The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-20
Green Room 7 alk.

The action brought by relatives of
William Hoey, the comedian known as
"Old HoSS Hoey,' to set aside a con-
veyance of his realty to his wife,
Helena G. Hoey, on the grounds that
he was of unsound mind and unduly in
fiuenced, has been dismissed by the
supreme court Of New York. There was
evidence that Hoey had been in a sani-
tarium for excessive drinking, and that
he had played many pranks. The court
says:
1.-THE evidence of unsoundness is ut
terly insufficient to justify any court
in transgressing the wishes and the
right of action of the deceased grantor
What would be extreme evidence of
incomprehensible conduct in a staid
clergyman, doctor, lawyer or editor
might be very natural in one whose life
was of jest and variety and who devot-
ed himself to the amusement Of other
people. William Hoey was evidently a
man Of rare eXuberanI humor: his
habitual study was to cultivate that
sense and attract others not only by
his mimicry, but also by eccentricites
which would cause his name to be ex-
plotted. His life was in one sense a
continuous piece of acting, on and off
the stage, and his acts and vagaries
hurtful to no one save himself, perhaps
were in unison with his habitual cur
rent of action.
"A year and a half elapsed from the
execution of the deed to his death, and
that death may have been very likely
hastened, as also some of his eccentri-
cities caused, by the freedom of con-
vivial habits which not only let down
the restraint of strict decorum of man
ner, but also weakened the physical
powers of a man living largely in the
display of his emotions. His residence
at the sanitarium was SO caused and
the evidence of the manager plainly
shows that Hoey had a clear mind and
understanding when he left that re-
treat. He could act as well as ever
after the deed was executed, repeating
the lines not only Of plays before COM
1nfttcd, but also of new ones freshly
learned,
To- confidential relation is here that
of wife to the husband. At the com
ndjL law she was su~Dosed to be under
his domination and not he hers; and,
although at this later day such an in
ference has been seriously modified by
nhe force of stern facts, vet the pre-
sumption has not as yet entirely shifted
no the shoulders of the wife,
The judge says that proof that the
wife was loyal. affectionate and de-
voted and so could influence her hus-
band, will not go to establish undue
influence.
The regular season opens at the
Grand opera house on Sunday, Sep
tember 8, when the Boston Lyric Opera
company will begin a weeks engage
rnent. The company has just concluded
q summer season at Minneapolis and
is soon to leave for a long trip to the
Orient The company's engagement in
Minneapolis was a very successful one
financially and artistically. OF some of
the leading members of the organ'za
ton the Times of that city, few days
ago, said:
The members Of this company have
proven themselves to be the hardest
kind of workers, and have been very
conscientious in their endeavors TO pre-
sent a complete and cOmmendable per-
Torrance of summer opera. Possibly
Miss Josephine Stanton has become the
greatest favorite through her pleasing
manner and sweet voice. Messrs. John
Henderson and George Kunklc, the