The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-23
QUEER
MRS. TRACEY.
Her Grandniece Tries to
Prove She Wasn't Capa-
Bile Of Making a
Will.
SHOVELED SNOW IN BARE FEET
The Eccentric Old Woman
Left Man Who Had Been
Kind to Her ST, 900.

Judge Blair heard testimony In the
Orphans Court yesterday in the contest
of the will of Ellen Tracey, the eccentric
old miser and recluse who died in the
hospital on March TO- The woman was
a spinster so years old and lived alone
in an old shanty at No. 105 Van Wrinkle
street. Her clothing caught fire from the
stove on March and she died two days
later in the hospital. 1t was always sup
posed that she was destitute, but few
hours before her death she made a will
leaving her estate to John Coyne,
saloonkeeper at No. sos Newark avenue,
who had shown her some kindness. Her
estate was found to consist of the house
she iivad III and about IS, 800 in bank. After
the Wiil AaG been filed tor probate, Sadie
Fiyan, hec grand niece and only surviving
reiasiys filed a caveat through lawyer
Alexander Simpson. Miss Flynn is seven
teen years old. The contest is being made
on the ground ahat the testatrix was in-
sane and devoid of testamentary capacity.
DR.. Goode, of Bergen avenue, who had
been Miss Tracey's physician, ana at
tended her after she was taken to the
hospital, testified that she wanted a pa
per drawn leaving her money to CoyEe.
DIR. Goode went to Lawyer James G. Cor
don and had him draw the paper. When
he took it back to the hospital Miss Ira
cey refused to sign it because the doctor
told her that she would not die that day.
On the following day he told her that she
was at the point of death and she signed
the paper.
Abraham Davis, who keeps grocery
store near where Miss Tracey lived, tes-
titled to some of her eccentricities. lie
said that she was in the habit of scream
ing at the children in the neighbornood.
One day she came into his store and said
she was hungry. He gave her loaf Of
bread which she ate, and then he gave her
another one just for the fun of seeing her
eat The witnessed noticed that Miss
Tracey had been acting queerly for about
three years. She used to go out and
shovel snow in her bare feet.
Mrs. Mary Coyle, a neighbor, testi11ed
that Miss Tracey used to fight with her
self very often. She would shout very
often: 'tGet away from here, Casey!
when there was no Casey there. She often
went about in the snow in her stocking
feet. The witness asked her why she
didn't take her stockings off and she said
she was afraid somebody might steal
them.
st think she went crazy over a love
affair in her youth" said the witness.
stShe used to make fire every day and
make a cup of tea for her niece who had
been dead eleven years Coyne wanted her
to make a will in his favor. She never
slept for three months. She used to cry
out very often for Paudeen."
'sFor what?' asked Mr.. Gordon.
'fFor Paudeen,'' replied the witness,
"that's Patrick in English"
.'I move to strike that out said Mr..
Gordon.
"Yes, strike it OUT assented the wit
ness. 81 don't like to say what She said" :"
Cat,aarine Jordan, another neighbor,
gave similar testimony about Miss Ira
cey's eccentricities.
sadie Flynn, the contestant, told some
of her grand aunt's queer doings. She
used to say that her brother ana niece,
who were both dead, visited her every
night at twelve o'clock, and she always
had a cup of tea prepared for them. She
wore no shoes in winter and often went
out in her bare feet and dressed in her
best clothing.
Wilson Peel had known Miss Tracey for
+uentv-four years. She began to act
oueer about three years ago. He had often
seen her out shoveling snow in her bare
feet. He had heard her talking to herself,
and it seemed as if she was 1lghting with
somebody although there was nobody
there.
DR.. Goode was recalled. He testified
that Notwithstanding Miss Tracey's eccen-
tricities and queer actions he considered
her capable of transacting her business
Some other witnesses testified that tney
considered Miss Tracey possessed oil tes-
tamentary capacity. Judge Blair reserv-
ed decision.