The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-18
UNDUE
INFLUENCE
ALLEGED
Testimony Taken In tho Con-
fist 0vsr The viii Of Caleb
Y. POit.T Of Auburn.

The taking OF testimony In the contest
over the will OF Caleb Y. Potter late OF
Auburn. was continued In Judge wilburs
court before a Jury today. The win is
being contested by the children OF Daniel
Potter. who claim that Caleb. when he
made the viii now sought 10 be pro-
bated. he was weak In mind and subject
to undue influence on the part of their
uncles. c. Alvin Potter and William F.
Potter.
Some time before this viii was made
Caleb decided to the two men named
number OF lots. Caleb left real estate
worth 100000 and personal property
worth $4,000. The will In dispute was
executed In February, 1902. and the tes-
tator died the 14th Of the following April.
There was an application made TO the
probate court In Cranston by the late
Daniel Potter for the appointment OF a
guardian for Caleb, which petition was
denied
II was some time after that the will
now In dispute was made. There was
strong testimony introduced today to
show that for a couple OF years before
his death Caleb seemed to have 70 gotten
his grandchildren, the children of daniel
Moses DAILY. nurse who testified he
was 70 years old and had known Caleb Y.
Potter for go years, told OF Caleb's noS
knowing him the last time they met. That
Caleb mistook him for one OF his. Caleb's,
sons. on this occasion witness made HIM
self known by an old story he had told
Caleb years before.
Everett c. Potter, a son OF Daniel NJ.
Potter and guardian of the testator.
was another witness. He declared that he
IL a Af,.. fx.H
his grandfather and IL any one had SO
stated TO his grandfather they had not
told the truth. Witness declared that af
ter his grandmother's death and Alvin's
taking up his residence there he, witness.
did not seem as welcome In the house as
before.
In June, 1901, witness was In barber
shop kept by Daniel Wright and his
grandfather came In. All efforts OF the
barber TO make old Mr.. Potter recognize
witness his grandson failed. After this
witness only spoke TO his grandfather as
the latter sat on his piazza simply saying,
How to do. grandfather" For a long
time witness had not been recognized by
his grandfather.
Mrs. Nellie F. Thornton testified that
about 10 years ago she lived in Auburn
and was a member OF the Auburn Free
Baptist church. of which Caleb Y. Pot
ter was deacon. For "a year and a half
before his death the deacon was unable
to visit the church. In December, I.yI.
witness said that only after a great deal
OF trouble did Caleb Y. Potter recognize
her on visits to his house Asked IL she
was related to any OF the Potters her
reply was. II am only friendly to ell OF
them"
Mrs. Lena Anthony, daughter OF
Daniel Potter, and a granddaughter OF
the testator. said that she was always
very friendly 10 her grandfather and he
very friendly TO her. on a visit 10 her
grandfather In Jan. 1902. he failed to
recognize her. She said to him don't
you remember your son Daniel, who was
killed, and he replied that "he did not
know who Daniel Potter was"
Mrs. Anthony sat there and though
Mrs. William Potter tried to make the
testator remember Lena Potter wit
ness name before marriage. he could
not and kept saying over and over LENA
Potter I can't remember her.
FINELY, after three quarters of an hour
Caleb Y Potter recognized her and de-
clared il was very hard for him to re-
member anything.