New-York tribune., 1896-12-23
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
OLDEST LITIGANT ~ THE WORLD.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE DISTINCTION
NEW-JFRsEY WOMAN ENJOYS Al
TIE AGE or NEARLY lO2 YEARS

Trenton Dee - (Spec.aD.-Mrs. christiana
French. OF Chester Township. Burlington county
102 years. months and g2 days old. has j'ist won
a suit In the New-Jerscy Supreme Court which
she instituted in November last. Mrs. French Is
probably the oldest liigant in the world. and the
favorable termination of her action speaks vol
urles for her present clearncss OF mind. She Is
w-Jersey woman. and one who has probably
seen less OF the outside world than many CITY
children eighty ninety years her junior
Mrs French was born In Chester Township on
August l. 1874. and during her life OF almost one
hundred and three years she says she mas never
lived a single day in any other place" Since the
death of her parents. about seventy-fve years ago
she has practically stood at the head Of her family
although once married. and up 10 the present day
she transacts all her business. except that which
may require long journey.
The maiden name OF this agcG litigant was
Christiana Slim and early in the century she
married Louis c. French Five children were born
TO the couple one Of whom "A son. still lives Since
her earliest recollection Mrs. French says she
recalls only days sickness and that was about
four weeks ago. While seated in her paror she
was suddenly stricken with palsy. hu, in fe"
days she had completely recovered and to-day Is
I'm the best Of health.
Mrs French attributes her remarkable age and
health TO her mode OF living. Since childhood her
evening meal has always been Of mush and milk
and under no circumstances would she partako of
iny other food before retiring. She has little
Faith in the cuIati.. powers Of medicines, ana
when ailng her only ren'cd; Is a dram OF whiskey.
Mrs French has some means. ard upon the inter
est she is enabled 10 live comfortably In Aori',
isS9 she loaned 500 on a promssory note made by
Joseph Bsnaic and Lewis Fowler. aud was To re-
ce,yc annually interest at 6 per cen 'l"r business
H. Isment toll her t.ai an ndorscr of means would
make tie loan more secure. and although ninet'
years old when the loan Wa contracted Mrs
French secured the proper indorser r. Joseph X
Harris Tho makers Of the noe pal! si2 rcgrinriy
each year Tor ten years. properly renewing h" one
year note carn time but failed To pay To-" interest
in lss l-si iSs5 and lSG After due warning Mrs.
French placed tn roic In tho haIds OF her counsel
Aaron T. Rurr. of Morristown. with Instructions to
b-inE suit against MIR Harris.
Don't bother with any OF th" small county
courts" was Mrs Fr"nchs injunction 1" her conn
SCI but 10 straight 10 Trenion ana sue IN The ~
lrcUr Court.
Thj. LAWYER BUR- did with the result that juds-
neni ,-as obtained for SIS ~. being the amoun. "t
The nota with inteics; and costs to dat' The
amount was asscrscd 10y Benjamin ! Lee. clerk or
the court on the clear statement "i IN" Transaction
mad. 10 the court by Mrs French. The actual
costs OF the suit amounted TO So s3 and b, adding
this with the iniercs II IL found that Mrs frcncha
500 investment has rettei her g." Il pfoht since
1882
Tie aged liigan: has advised her counsel TO give
her debtor "a reasonable TIM H. which "a scfl" The
Judgment Sh" saNs 81" never Eoi 10 lA"inS IN
her Young davs ana never Was 10 law before. bnt
she always told her folks that when she did so to
the law rte would carry IL clean through 10 m"
end" She threatens to levy upon Nr. Harris :
worldly effects unless ne settles the judGm'n;
within Il rcasora blc time.