Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-07-05
CUMBERLAND'S COURT
All of Them Must Pay Good Stiff
Fines, With Costs Added
Court Again Next
Week

came for adjournment there was still
much evidence to be taken in the
Steen Edwards will contest and an
adjournment was taken until next
month.
The case in nut shell is that re-
Gently the late Steen Edwards made
will and in it provided that each of
his sons should share equally. Ad-
ditional provision, however, was
made for Theodore Edwards for
considerable debt that was claimed
by Theodore as owing him by his
father. This Indebtedness the other
brothers do not admit and they will
attempt to set aside the will.
Mr.. Ware said that when he made
the will for Mr.. Edwards, he consid-
cred that gentleman's mind in an ex-
traordinary sound condition. After
the will was made out he brought it
down to his office and placed it in his
safe by request of the senior Mr.. Ed
wards.
Mrs. Francis Smith was empoyled
as nurse at Mr.. Edwards home on
Irving avenue. and remembered
very well the day Mr.. Ware came to
the house for the purpose of making
the will for Mr.. Edwards. Mrs.
Smith identified the paper purpOrt-
ing to be the will and her signature
as witness to it. She remembered
that Mr.. Edwards, Mr.. Ware and
herself were the only ones in the
room when the will was signed.
The family of Mr.. Edwards while
she was there was composed of Mr..
Edwards, Valdemar Edwards and
his wife. She said that Theodore
had asked her to say nothing about
the will being made. She had no.
ticed that Mr.. Edwards mind was
steadily failing. Mr.. Edwards had
often fastened her out of doors she
testified upon cross examination.
DR.. Theodore G.. Davis was called.
He said he had been Mr.. Edwards
family physician for twelve years.
The physician said he had known
Mr.. Edwards for twenty eight years
and in all that time knew him to
have a very poor memory.
Samuel Petit was the next witness
called. Mr.. Petit is a barber and
for a year prior to Mr.. Edwards
death he visited Mr.. Edwards house
about once a week professionally.
He said he had noticed Mr.. Edwards
talking in very silly manner.
Otto Edwards, of Camden, son of
the deceased, was then called. He
said that he had often visited the
home of his father in this city and
| that his father on one occasion of
a visit here, had asked him at least
twelve times during the day, who he
was. He said that his father at that
time was under the impression that
he had no will made.
Valdemar Edwards, another son,
went upon the stand. He said that
his father acted very childish all the
time he lived with him. Mr.. Ed
wards said that his father could not
hold a conversation for any length
of time.
Mrs. Rachel Edwards, wife of Val
demar Edwards, was next called.
She said she had often noticed in
dications of unsoundnesS of mind in
her father-in-law Mrs. Edwards
evidence was largely corroborative of
that of her husband.
Mrs. Fannie Edwards, wife of Ad-
olph Edwards, gave nearly the same
testimony as the preceding witness.
The day having been taken up with
/ the case the Court adjourned the tax
ing of further testimony until the
fifth of July in the morning at ten
o'clock
Judge Trenchard then disposed of
the criminals who had pleaded guilty
at the morning session.
William Garrett found out that
Judge Trenchard was no less severe
against the speak easy fellows than
for some time past. His fine was
fixed at S75 and costs were added.
If Garrett hasn' the price he will
remain in jail until the full amount
is paid.
Jimmy Jones, misshapen and as
ugly as ever, appeared again in the
afternoon. Jimmy is no stranger in
the courts and the various Judges
have given him all sorts of Justice in
large and small punches, and this
time Judge Trenchard gave him
surprise party by suSpending SEN
tence, but he declared that 'What
happened to Jones' would be a
plenty if he came back there.
William Woodruff who turned his