was abso-
lutely necessary" asked Campbell.
II spent most of my time there" re-
piled the witness. who blushed furiously
during the Investigation.
Captain Mcdonald, an acquaintance of
the testatrix, testified that he had never
noticed any evidence of mental infirmity
Oh her part
The trial of the case will be concluded
tn.daV