Waterbury Democrat., 1902-04-05
LoUNsBURY- NORTON CASE
Created Considerable Amusement at

g klCtltC0 1OASl(lC4 dDAC 1AA Ae-N7N->- - Yesterday Afternoons Session.
 The case of Frank Lounsbury against c. L. Norton for recovery or $75 was quite interesting yesterday afternoon. Miss Emma Lounsbury, cousin of the plaintiff, residing in OK ford, was on the stand the greater part of the afternoon. She went along very we'll under the guidance of Judge Lowe, counsel for the plaintiff, out when Attorney Russell, counsel for the defense, took her in hand, she became very reticent. She was asked her age and she immediately became fidgety. She thought her age was of no import ance to the case, but the court told her it was and she was not to judge of the relevancy of questions. After be- ing under a fire of questions she ad- mitted that she was over b. The court looked daggers at her and every body else giggled. Attorney Russell admitted that she looked to be over IS, to which witness said perhaps she was. She was again asked and she tsaid she did not know. She could not remember.
 Judge Cowell showed impatience. Turning upon her he said that she was an intelligent woman, her father was a graduate of Yale, a doctor of some consequence in his time, and she her self was educated, kept a diary and ought to know better than to give such an answer as that she did not know how old she was.
 ..Well, I don't know," she said, pet ulantly.
 .'Well, you can guess,'' said the court
 T don't like to guess" She replied
 This jared the court. Had he been dealing with a man the man would have suffered. 'Tell as we'll as you are able" he advised her.
 ''Well,' said Miss Lounsbury, ''you say you don't want hssrsay evidence and l only know what I have been told. I was told that I was born i'll 1S45 and you may make what you like Of that"
 ''Then you are about 57."
 'Make what you like of it. I don't know, as I have told you only what I have been told myself"
 You are trifing with the court ; said Judge Cowell, looking ''f1erce." " ''When you were child at school you put your age on your copy books every year, didn't you? You kept diary and you put your age on that, and of course you had to tell the census taker when he called two years ago. If you go on in this manner you will only discredit your own evidence. Now, you will not be advised any more. You were brought up differently from the way you act"
 "I was brought up,'' she replied with dignity, ito look up6s such a question as an impertinence.' After this the court looked at her as though he were saying, Well, l give you up as a bad job."
 The question of her age was then dropped. She having testified pre- yiously. that she had loaned to her cousin the Si00 he gave the defendant, she was asked about her private means, Attorney Russell trying to show that she did not have $100. The inquiry revealed that she had not an easy time making living.
 T have all 1 can do to make a liv- ing" she said.
 Do you mean by that that you are poor?'
 -''Well.'' she said, "I must say that am not as fieshy as 1 was last year."
 Attorney Durant was then sworn The writ against Lounsbury was ad- mitted and identified by the witness He stated that Norton when he called to settle the bond, put a poor face oI things, pretending that Lounsbury had left him in a hole. On that ac count the matter was settled for $25 Then Norton reminded him that ht had a bill against him and witnes: admitted that he also had bil against the Norton brothers for law services. '.I said I was ready to set tie whenever they were and c. l.. Nor ton, the defendant, and I settled ou bills by scratching them out. F. B Norton owes me yet and 1 owe him but his books will show that I pait him up, but I have not. Before c. L Norton left my office when he called t, settle the bond he told me to tel Iounsbury ill case he ever called around that it cost S1OO to settle tn case I told MT NoEton that I woul, not do anything of the kind, but tha would refer him to the clerk of tn court" MT Russell then led MT Dur ant into telling of his personal rela tions with P B. Norton, in whose fam fly he had lived number of years, an, his dealings with him after leayin him. This was to show that there Ina been bad feeling between4them. but NJ Durant replied that eTerv act ef Ri since then has been merely self-de fense When he ran for office, NJ Durant said, P E. Norton circulate false stories about him. And thu the examination went on until ad journment.