The farmers' union., 1894-11-15
NJ =, =
TVZTZZ

and discuss the mcrit, OF the case 10
be tried.
1t is evident that the sympathy is
one sided and that the rows OF specta-
tors are of one mind. perhaps because
it is natural to take sides with the
cause of the weak. the helpless and
tire presumably innocent.
What is known far and near as the
great will ease Of Silas Grourdwiy vs..
the Estate of Andrew NoIdrum Is set
for hearing. Distinguished lawyers
from the city have been employed on
both sides. The Judge takes his place
on the bench. the clerk slips into the
chair in front Of the Judges desk. the
persons summoned as jurors are called.
and the long and tedious laIor OF Sc
curing Il jury who knOwed little or
nothing about the case is completed,
the Jurors are sworn to render Ver-
! dict true. according to the law and the
evidence .rivcn them III cOult. and the
case is ready for the first witness.
BY the time this interesting point
las been reached the day is spent.
! The lawyers have exhausted thcn-
keivGs in their efforts to preserve and
promote the legal rights OF their
clients.
The men presented for jurymen have
been catcrhisc,I :t> 20 t.cir knowledge
q. the .'i.@;e. and a. 10 the extent Of
I their Diu>. ii any. tor or against either
party. 1t h;, been quit" difficult to
oI.aiu Il Jury cO'nDu-cu entirely OF
citizens WiIo have rot formed an Ol'lI-
ion Il, 20 the validity Of the viii. nor
heard the merits, Of he case discussed.
The jury. as finally selected. are
mostly farmers. men Of intelligence.
possessing al ordinary amount OF good
sense. and who were known to be fair
minded ana honest.
The pOpul;icc have confidence in the
jury. and believe that Justice Will be
done. and their idea of justice in this
case is a verdict in accordance with
:he drift of public sentiment.
Upon the ad journlnent Of court the
people return to their homes, coming
again early in the morning, eager for
the case to begin and end.
The case has been commenced by
Mr. Silas Grounding. the person
named in the will As principal lcgatee.
to recover from Mary Nordr"m. the
daughter of the person making the
viii. the rents and profits coming into
her possession by reason Of her claim
ing to be the sole hcir-at-law of her
fathers estate. there being no will i'll
existence. as Miss NordruIn had every
reason to believe.
The attorney for the plaintiff.
Grounding, opened the ease to the
| court ;n,. Jury in all oiihand. careless.
conversational style. as though the
fact of the will giving his client the
greater part Of NJ. ior Nol'drun's : ior-
tune was 4 matter OF course and OF very
little concern 20 any one except Mi.
Grounding, and while. under the cir
cuIastances. there might DC some of
| the gentlemen of the jury who wouid
| sE3npathizc with Miss Nordiuln, and
! deeply regret that her hOnor"d and re-
srectcd father had not deemed it adj
! visable to leave all his wealth to her.
yet on the other hand these same
| jurors thought that it was truly Z.
| heroic act noble and sclt-,acri.iring
ana worthy Il brave and gallant soldier.
! to remember in his will, in such d lib
) cral manner. Il cOmrade who had faced
death To save the testatol's 5 life.
Undouht odly the Ma or had his own
. notions about bestowiny his fortune
girl were the fruit of his own loins.
and no doubt. As he had averrrd in his
will, it was bcttcr,hat she should learn
to earn her own living and thus Tee
able the better to enjoy such pleasures
and comforts as she should secure by
her own efforts.
Nary Nordrum had not been left
ptnnilcss.
Ear from it.
\ home with neat and rare surround
ing, was hers to enjoy and hers to dis
pose OF as she might desire
Silas Grounding had led 4 chcckered
life. Crippled on the battlefield, de
MED 4 pension because he was unable
to procure evidence that his disability
Was caused while engaged i'll the mill
tary service. he had continued tC
struggle on brayely and manfully
against the vicissit,,dcs of i'll fortune
until. IN proyidcntial manner he
Was directed to the home of his
old army co>Nradc. whom he foun,
;n invalid. and by whose side he r2
; m.:incd, mini,t oring 10 his wants. unit
the eyes OF the noble hearted Majol
were closed in death.
Il now offer in evidence. continued
the attorney. "of the validity Of NI'
Ggoundwie's claim to the late Ma ;oI
: Eortrums ; estate. the will signed h,
Andrew Eordrlm in the presence o
two witnesses. who signed their name
ii
! cntr ana 1t his request. in uctor,iunc,
" til the requirement ot the law.
AS Won will sec. the will ha, beer
properly p"oharr,i. has the seal OF til,
clerk of the Probate Court atIiNr,
thereto. ana his certificate attached. /,
the eifcc: hat the attcst:Er witnesses
James Martin and Matilda Patterson
appeared before hil:l. legal notice hav
. Ing been given .. the time OF ptovin.
said will, and made oath that the.
did SO sign such will as sHch wit
ne>ScS.
The attorney took his seat, apparent
Il quite exhausted with the effort h
HAD made. He wiped the perspiratio
from his brow. and looked around /
) see what effect his opc.lng OF the cas-
had uIon the audience.
TIE lawyers for Mary Nordrun con
suited together for several minutes
; The spectators looked ounbfounded d
Though 10: months they had known Il
i, r., l., l.