The Newtown bee., 1906-11-16
kO1BUhrs
THE DAvIDsON-BABCOCK CASE IN THE
SUPERIOR COURT.

Judge Preston said in part: On
May 6, 1905, Walter D. Bah |
cock came to my office and said Jonah
Davidson wished to see me. l told
him that hadn't time to come that
day but would drive over as soon as
Babcock came along. l took him In
the carriage and we went over to Mr.
Davidson's place. Jonah Davidson
was in bed. He told me that he want |
ed to deed his place to Mr. and Mrs
Babcock and that they were to take
care of him during the balance of his
life. He spoke of other property, bis
farming tools which he wished Mr.
Babcock to have. 1 inquired ii there
was anything else, and If the house
hold furniture was to be included in
the gift. He said not. I asked Mr.
Davidson about the boundary of the
farm. Mr. Babcock got me bundle
Of old deeds and asked him regard
ing the ownership of the adjoining
property. l took q memorandum of
what Mr. Davidson told me, and came
home. I asked him If he did not think
it was best to send for Randall David
son, but he said it would make no diff
ference I tried to get Mr. Randall
Davidson by telephone, but did not
succeed. Later sent him telegram.
He came up on Tuesday and we all ar
rived st Mr. Jonah Davidson's place
about las p. m. There was present
Randall Davidson, Henry Davidson,
Henry Warner and DR. Pons. Randall
said to bis uncle that bis father
place. Randall asked me to talk: with
his father about it. He thought it
would be better to hire some one to
take care of him. Jonah Davidson
said he did not wish to. Henry David
son went in to have talk with his
brother, Jonah, and coming out he
said: "He is bound to do 1t. We might
as we'll get through with the work."
asked him (Jonah Davidson) :if he
Mr. BabcOck holding him up In bed
while he signed the deed. 1 asked
him If it was his own free act and deed
and he replied that it was. After a
few minutes Henry and Randall Dav-
idson went into the bedroom and
bade Jonah Davidson goodbye, and
going out walked to the station. Mr.
Davidson asked me what my bill was
and l REPLIED: 1.-Two dollars" He
handed me five dollar bill and gave
him three dollars in change. thought
be was mentally capable Of under
standing the contents of the deed at
| OAO OlAAO LIZ oAkANA Ave LILO A1AO
seemed perfectly good.
| On the cross examination conducted
by States Attorney Williams OF New
Haven, which was especially fierce, as
Judge Preston stated that Mr. David
son appeared feeble as he lay in bed,
although not entirely helpless. Judg.
Preston said: Il did not think he could
live long'' NOT less than a couple OF
hundred years. remarked Mr. Williams
in sarcasm. ut appeared to me-" con-
tinued Judge Preston, ''as If he was
yearly through with this world and !
| never expected to see him alive again. -
Charles w. Hodge testified that Jo-
! nah Davidson came tt his place on
April Z, 1905, and bought dozen blind
| fixtures, amounting to so cents. "He
was not there over 10 minutes"
State 8 Attorney Williams began bis
| argument in behalf Of bis client, Ran
dali Davidson, shortly after 2 O'Clock,
Tuesday. He reviewed the testimony
II George Hurlburt, prominent Rox
bury merchant, who had seen Jonah
Davidson only week before the sign
ing Of the deed. Mr. Hurlburt wak
aStonished at the evidence of decay.
Il did not consider him." said Mr.
ness at this time, and have known
him all my life" He referred to the
testimony of Rev Mr. Pickett, pastor
If the Methodist church at this time,
who had called upon Mr. Davidson
within two weeks of bis death. "He
did not know me, )" said Rev Mr. Pick.
EFT, in referring to Mr. Davidson. As
showing the confidence Jonah David
son had in bis SOD, Randall, Mr. Will
liams stated the incident of Mark
Bradley conveying Frank P. Bolles to
the residence OF Mr. Davidson to see
him in reference to some monument
work Mr. Davidson had Thought of
having done. Mr. Davidson said:
Eyes, l want the work done, but
wait until Randall comes up" John
town, was surprised at the change in
Mr. Davidson. "He looked as ii he was
near his end and as ii he was almost
gone," Mr. Minor stated. ''Of all the
| witnesses who have been before you,
your HONOR" said Mr. Williams, sis
there one whose testimony you would
have more faith in than that of Mrs
Alice Merwin?"
States Attorney Warner of Sails
bury, who opened the case for the
Babcocks, spoke in his usual vigorous
manner. He said in part: eff Jonah
Davidson had lived 1865 days longer,
Randall Davidson would not have ap
peared in this court to set aside this
deed. l ask you to scrutintze the &C.
tons of this loving son." And then
turning to Randall Davidson, and
raising bis hands, Judge Warner ex
claimed dramatically, "Why wasn't
YOU there to care for your aged ia
why don't you get Randall
to come here and care for your" al
most every witness testified that that
wouldn't be best. The contract he
made with the Babcocks Was a perfect
~ natural one. The only pity is, Ran
dali Davidson, that you did not 20 t.
see your old father oftener. One of
the witnesses has testified that Jonah
Davidson said, The boy, Randall, was
all right, but he did not want any
more ministrations of his daughter-in-
law How can Attorney Williams
call the Babcocks designing, villain
GUS, and conSpirators, when they sent
for Randall Davidson at the time this
deed was to be drawn. On the occa-
sion of signing the deed the only i'm
| OOrtunities came from Randall and
Henry Davidson.
Attorney Arthur Warner Of Wood
bury closed the case for the BabcOckS,
| while Attorney Williams spoke furci-
bly, and eloquently for his client.
KENT.
A DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.