The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
ALLEGED HYPNOTISM.
Bequest of 100000 Contested by a
ChicagOan on Novel Grounds.

CHICAGO, Dec 21.-SiX hundred thousand
dollars is the sum the son of d Chicago
man says is being kept from him through
the unique provisions of his mothers will
He is Frank Il. w. Palmer, son of Mrs
Anna M. Benedict Through his attorney
Francis w. Walker, he filed a bill in the
Circuit Court yesterday praying that the
will be set aside Fordyce c. Bradley, a
lawyer, is the man who is made the sole
trustee of the large estate under provisions
peculiar and almost ineXplicable to Mr.
Palmer. The contest for the control of the
great estate will be one of the most unique
in the history of the Chicago courts.
Hypnotic influence will be alleged by the
complainant, and the hypnotizer is said to
be a Paris doctor, DR.. Eugene de Puy, No.
So Avenue Montaigne. DIR. Du Puy is one
of the witnesses of the will. The fight for
the 5000 900 will center around the novel pro-
vision Mrs Benedict made in the will refer
ring to her sons wife. This clause, Mr.
Palmer contends, is the result of the
hypnotic power Dr. Du Puy had over his
mother The clause follows:
L especially direct that it shall be in the
absolute discretion of my said trustee, his
successors and assigns, to stop the payment
of all sums of money coming to the said
Frank i. w. Palmer, as aforesaid, it being
my wish that the part of the income of the
said trust intended for my said son shall be
used for his individual and separate sup
port, and in no case shall any of such in
come be applied to the support or main
tenanee of my said sons wife, and the
same shall never be amenable to any order
or Judgment of a court which his said wife
might obtain for alimony, for support or
for any other cause"
The next statement of the document is
that nothing shall be paid to the son lin
case his conduct becomes bad" Mrs Ben
edict was an invalid the last ten years
of her life, and spent her time roaming
over Europe in search of health. Her first
husband was Azarah r. Palmer, of Chi
cago, who founded the firm of Palmer, Full
ton q CO., extensive manufacturers of
sash, doors and blinds. He died in 1876 in
this city and left the bulk of his fortune
to his wife. They had one son, Frank /.
w. Palmer, the complainant in this action.
In 1879 Mrs. Palmer married Russell Ben
edict of Chicago who was at that time a
prominent business man of this city. Mr.,
and Mrs Benedict and Mr. Palmer went
abroad together, and the feeling between
Benedict and his stepson was at all times
the most friendly: In the latter part of
1889 Mr. Benedict died in Germany
Mrs. Benedict and her son remained in
Europe for some time In 1894 Mr.. Palmer
married q young woman whom he had met
in Nice the year before. His mother had
been very much taken with her, and urged
the marriage, and 1t was at her solicitation
that the wedding took place in New York
city in 1894. Mrs. Benedict was growing
more feeble, and after her son was married
she returned across the sea, and was OPP
Grated upon in Heidelberg for cancer. The
operation was not successful, ana she went
to Paris, where she was put under the
surgeons knife the second time. Some
time before the second operation she be-
came acquainted with DR.. Du Puy. and so
powerful was his influence over her that
she soon took a great dislike to the young
woman she had urged her son TO marry not
long before. DR.. Du Puy went with her
wherever she took a fancy to 60 He
seemed indispensable for her comfort and
happiness. Ii was said that she was the
victim of Authorizations and was of I'M
sound mind during her fatal illness. The
son charges that DR.. Du Puy and f. G..
RraH mr.
mind against him and his wife, but kept
him in ignorance of her health and let no
letters or word reached Mrs. Benedict from
him.
Mrs. Benedict died in February, 1885, and
her will had been made in March, 1895. 1t
bequeathed the sum of $4,000 to Bradley
After making some insignificant gifts to
friends and relatives, the residue of the
ordered to pay the son the interest on all
moneys and bonds.