The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-07
EGANS DENY FRAUD
SAY MISS CONWAY DECIDED THEM
HER PROPERTY
FOR VALUED CONSIDERATION.
SAY THEY CONTRACTED To CARE
FOR HER ALL HER LIFE.

the ERans, Learning by Chance of
the Old Lady's Prosecutions, Used
Fraud to Procure Them.
The trial of the case Of Mrs. Mary
Conway Oemler and her sister. Miss
Leonora Conway, against Mr.. and Mrs.
Michael Egan. in which the complain
ants are seeking to recover $1,000 in
cash and two valuable houses and lots
which they allege we're procured from
their grand aunt, Miss Mary Conway,
by fraud at time when she was non
compus mentis, which was held in the
Superior Court yesterday. was, as
forecasted in the Morning News. pro-
ductive of sensation.
The hearing of the cause was not
concluded. All of the evidence of the
compliments had not been introduced,
when the court took a recess until to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock. at
which time the hearing will be resum-
ed. The jurors were dismissed until
that time with the usual instruction
of the court, forbldding them speak
ing of the case to any one.
The defendants deny, in toto, the
charges of fraud imputed to them.
They say that at the time Miss Con-
way made them the deed to her prop
erty and transferred her cash to them
she was in the full possession of her
mental faculties, and in substantiation
of their position they will offer to the
court the affidavit of DIR. ST. ]. B.
Graham, who made an examination of
the old lady at the time that she ex-
ecuted the instrument.
They Cared for Her.
They declare that the consideration
for the transfer was a valuable one,
and that they fully complied with it
According to their contentious, they
undertook the care and support of Miss
Conway during her last days in con-
sideration of the transfer of the prop
erty This consideration is expressed
in the deed.
The compliments, on the other hand
declare that not only was fraud and
coercion used, but that their aunt was
bereft of her reason and not in a con-
dition to make any contract. They say
that when she went to live with the
Egans it was with the understanding
that she was to pay no board, but that
Mrs. Egan herself was authority for
the statement that she received $40
a month, though. the "old DEVIL" as
she expressed it, was worth double the
amount.
The most sensational charges made
by the plaintiffs are that the defend
ants though frequently importuned
had persistently refused to take Miss
Conway, the old lady, to board with
them, until, by the merest mishap, they
discovered that she had 81, 300 in bank
This discovery resulted from the loss
of her pocketbook one day while re-
turning home from the bank. The
book was found by a negro man, who
took it to Mrs. Maguires, where the
oil lady lived. Mrs. Mcguire direct ed
the man to Mrs. Egan's, where Miss
Conway was making a call at the time
Mrs. Egan received the book, and aft
erwards stated that there was 81, 300 in
it. She said that Mrs. Mcguire was
a - fool for not looking in the book
when the negro brought it to her.
1t was directly after this that the
Egans took the old lady as their board
err. All of the witnesses testified that
shortly before she left the Maguires
she was failing in mind, and was prac-
tically an imbecile. In substantiatior
they recounted incidents of the man.
ner in which the old lady acted. say.
Ing that whereas she had always been
modest in her department and circum.
spect in her dress. she had got to be
immodest in the extreme, going about
the house half clad. with her person
exposed. Whereas she had been a
staunch Roman Catholic, attending
mass every morning, she could not aft.
erward be induced to go to mass at all
Cut Chickens Tails on.
The testimony of Mrs. Marie Conway
Oemler was interesting. Owing to
became necessary to have hel
sit directly in front of the Jury. She
told of the freakish actions of her aunt
and of her wrecked mind, citing manS
incidents which, in turn, melted the
pity of the jurors, and tickled theil
risibilities. She said that on one oc.
casion her aunt had come to her house
and after catching all of the chickens
cut their tails off. When asked hel
reason for doing this, she had replied
that it would make the hens lay bet.
ter and would rob the rooster of hi:
pride when in the presence of his
| wives.
| Toward the latter part of her life
the witness testified, Miss Conway was
nothing more than an old child. whC
| did not know as much as a 9-months.
QG6C
| was executed, they testified she wa.
afflicted with senile dementia. Two o.
the witnesses testified that despite theil
/ efforts to keep her clean, she was
| filthy. She had to be held while be
| ing bathed and her clothes were Gov.
/ cred with vermin. She imagined
everyone was stealing from her, anC
complained of having no clothes
though she had plenty.
The testimony was that Miss Con
way was about rs years old. Previous
to her last days, Mrs. Oemler testified
she was a typical old maid, being es
pecially fond of her cat, and avoiding
| the subject of men. She even feared
to lift her skirts, lest. perchance, sht
might reveal her ankle.
She Was Fond of Them.
The two sisters testified that thell
aunt has always displayed the greatest
affection for them and has frequently
said that her whole idea in living eco.
nomically was that she might leave
her property to the children of hei
nephew. the father of the two youne
ladies'. She had not lived with then
because they, being orphans, were un.
able TO board her.
Mrs. e. ]. Gleason. a pretty youns
matron. attired in a becoming white
suit and natty hat, told the Jury Of
Miss Conway's life at her mother:
home prior TO the time that she went
to live with the Egans. She said thai
Miss Conway told her that the Egani
were not going TO charge her any
board. Mrs. Gleason was positive Of
the facts she testified 20. and did no.
vary a hairs breadth on her cross-ex
animation. She eVinced a great dea
| OF interest In the proceedings, and re-