The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-15
WENT TO DEPOSIT IN BANK.
When Sister Was III He Objected 10 a Fire
and Calling Of Physician.
HER FUNERAL EXPENSES TOO HIGH.
Old Man Constantly Referred to EStraseshcs 10
Arrangements Or. peokham Testified ThsiIn
His Opinion Amssbuy Was Insane.

There was expert testimony taken
this afternoon before Judge Bosworth
and a jury in the contest over the will
OF the late Samuel M. Amesbury. Dr.
Palmer testified, in answer TO hypo-
thetical question put to him, in which
question was embraced many of the
peculiarties of Mr.. Amesbury, that, in
his opinion, Mr.. Amesbury was insane.
Dr. Fenner II. Peckhan, Jr., testified
he knew Mr.. Amesbury for years, and
that he was of unsound mind. Rela-
tives and others who knew the testator
swore today as to his peculiarities.
Some time tomorrow possibly the jury
will he called on to decide whether
when Mr.. Amesbury made his Will, In
1894, giving some $4,000 or more TO Mt.
Vernon lodge, A. Il. and A. M, he was
of sound mind or not.
Albert T. Potter, general manager Of
Union Railroad Company, testified he
had known Mr.. Amesbury for eight or
ten years and particularly we'll tor the
past four or five years. During tire
latter time he complained bitterly OF the
actions of motoWnen and conductors ON
the electric cars. Amesbury was, ac-
cording TO witness statement, very
much excited when the complaints were
made and he threatened to shoot the
men who had offended him. Witness
had investigated complaints, which he
found groundless, and witness thought
Amesbury little on.
on cross ss-examination, Mr.. Potter de-
MED he ever made a conductor apollo
| gize to Mr.. Amesbury.
! Walter j. Hogue testified that in 1890
A -.
| yard, and had since kept up the ac-
| quaintapceship. Witness said Ames-
| bury's clothes were extensively patched.
The testator had talked TO witness
about a trip to Europe. but in such
manner that the story was disconnect-
ed, and he ran things together so no
one could make anything out OF IT,
Witness thought that in 1894. when the
will was made, Mr.. Amesbury's mind
was unsteady.
Judge Cooke began his cross-exami-
nation of this witness by asking him
| what Mr.. Amesbury told him about
Europe. The answers did not give
much light on the details of the Eu-
ropean tour Of the rich but eccentric
old man. Witness said that Amespury
praised the magnificent churches OF
| Rome and dwelt on the Partisan ladies
and the stores devoted to their wear
| ing apparel. Mr.. Amesbury said he
would not go i'm the leaning tower OF
| Pisa for all of Providence.
Did he say anything to you about
his finances?" asked Judge Cooke.
"Well. he showed me his bank books
and told me he walked the car rails TO
| Warren and back to save car fare when
| he went TO Warren TO put money in the
| bank" was the answer.
Catherine p Mason testified that she
| was a niece of Samuel M. Amesbury
| and said her uncle never seemed to be
| like other young men though in later
years he became more careless in his
! dress. Witness said she had always
| treated the deceased kindly and in her
| early days her uncle thought good
| deal of her and her children. He lived
| here while she resided In Woonsocket
| visiting him every week. During the last
| illness of her Aunt Ann, with whom the
testator boarded, witness visited her
and she said though she had been sick
a day and a half, there had been no
| fire nor had she warm drink. Witness
said her uncle did not want fire as it
was extravaganza TO burn coal and tes-
tator also thought IL extravagant to
call a physician. Mr.. Amesbury did not
try TO prevent the making of the fire by
using any force. He simply remonstra-
ted as he did to the calling OF a physi-
clan. The coal and physician were paid
for out of the money that Ann Ames-
bury had. There was sufficient to pay
for them and leave small balance.
Witness declared that after her aunts
funeral Mr. Amesbury had forbidden
her TO visit at his house. Up to that
time her uncle had been very friendly
toward her and IL was on account OF
what ne termed her extravaganza I'm
connection with the funeral that she
was forbidden TO visit him.
tnI Har ha No xro
too poor To pay his board. This was
about 1898 and Mr. Amesbury then was
not working steady though he went oc-
casionally TO work on wire or To sweep
the shop out. Mrs. Mason said that
she never knew she gave her uncle any
reason TO treat her unkindly and she
thought he was in unsound mind.
Mr. Amesbury did not attend his sis
ter's funeral because he disliked the arr
rangements.
This witness was not ross-examined.
Charles 6. Pettee OF the National
Bank OF North America and a pest
master OF Franklin lodge. testified he
knew Mr.. Amesbury just 33 years ago
and was married TO the grand niece OF
Mr.. Amesbury. He and his wife vls-
tied the deceased for a number OF years
once "A week In the room occupied In
his sisters house bv the deceased.
there was lot OF rubbish and clothing
I'm filthy condition. Witness had paid
up at the rate OF s. a month a note for
money borrowed from the deceased
After the funeral " his sister. Ann,
Mr. Amesburv acted very strangely
and when asked 10 come down from tho
attfc room 10 see his relatives ne de-
clared that they had wronged him. ana
blamed Aunt Ann HIS sister. for dying
Some time after her death he said his