Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-26
PETER BENEFITS MONEY.
Suit at Bangor to Recover Sum Obtained from
Him by Daughter.

Bangor Jan. 25.-tSpeciaD.-An in
teresting case TO people in Nennebec
County and also in Penobscot county
for that matter, was begun in the SUI
interesting because the cause which
brought it to a head lies in the disposal
of the last portion of Peter Benefits
money $4,000. now in the hands of one
of his daughters, Mrs. Z. w. Cronkhite
of Skowhegan. The defendants wit
nesSes 10 or II or them. have been stop
ping at the Bangor house for four or
five days, waiting for the case to come
before the court. James NJ. Sanborn,
a lawyer at Newport, appears as the
plaintiff in the case as executor of the
estate of Peter Bennett. He is suing
Mrs. Cronkhite, in behalf OF the estate
to recover the sum of $4,000. There are
two writs in case. One in an action Of
assumpst and the other in an action
of trover.
ASSUMPSIT, COUNT ANNEXED.
Eliza J. Cronkhite. Dr.
To James NJ. Sanborn. admr. of the es-
tate of Peter Bennett.
To cash drawn from the Eastern
Trust and Banking Co., Bangor
Me-. in July. 1893 Observation-Disclosures. N5i5. n
To cash drawn from the Bangor
Savings Bank in July. 1899 ...... 300
To cash taken from the house of
Peter Bennett in July. 1893 5000
$3.50 40
TROVER. SCHEDULE ANNEXED.
Ten notes of 800 each. dated Jan. 6. 1871
signed by Davis Friend and Otis Friend
payable TO Peter Bennett. oa
Also note dated March -. 1893. for 20
signed by George r. Davis, payable to
said Peter Bennett.
Also note for $50. signed by George, r.
Davis ard Emma +. Davis. dated Feb
20 1892 payable to Peter Bennett.
Also note for $50 dated Oct. .. 1886
signed by Elizabeth Woodman, payable
Also note for SIS. dated Nov. I. 1881
signed by Chelsea Grindle, payable to
Peter Bennett.
Also two notes of $500 each. dated Oct.
r. 1881 signed by James Grindle. Caro-
line Grindle and Chelsea Grindle, payable
to Peter Bennett. ,
Also two promissory notes for $3.50
dated Jan. .; lss2. signed ~ by HenJamih
Friend. payable to Peter Bennett.
Also one note for SID. dated Jan. Il
1886. signed by Joel A. Sanborn. payable
to Peter Bennett. a,
signed by Harry w. Gage. payable to
Peter Bennett.
The plaintiff alleges that Mrs. Cronk-
hite obtained the money improperly
while her father was visiting at her
home in Skowhegan 1t is claimed that
the old man was non compos mentis at
that time: that he had already made a
will and that the money gotten from
him was by undue influence. Mrs.
Cronkhite declares that the money was
given her by her father, for her at
tendance on him and her long contin-
ued affection.
Monday forenoon was occupied by
Mr.. Sanborn in introducing a grist of
papers. testimony, etc, which had pre-
viously been introduced at the hearing
before the probate court in Skowhegan
Mr.. Sanborn is assisted in conducting
the case by P. H. Gillin. Esq. of this
city and Danforth & Gould of Skowhe
gan. are for the defendant.
An important witness was o. H..
Danforth. Esq. He testified that he
went to Mr.. Benefits home in
Plymouth with Mrs. Cronkhite and at
the order of Mr.. Bennett. who was then
with his daughter, to get some papers.
money, etc. which We're in the house.
These papers We're the mortgages.
notes, etc, referred to above. He also
got at that time $3.50 in money. He
found that p. H. Gillin, ESQ.,. of this
! city. had some bank books belonging
to Mr.. Bennett. and he came here after
them. Mr.. Gillin would not give them
up unless he had a written order from
Mr.. Bennett. This Mr.. Danforth OBJ
tanned and later came here and got
the money Mr. Dapforth Testified tho
he drew up the papers which trans
ferred the money to Mrs. Cronlshite
and when he was doing it Mr.. Ben
nett urged that he make them good
and strong, because he said some of