The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-15
William Willard Adds
Color to the Pro.
ceedings.
THE FAMOUS PORTRAIT PAINTER.
Defendant in a Suit Which
Has Been Pending for
Nine Years.

The third days sitting of the jury
waived session of the superior court,
busy one, and several cases were dis
poed of, including two divorce suits,
besides several motions and petitions.
Judge Hardy of Boston presided.
The case of Marian Cheney VS.. the
town Of Athol, was an action of con-
tract to recover damages for the build
ing of a road which was alleged to have
set the water of Millers river back upon
the water wheel of the plaintiff. After
a brief hearing it was agreed by the
counsel in the case to refer the case to
master. The court appointed Will
liam B. Harding as the master and his
report will be filed with Judge Hardy
| in August.
The divorce libel of Mabel L. Byrne
| VS.. Charles A. Byrne of Worcester was
| heard today and a decree of nisi grant
ed upon the grounds of cruel and abu
sive treatment The custody of the
minor child was also given. Thayer &
| Perry for the libellant
The picturesque presence of William
Willard, the famous portrait painter,
gave color and character to a case in
| the court, which otherwise would have
| been of only ordinary interest. Mr..
Willard appeared as the defendant in
| the case with Levi X. Fuller ct al. of
| Brattleboro, VT, as the plaintiffs, and
the case was all about a piano which
the defendant bought Of the Estey Or
gan Company and was to pay for the
same in quarterly instruments but sub
| sequently arranged to settle for the
| balance due by making a crayon port
| RAFT of Deacon Estey of the piano firm
in question. The portrait was not &C
| cepted by the family. and suit was
| brought to recover the amount due for
the piano. The matter has been pend
| ing for nine years.
Mr. Willard was the only witness on
either side. He said that he had been
painting portraits for the past 65 years,
| and that he had painted from life Web
| ster, Sumner, Choate, Phillips, and hun
dreds Of other famous men.
| The piano in the case was not in evil
| dence in court, today, but the crayon
portrait of Deacon Estey was, together
with others.
Mr.. Willard went over the story Of
his buying the piano, and the agree
ment to make the pictures, which he
| subsequently did from photographs
| furnished him by the family of Deacon
Estey The court took the matter I'M
der advisement.
| Mr.. Wizards home for SO years past
has been at Sturbridge, but he said af-
ter the trial today that he lived in
Worcester at the Bay State House for
seven years, many years ago. In re-
| Spouse to some questions as to his
work at present he said that he was en-
| gagged upop'tW oil portraits of Senator
| George F. Hoar One of these, he said
was practically finished, and that he
| intended to bring 1t to Worcester soon.
| The other, he said. was larger and
was just begun. This will be half
| size sitting portrait. Mr.. Willard said
that he had 128 specimens of his handi-
work in Worcester Among the prom
| inent men of the city whose portraits
he has painted, he said, were Judge AL
| drich Judge Dewey, w. w. Rice and
| DR.. Francis. AS to the case on trial
/ today, he said that they had been nine
years at 1t already and that if he lost
now he should take it to the supreme
1 court.
Col w. S. b. Hopkins of firm Of Hop
| kins, Smith & Hopkins, for the defend
| ant.
| The court heard the case of William
| F. Brooks VS.. Ellen Mcdonnell of OK
ford argued by the counsel; Sheehan
& Cutting for the plaintiff and Charles
| S. Webster for the defendant. 1t was
| an action of contract to recover for
| goods sold amounting to about $40
| The court reserved its decision.
! The libel for divorce brought by
| Frank b. Hill against his wife, Marie
| V. Hill, was heard at the afternoon
| session. The libel was uncontested,
| the libellee not appearing, and David
r. O'Connell of Sullivan g. O'Connell
appeared for the libellant. The court
| granted a decree nisi.
City Solicitor A. p. Rugg was before
| the court for a hearing upon his IL
tervener in the claim of the city OF
Worcester against the Worcester
Brewing Company for taxes, and the
court fixed the time for the hearing
at 4.30 o'clock this afternoon.
l. l.. Currier of Worcester, real es
| tate dealer, was in the superior court
yesterday in response to a summons
from the court to show cause why he
should not be dealt with for contempt
Of court for his alleged failures TO exc
cute a deed in accordance with a de-
cree of the court. The case was con-
tlnued by request of counsel till Friday
afternoon. The case out of which the
contempt proceedings developed was
| the Weeks VS.. Currier, which had to do
with the transfer Of real estate, which
was heard at a recent session Of the
superior court.
Frank B. Smith of the law firm of
Hopkins, Smith & Hopkins, was before
the superior court with a motion :or
the discharge of trustee in the case Of
B. f. Goodrich Co VS.. Humber & Co.
He moved for the discharge OF the
First National Bank of Westboro, as
trustee of the defendant. Henry f.
Harris appeared in opposition to the
motion. The court took the papers
IN fhe case