Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1893-08-10
IN THE COURT ROOM.
A Number of Orphan Court mat
fers Attracts the Attention of
the Judges Of the Cumberland

the Judges of the Cumberland
| Court.
Judges Hoagland, Hendee and Lad-
lam were upon the Bench Monday
when Court was opened, and there
was considerable Orphan Court busi-
disposed of.
j. Boyd Nixon asked for an order to
show cause why lands of the late DIR.
Barron Potter should not be sold to
pay debts. The executors showed
debts amounting to over $1,000, and
the inventory and appraisement
found personal property amounting
only to about $3.50.
The day will be pretty much all
taken up with the hearing of the
contested will case of the late Rhoda
B. Smith, Of Cedarville, in which
Ephriam Stevens, and others are con-
testants. Hon. T. W. Trenchard
represents the heirs of the will, Lum-
mis- Smith, son of the deceased, and
James 8. Ware the caveators.
| The will according to the testimony
produced by Mr.. Trenchard, showed
that the will was drawn by II. o.
Newcomb, of Millville, and executed
on the 3rd of May, 1885, H. 0. New
comb and David Claypoole were the
subscribing Witnesses. Both these
gentlemen testified that the will was
executed formally in accordance with
law and both said that Mrs. Smith, at
the time was possessed Of stestamentary
capacity.
| In his testimony Mr.. Newcomb said
that the will was drawn in compliance
with the requests of Mrs. Smith, an
Lummis Smith was the principal
legatee. Two daughters of Mrs. Smith
were each left $40 each. Upon cross
examination it was developed that
Mrs. Anna Mayhew, one of the
daughters had been dead for number
of years previous to the drawing of
the will. 1t is upon this state of facts,
with other apparent little inconsis
tincies is the claim of the caveators for
the fight that Is being made. The
Testimony is extremely tame and of
very little consequence or interest to
the public.
TUESDAY MORNING.
The contest in the Rhoda B. Smith
will case before Judge Hoagland, yes
terday, continued in the afternoon.
and with one exception all the wit
nesses for the caveators have been
heard.
As reported yesterday, the promf-
nent, simply produced the attesting
witnesses and offered the alleged will
in evidences. 1t is an instrument, MAX
ing Lummis Smith, son of the deceased
woman, sole legatee to an estate
valued at about $500.
| Lawyer Ware for the caveators.
presented q strong case. DIR. Eph.
Bateman and DR.. Glandon, who had
attended the woman for years, de-
clared upon the stand, that in their
opinion, Mrs. Smith was not in May
1888, of sound and desposing mind.
The severe cross examination of Hon.
T. w. Trenchard, counsel for the pro-
ponent, failed to materially shake the
evidence presented. Mrs. Stevens, a
daughter of Mrs. Smith, also presented
strong evidence, showing that her
mother was not capable of making q
will dtsposing of her property to
her brother. The counsel for the
caveators, also dwelled at length
upon the fact, that Mrs. Smith
had placed an item in her will
providing $40 legacy for daughter,
who at the drawing of the will, had
been dead for some twenty years.
At the close of the afternoon session
Mr.. Ware asked leave to examine one
more witness for his side. when Court
met again. Mr.. Trenchard will then
proceed to furnish the evidence of the
witnesses for the caveators.
| Court adjourned then until the 2Sth
inst
LACK OF ORDERS.