Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-12-21

Minnie Stannard, Mrs. E. A. Wiley. Mrs
Frank Wheeler, Mrs. E. e. Mathews, Miss
Carrie Badger, Mrs. E. M. Porter, Mrs. E.
X. Baraw, Miss Hope Rash. The tickets
are put on sale at Fl. s. Webster's store,
Saturday, Dec. %, at noon. Reserved
seats 35c general admission 25,, children
under IL years, 15c. A social dance will
| follow the entertainment at 5Oc per
couple. Special scenery is being prepared
and it goes without saying that the play
will be rendered finely, as the reputation
of the Thespians is thoroughly established.
Mrs. A. d. Chandler entertained the
Book and Thimble Club on Thursday.
There were fifteen present. The president,
Mrs. French. being away, Mrs. Webster as
vice. president occupied the chair. The
secretary called the roll and each
| responded with a current event. Mrs
| Fletcher finished the lecture on Scotland
and Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Wheeler read
1.-The American Revolution from the
history. Mrs. Rowell read from the
lecture on London and afterward gave
very pleasing description of her trip to
London last year, of her visit to the Tower
OF London and of her inspection of the
royal jewels and many other items of
interest in and about London, for which
the Club thanked her most heartily. The
Red letter eveping of the club will be held
on the evening of Dec. 81. Mrs. o. W.
Locke has kindly opened her house for
the occasion. The next regular meeting of
the club will be on Jan. at Mrs. RowelPs.
The contested hearing on the probate of
the will of Thomas Smith, late of Barton,
began Nov. 20th at B. D. Carpenters
Office and continued Dec 15 16, II and 18th
st the Valley House, before Judge Alfred.
b. T. ID. Carpenter and j. w. Redmond
appeared for the proponent and F. w.
Baldwin and John Young for the contest
ant.
Thomas Smith formerly lived in Barton.
he spent few years in mining in Cali
Iornla and later We ut to Mansonville, P O
owned farm near that place for some
years After selling it he boarded at the
Motel in Mansonville. About Sept. 1st
iSOz ne came TO Newport ard boar led st
the Lake House. In De cember of that
year he came to the home of Ira Sturte-
want, his uncle, in Barton. In January he
went to Maine to visit relatives, and re-
turned to Sturtevant's Feb. 24th where he
remained till August 4th when urte-
want ca rled him to his brothers. Charles
smith, in Barton Sept. 9Th he returned to
Sturtevant's where on the 18th be had an
attack OF apopleXy and died Oct. 10th.
In 1902 be maze notorial will in Cana
ga, In which his property, about $4,000,
was given to his brother. Charles Smith
just prior to his visit in Maine, he had
settlement with Charles who bad baen ow-
ing nlm for MANY wears. at SturtevaDt's,
no yroc irR1 IL.
his brother would not paw the agreed rate
or interest. While at his brothers. in
August, Charles called on A. d Mathews
TO go to his house and do some business
Tor Inomas, stating ttat he had bad spell
the niP ht previous. Mathews went home
with Charles, found Thomas in bed end
made will in which Thomas gave all his
property to Charles. For week after
this Thomas kept his room. After he
returned to SturtevanL's, he told him that
that he made a will up at Charles but
could not remember thing that was in il.
He wanted to go to Mat ew's and see the
WILL On the 11th OF Sep EN- Der Sturtevant
carried him to Mathews The latter could
not attend to 1t then and an appointment
was made for the 14th On the way down
the l4th Thomas spoke of making a new
will and of giving Sturtevant something.
Sturtevant told him not to do it. that he
mad enough OF bis own and did rot want
IL. Ii he .Hanted to make the girl q pres
ent, he could do SO. Sturtevant carried
Thomas to Matthew's and left him there.
he called for the will made at Charles. ex-
amlned it, said 1t was not what he wanted
and put it in the fire. Mathews made
Will at his directions, giving $1,000, to
alta Il. Weeks, $1,000, in life estate to
Cnarles, and the residue to his legal
he1rs, (Charles is the sole legal heir.)
Alta E. Weeks, fine appearing lady OF
ZO years, Is niece of Mrs. Sturtevant, and
during all the time Thomasl was at Stur-
tevant's had waited on him, taking care of
bis room and cared for his eyes which
were trou ublesome. On several occasions
Thomas had said to her, ssYou will get
your pay for this and it will all come at
once" This is the will in controversy,
1t was witnessed bv A D. Mathews, Mrs.
Nettie Miller and Kate Wilson.
Thomas had previously employed Math-
ews to look after his business in Canada
ana bad frequently seen him in relation to
IL Mathews had been tn Canada on that
business. He thought Tnom as un 4erstood
MS business fully, had clear idea of the
amount OF his property and what he wish
eo 10 DO with it. Considered him fully
competent to make a will and brighter
when he made the last will than when he
made the previous one II appeared that
there had never b7en any talk with |
Thomas by Sturtevart r any mem Der of |
his family about making a will, except as
stated on Sept. 18th.
1t Is claimed by the contestant that |
Thomas was suffer- lg from senile dementia |
or softening of the brain, brought on by |
lntemperance and was incapable of max |
ing will.
DIR. Ranney visited him two or three |
times at StnrtevaDt's and several times az |
Charles. Diagnosis, senile dementia with |
symptoms OF apoplexy. An incura ole dis
ease but there may be luIl in it, Tested |
his memory and if xofa
the night atte cki at Charles did not con- |
slider him capable of doing business. Did |
not see him after he left Charles and knew |
nothing about his condition. Dr. Whit |
aker agreed with DR.. Ranney from his des-
cription of the case.
Continued nert areek.
ALBANY.
Mrs j. B. Darling is oaiuino