The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-17
Asserts That the Sum is Due For Services
Rendered the Oecsdsnt
He WAS PLEASED WITH HER COOKING
Raised His Table Board, Gave Her a Tenement
Free, and Agreed 10 Donate a House.
Then He Married and Later Died.

Before a jury i'm Judge Bosworth's
court today was tried the suit of Susan
A. Gorton against Anna ". Johnson,
executrix on the estate of James Il.
Johnson, to recover Sl944 for services
rendered Mr.. Johnson during his life
time. The plaintiff, who is now
rather elderly lady, claims that she
was living in one of the late Mr. John
sons tenements, when he, being un-
married, asked if he could not take his
meals at her home, and she consented
He agreed to pay her SO month be-
sides giving her the tenement rent free.
He also promised her house. she says.
died.
Mrs. Gorton testified that Mr.. John
son began taking his meals at her
house in 1887, and the following spring
he injured his head and for four weeks
he had TO receive much care. This care
is charged for al the rate of so a
week. Again, i'm 1891. Mr.. Johnson. IL
is claimed, suffered from the grip and
some serious after effects, which also
required treatment for 10 weeks, and
this is charged for at the same rate OF
$40.
SO well satisfied was Mr. Johnson
with his treatment, Mrs. Gorton testi-
fed, that he soon after beginning TO
take meals raised the price of his meals
To So a month, besides the free rent.
About that time Mrs. Gorton, who had
been previously nurse at the Home
for Aged Women, was sent for TO go
there again, but she claims Mr.. John
son told her not to go, as he would
abundantly provide for her Later he
told her that she made her place so
homelike he would like TO bring his
friends there TO meals at any time
Mrs. Gorton claims he did so. and told
her he would give her "A house. There
was "A dispute as 10 which house il
would be, she preferring the house she
lived In, and he wanting to give her
"A house on Bridgham street.
Extra fine cooking. according to the
plaintiff. was done by her for Mr.. John
son, until his marriage in 1892 Once
after his marriage he met the plaintiff
and told her he would make things
right with her. but, failing to do so,
she made an effort to see him during
his last illness In 1895. but was prevent
ed by the defendant.
Miss Ida Gorton, a daughter of the
plaintiff testified that her mother fur
sirloln steak and used TO say that il
was better for people to have money
kept for them until they really needed
ii most.
Mrs. johnson testified she knew the
deceased from about 1880 and that he
began calling at her home i'm 1856, and
she saw him very frequently until their
marriage. She knew that when he had
his head injured in 1887 he was not
kept away from his business week
and that when he was sick i'm 1891 that
within three weeks he played cards
with cousin and went out. Mrs. John
son had her late husbands diary and
she read from II statement that con-
tradicted an assertion Of Mrs Gorton
that she had paid out $40 for preserves
for which she was not repaid.
ON REORGANIZATION Mrs. johnson
said that the reason Mrs. Gorton could
not see Mr. Johnson during his last
illness was that no one but herself and
a nurse were permitted by the doctor
to enter his room. She said that after
the visit of Mrs. Gorton an attorney
came. and the deceased made a will
leaving all his property to witness.
IL Is not disputed that Mr.. Johnson
owned lot of property during his life.
but the claim that he promised Mrs
substantiated. Mrs Gorton admits that
Mr. johnson paid her the regular sum
he agreed to monthly and gave her free
house rent
Franklin y. owen and \. :. Johnson
are attorneys for the plaintiff and
clark II. Johnson attorney for the de-
fendant