Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-30
DECISION TODAY.
Will Be Rendered In the
Stevens Action.
Closing Arguments by Counsel
at Tuesdays Session.
Important Suit, With Ad Dumnum Of
$500, 900, on the Docket.

Associate Justice Albert NJ. Spear of
the supreme judicial court announced
late Tuesday afternoon that he would
moi render his decision in the Stevens
deed case until Wednesday forenoon
when the decree will be filed at the
office of the clerk of courts.
The hearing. which was in the form
of a pill in equity brought by Herman
H. Adams as guardian of the late
Llewellyn * Stevens versus Ernest A.
Cook and Minnie NJ. Cook, an action 10
prove that the late Mr.. Stevens was OF
unsound mind when he decided his
propcrtv to the defendants. All the
parties reside in the town of Belgrade.
The arguments in the case We're made
Tuesday forenoon by George w. Hcsel-
ton. Esq. Of Gardiner for the defen-
dants and Z. NJ. Thompson, Esq, Of
Augusta fer the plaintiff.
Justice Spear then took the case un-
der Amusement.
At the opening of court at $50
O'Clock, Tuesday morning. George W.
Feselton. Esq. of Gardiner began his
closing argument for the Defendants
He would be brief. he said. as the
points OF law bearing on the case We're
too we'll known to Justice Spear, Attor-
ney Thompson for the plaintiff and
himself. He declared that it was his
own conviction, reached by the evil
dence that the late Mr.. Stevens was
not only in his right mind. but hac
merely carried out the plan made and
talked over by his wife and himself.
n,,lx "a loft said MY
Heselton, for Mr.. Stevens to turn for
aid and care. Willard Stevens habits,
Clinton Stevens marriage and the resi-
dcnce OF his daughter. Mrs. George a.
Holbrnoh in Hallowcll. all prevented
their assistance to their parents.
Attorney Hesclton declared that there
must be no retrospective, but pros
rnctiVe view OF the case; not the past
but the vista of the declining years OF
the future long before the two old p"o-
pie. They sought tie advice of neigh
bOrS and others and the children, sec
ing how easily the property fell into
the hands Of the Cooks. the defendants
han Mrs Stevens died. joined in the
movement to have the deed vacated
And this, said the attorney, was not
sufficient motive.
Attorney Hcselton occupied about ,.
minutes in his closing argument.
| T.. NJ. Thompson. Esq, of Augusta
attorney for the plaintiff. in his closing
argument. attacked the partisanshiD Of
IIr. Heseiton He declared that At
/ torney HescltOn throughout the cast
| had seen fit to attack the reputation ~
Willard Stevens by insinuation. He
| declared that he felt it his duty to SCI
| this man right and referred to the only
| testimony. that Of Clinton G. Stevens
| q brother. that Willard had been s""l
| o fter he had been drinking but he hat
| never seen him drunk
| Attorney Thompson then went int
the mental and physical condition o
the late MI Stevens. He said tina
| every witness for the defence had de
clarrd that they had noticed no physi
cal or mental change in Mr.. Stevens
Yet. urged Mr.. Thompson, the MAJ
was but G6 years of age and it woul'
hardly seem likely that he had died il
the same physical and mental condition
as he always was.
| Attorney Thompson then entered il
the question of the testimony of Henri
Richards Of Gardiner. He argue
that no sane man would propose to
man whom he knew to be perfect
honorable that he testify that he wa
crazy. especially when the business re
Ii tons of Mr. Richards were closer t