Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-25
THE BELFIT CASE.
Much Amusement Caused by the Cat
 and Squirrel Stories.


 spectators were in laughter over "a story of a cat which seems to have played a prominent part in the life of Mrs Mary A. Chipman, whose will is contested It is contended among other things that the will in question is not the last one made by Mrs Chip man and that she was mentally un- sound because of her age and her in- frmities when she made it, and it 1st in connection with the latter allega- tion that the cat plays part in the contest.
 Mrs Belft, the contestant, is a niece Of testatriX. Her intercourse with Mrs Chipman was very friendly and if she did not call to see her at least once a week the old lady would won der at her absence and generally ask for reason. She had many conver- stations with Mrs Chipman, but they never discussed her property or how she would distribute it, but frequently she told Mrs Belfit that she would gdve her grand present some day. Mrs Belfit did not know what the old lady meant, only they were talking of the latter's financial affairs at the time.
 Mrs Chipman had an idea that she could never meet her expenses, ana she used to frequently express won dr why some of her relatives were calling so frequently to see her. She thought some of them had mercenary motives, and did not hesitate to tell Mrs Belft so. -t.
 At the time of that conversation Emmons Chipman and others were contestine the will of the late Daniel nl EuH Hu hoped Emmons would win; she thought he ought to have been faarly treated, but in what manner witness did not understand. Still, Mrs Chip man wondered what object he had dn coming to see her so often.
 A young man named Frank Way lived with Mrs Chapman and one even ing homeless cat followed him home. Mrs Chipman thought great deal of the cat because it had taken fancy to MT Way, and when he died after three days illness she apparently transferred her affections to the cat She highly esteemed MT Way and now she had great affection for the cat.
 When the dog and cat show was held here Mrs <Chdpman was afraid someone would steal her cat, and, again, she was afraid small boys would kill it, for she was told they were after all the cats in the neigh borhood. One time she concealed s1Oo in the mattress Of her bed and thought she had lost it.
 Mrs Edward Morse, who lived in the same house with testafT1x, said she was affected by MT Ways death. She was very Respondent and seemed tp suffer from shock. All the affection she had for the man she transferred to the cat, and she had a delusion that someone was trying to make off with it, whereupon she had pen built for it in the yard. Before that time Aahe cat could come and go when it pleased, but after that if it was very long out of sight She would become anxious and hunt it up. In every other re- spect Mrs Morse considered Mrs Chipman capable.
 The fun of the day came when Ed win E. Haywood a taxidermdst, who lived next door to Mrs Chipman on Abbott avenue, took the stand. lf was his custom to keep the skins Of animals and birds on his rear veIAnda to dry and one day Mrs Chipman. hap pened to see his veranda when there were a number Of skins on the line. She immediately got the idea he was after her cat and she got after him. MT Way met Haywood abouE that time and Informed him that he was stdrving the old lady to the bug house with his skins
 .sI haven't got any skins" said Hay wood "and I don't see why they should bother her, anyway, even If ! had. Whats the matter with theGnF'
 AWell," said Way, the old lady has an idea you are after her cat"
 A few days later Mrs Chipnan met Haywood and said to him:
 .sSo you're the man that's killing the cats around here, are youp'
 "Guess you're misinformed, mad am," said Haywood, 'Tm notafter any cats. I don't want 'em."
 .sWhat are them you've got on that line I'd like to know If they aren't catsY' asked the old lady.
 .aThem." said Haywood 'them's not cats,' and the discussion closed.
 4 few days, still later. when the supposed cats had been taken from Hhe line, the old lady met him again and asked him what he had done with his s'string of cats tails"
 AI didn't know that hRtd a string of cats tails there," said the taxidermist
 swell, know you had" insisted the  old lady, 'T know you had"
 "Well, then. if I had, I suppose /, they're gone; they're not there, any way, nOw."
 ABut you had tails there, hadn't you?'' asked Attorney Boot, represent ing the will.
 ''Yes, fox tails" said the witness.
 sBut they were your tails were they not?" persisted MT Root
 "No, sir" said the witness, "they were not my tails: I have no tails They were fox tails"
 Ibid you have any other kind hang ing up?"
 "Yes. a few scuiErels" Witness then went on to say that he also stuffed cats. but newer stuffed a cal belonging to Mrs Chipman, and that he never had any cats tails hanging or his veranda.
 William F. Booth. a plumber for the Benedict x Burnham Go. testified tt doing work for Mrs Chipman an6 That she asked half 8 dozen times ii she had maid him Another fiu sbx