Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-23
AUGUsTA. MAINE. FRIDAY MORNING DECEMBER %. 1893
CONTESTED WILL CASE.
Will Of Late J. P. Moore. Abbot, 10 Be Fouahi
by q Grand daughter.


Dexter, Me-, Dec. GSpeciaD. A
contested will case which, although it
involves an amount of only $4,000, is Of
interest On account Of the prominence
of the parties Concerned. is to be tried
here, today before Judge Hall, in the
probate ebuit. There is slight ques-
4tion that whatever the decision the
case will be appealed and carried to
the supreme court. Jefferson P. Moore
of Abbot, who was one of the best
known people in Piscataquis county,
died, last summer. According to the
terms of the will he left to each of the
three heirs third of the property.
The heirs are granddaughter. Mrs
George A. Sutton of Orono, his son,
Sheridan Moore of California, and a
former housekeeper, Mrs. w. w Dela-
no of Abbot village. The will is con-
tested by Mrs. Sutton, through her
lattorney, John S. Williams of Gulford.
Fen the grounds that undue influence
was used when the will was made out.
The counsel on IT, opposing side has
been retained by Mrs. Delano. The
point at issue is that Mr.. Delano should
not have share of the property.
Mr.. Moore died at his home in Abbot,
last summer. and at the death, a will,
with the disposition of the property as
announced was found.
To Mr.. and Mrs. Moore two children
were born, Sheridan and ARA. The
latter married Henry Stetson and 10
tn EN- one child, Helen was born.
AS Helens parents died in her infan-
cy, she went to live with fler grand
parents. While there he was a second
daughter, the plaintiff claims. and was
treated by them as an only child. The
contestant claims. further. that when
she was a small child everything done
by the grandparents for her was ac-
counted and paid for. Even the board
of the child was arranged for. The
child was brought up by the old people
as their own daughter and in such Il
manner that during the latter part of
the time the child lived with her grand
parents she did everything that could
be done by woman about the house.
At the same time provisions We're made
for paying her board and even for tbs
use of the piano.
When Helen was about 90 she mar
ried Henry Stetson of Orono. and NOV
ed to Orono ITO live. AS the grand
mother had died when Helen was at
home, Helen virtually managed the
hime. AT her departure there was, no
one to look after the home and hired
girl was employed. "A widow was the
first woman employed and after being
there a short time the relatives inter
vened as it was claimed a good part of
the old mans property was going from
him.
Three years before Mr. Moore's death,
Washington w. Delano and his wife Went
to live with Mr.. Moore. AT that time,
the claim is. there was mortgage on
their farm There was danger that the
farm would be lost on account of the
mortgage and an arrangement was made
by which Mr.. Moore should hold the
mortgage while the man and wife should
be given a chance to work it off by TAX
ing care of Mr.. Moore.
The agreement made was carried out.
Mr.. and Mrs. Delano went to the Moore
farm to live and received their board
there. AT the same time they carried on
caring for Mr.. Moore. earned enough dur
ing the three years to raise the mortgage
Of $1,000 on the farm.
While they were at the Moore home
q
of the agreement about caring for Mr..
Moore and raising money enough to raise
the mortgage were carried out, the two
left the farm. Others followed who took
care of Mr.. Moore. These parties are
said to tell the story that during the
time they were there it was possible 10
induce Mr.. Moore to do almost anything.
In fact, one of the persons is said to have
said that he would have had not the
slightest difficulty in getting the whole of
Mr. Moore's property had he so wished.
So alarmed were some of those interested
at one time at the manner in which the
property was going, that steps were
taken to appoint a guardian for Mr..
Moore.
After Mr. Moore died, last summer,
will was offered for probate. According
to the terms of the will, Mrs. Delano,
Mrs. Stetson and the son, Sheridan, are
to each receive a third of the property:
1t is the claim of the contestants of the
will that Mr.. Moore was not in mental
condition to make a will. In fact, the
contestants state that they can produce
evidence showing that insanity has been
running in Mr.. Moores family for a long
time and that the man could be induced
to make any disposition OF his property
by almost anyone.
The defendants claim that the man was
in a perfectly sound mental condition;
and further, that Mrs. Stetson received
being taken care of by Mr.. Moore.
The will has been offered for pr ate
and the hearing will be held. this prn-
ing at 10 O'Clock, at the probate cArt
room in this place. reS
3