The Newtown bee., 1905-10-20
THE NORThROP WILL CONTEST.
CASE CONTINUED, MONDAY, BEFORE
 JUDGE BEECHER.

The consideration of the application to the Probate Court of the will of Emily J. Northrop was continued, Monday, before Judge Beecher in the Probate Court. Ex-CongresSman R.. B. DeForeSt appeared for the execu- tors and Attorney Taylor for the re- mOnstrants.
 Mrs Lillie Dibble lives in town of Bethel about five miles from Aunt Emily. Aunt Emily said we would be we'll paid. Helped her in many ways, Beers went there in 1888 to live per- ] manently. I stayed there nights. Helped care for her in sickness. Have done much since my marriage. Saw my mother draw schedule of a will for Aunt Emily. Mir Taylor offered a rcopy of the will made by Mrs North rop in 1887. The copy was made by Charles Blakeman. Both of the wit w iSSei throneh What wi He Aunt R@ily % said Two days after my mothers death mothers share.' She said many times that we were to be we'll paid. November 1897, had talk with her about new will. She told me that she was to make a new will and she asked me if I would help her and I told her l would make draft of a will. Draft was not completed be- cause she wanted to give Grace and l more than the rest. Was at Aunt Emily's house two or three days at this time. She said I am going to give Annette 5000. told her 1 did not think that was quite right. Next day drove to Newtown. Said to her next time you make will you had better leave it at Lawyer Northrop's. At the time I drew the draft Aunt Emily was very much excited. Took about two and one half hours. Had to jog her memory and tried to help her give S1OO to the Newtown Cemetery Association. Then l suggested vari- OuS people to her as being entitled share, among them being Mrs Beers, Charlotte Pulling, Leonard BotSford and others. She then told me she wanted Grace and to have more than the boys. Did not put down our names but she said her head was tired and that we would do no more that day but would fix up us children's share at Lawyer Northrops. Did not go with her to Lawyer Northrop's but I promised to come and go with her but she had already been up and had the will drawn. She said she thought as much or more of Grace and I than of any of the others. Never any estrangement. Rendered the services 1 have with the expectation of having share in her estate. Aunt Emily meant by share one-tifth.
 Cross examination: Never had any conversation with my aunt about her will before my mothers death. Was at Aunt Emily's half of the time be- fore my mothers death. Helped her lot Civ was sick. Did the housework. Did the cooking, sweeping, etc. Lucy NorthrOp was ~here four years, but wis ited at home occasionally. Then my sister went there. Can recall the ex. act language she used just after my mothers death. "Now you know you ' children will have your mother $ ; share" When she spoke about giving me pay did not think much about her being rational or irrational. Knew that she was rational. Have thought she was not rational. Thought at the time 1 visited her just prior to making |. her will she knew me. Met me at the door. Told her l had come to stay two or three days. She was glad tc see me. No recollection of any other conversation at the time of this visit except regarding the will. The sec Ond day we visited the cemetery anC Newtown Street. Heard her say that she wanted each one to have some thing as she didn't want her estate te :. go for lawyers fees. Read over the draft many times. Thought she un derstood at the time what she haC written Aunt Emily wanted to know II had all the names down. l SaiC we had except us children. "We vii
 leave that be until we get to Lawyer
 Northrop's when we will fix it" sh, said.
 . On redirect Mrs Dibble said: Tn,
 memoranda referred to Charlott, @ Botsford as Lottie Butstord. Charle
 Blakeman at the time this will wa
 written was living at the saw mill
 Richard is the one that lived seven O
 eight years with Aunt Emily
 Thought we would have our mother IT share if the will was not changed K The only reason l ever heard MT
 NOrthrop give for changing the vii - was that Mrs Annette Dibble ha
 come into possession of property. He
 memory was not good. Supposed sh
 remembered the services we had Ter
 dered to her because we did them COT tinually. Thought she knew wha