Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-27
PROBATE COURT.
ess Turned Tables on Lawyers { and Asked the Questions.

ne WIterDufy lawyers got tnelrS
 tsterday from some of the witnesses
 v the hearing on the application for a cOnservator over Miss Harriet Hall, aged 72, of Wolcott All of the wit
 nesses, except q few, are from, Vol
 cotr, but they are very well known iii the city and more independent lot Inever testified in the courts of Water bury. Clement Cornelis, brother of
 iustave, the horseman. turned the la bles on Attorney Russell. counsel for
 Miss Hall, and practically had him on the stand. Meanwhile the court room,
 was in roars of laughter.
 Cornelis was called for Louis Esin-
 hart, whom it is said had great in-
 fiuence over Miss Hall. so much so that she trusted him with her bnnk books and one time gave him an order Tor all they represented. some $1.G0J. But it transpired that Cornelis was |, strong witness against Esinhart
 Cornelis said Esinharr did not take lcare of his own family and therefore was not competent to take care of Miss Hall. Esinhart tried to fool ev- lIerybody.
 ANa NOIC tdl1co III utTt UA other side, weren't you:'' asked At1or II ney Russell.
 Say said the witness. If yod were my brother and you were crook ed would try to straighten you out, y and the court roared at this sally.
 Now, I don't think you like Esin- hart" Said Mir Russell. T think you are two-faced."
 No, sir replied the witness. "Esin- hart is crooked though. He told me that his wife went out there (Wolcott, and gave Miss Hall the biggest game of jolly you ever heard and now he could do anything with her
 III Didn't be tell everybody thaI:' COrnelis was asked. "Yes,.' was the answer, .'and if he'd kept his mouth shut he could have got the money.
 Well. now said Attorney Russell, according to thar you are more crook cd than lie is. If he was crooked. would he have told everybody" This question caused battle of cross ques- tions from both sides. during which MT Russell was practically made the witness. Finally, however he got rne man from Wolcott to answer his ques- ton. T don't know about that.' he said, Il have not as many opportuni ties of robbfng as lawyers have" And again the spectators roared and tho women threw their handkerchiefs in the air in paroxysms of laughter. Have you any feeling of passion or desire to go beyond telling the truth fin this matter!" Cornelis was asked. Say, now, Mi. Russell. if you find have. you go and look for it. was nis peculiar answer. Then the witness started off on talking gallop and in vain Mfr Russell implored him to stop. At length. with a roar. MT Russell jumped up and shouted. Say. will you please stop talking? Now with all due respect to my friend CarmOdy. think the selectmen of Wolcott ought fo have engaged you and not him on this case
 That's all right" retorted Cornelis. "But Esinhart told me that he had bluffed the old lady. and that even if she did not have cent he would take care of her. But that was easy talk ing for he knew the money was t..ere all right" That ended with Cornelis and after few other witnesses were put on Esinhart took the stand.
 Esinhart lives on West Farm street and works for the Blake X Johnson Co. He is machinlst.
 His story was that while looking Tor a place in Wolcott to live he heard of Miss Halls. She fold him she was looking for good tenant. He agreed to take the farm for S12 month. but after some conversation it WAS further agreed that she was to pay that amount for board. There was nothing said about care and nursing and ai- tendance. The agreement was to last five years. No one ever complained to him. nor did Miss Hall herself about the way she had been treated. Every thing seenied pleasant. He never re ceived anything from her in the way of a present or as payment but his tory of Connecticut which cost her $50. | "rhe history of ths-IIall family In the | hook SO disgusted her that she had no | use for it and she gave it to me" said | Esinhart. Twice. he said. he refused | the custody of her bank books and | once he deposited for her Si00. Or. | that point Miss Hall had previously I said she could not remember such deposit. He never had a cent Of her I money, he resumed, and when she was | making out the orders on her books he | did not hold her hand.
 Attorney Carmody. counsel for the petition. tried to show that Esiris=..f. who said that he is sometimes called | Williams. a nickname, intends filing a claim against Miss Halls estate. upon her demise. for care and attendance for five years. Some years ago Miss | Hall was thrown by heifer in her | yard and her hip was hurt. Later sn. was knocked down by her own dog | and the injury to her hip increased. Since then she is unable to go any where only fin an iuvalid's wheeled chair.
 The selectmen of wolcott proved their case and q conservator will bc | eprsnfufpd