The sun., 1907-08-18
GUARDIANS FOR mrs. CURHISS
cor RT NAMES CONSERV ATORS ON
SON'S APPLICATION.


sl0venliness and OF ter Remarkably
Foolish ExtraNagance SON Agrees.
BRIDGEPORT. Aug. I7.--Probate Judge
Edward H. Hobbs at the close of long
hearing in the Fairfield Probate Court
this afternoon granted the petition Of
Louis Norris for the appointment OF a oon-
servator over his mother, Mrs Julia Watt
Morris Curtiss. he named Judge Elmore
ii. Barks. counsel for the applicant, and
Attorney John C.. Shaw of New York. Mrs
| Curtiss's attorney, TO act as conservators.
'N'tfe'issf1ns DIR. Henry B. Naw. Mrs.
Curtiss's family physician testified that
she had long attack Of illness three years
ago. during which she developed symptoms
OF insanity. He said she refused to speak
| and did not speak for ten months. She had
other peculiarities which were noticeable
TO any one who came in contact with her.
and she was kept in care Of nurses and
physicians for about a year or a year and
a half.
One Of her delusions. he said, was regard
ing her clothing Where formerly she
| dressed with great care. she became SLOW
enly, would not change her clothing and
took her Undertaking to bed with her SO
that the nurses could not get il and sub
stitute clean garments. She would wear
| one tan shoe and one black shoe, he said
Her eating was very light, where formerly
| she had been accustomed TO partake of tho
good things Of life. After that she con-
versed but little and W ould hardly recognize
any one. About the first of last November
she began to realize things as they were.
but did not become nearly normal until
February last. Then she became extrava-
CANT and very sociable, wanted to dress well
and to go to the theatre She had a box
| engaged at the theatre and sometimes she
would not arrive until 0 o'clock sometimes
| 10, and sometimes not until the audience
was leaving.
She was a charming hostess, the doctor
said, when sober. but when Intoxicated
she was violent in her language. IL she
takes up her drinking habits again he is
convinced she will be as bad of as she was
three years ago.
He did not think her competent to do
business. She buys costly articles by the
dozen. he said, when she only wants and
needs one. She has her house in Eighty
sixth street. New York, stocked with things
which she has bought and has never used.
She also gave money away. Sometimes
she kept the carriages waiting for hours
! She has imaginary grievances.
Louis Morris. rs years old. son of Mrs.
Curtiss. testified regarding her habits
as to purchases and also helped to sstab-
lsh her place OF residence as Fairfield.
She paid taxes on $50 600 in Fairfield last
year. He and his uncle. Thomas l.. Watt.
have looked after her affairs for a year
In February she spent li 900; in March,
| $4,000. and in April, si5.S20
She bought n dozen parasols ranging
in price from $50 to $3.50 each and aggreRa-
ting 81 900 in value. Her hat bills announced
20 from $50 to $500 a month. some OF the
hats never being taken out Of the boxes.
Her flower bill was nearly 81 900 a month,
some Of the flowers being sent to the Fair
field home when no one was there but the
| servants.
| with her, but il availed but little She has
no regard for the cost Of anything. He
told of her expensive establishments in
Fairfield and New York and Of the fact
| that she lived in a New York hotel while
! in New York.
Mr.. Morris said he had no personal feel
was unpleasant to live with her and have
/ her abuse him. lie said his mothers only
income to which she was legally entitled
was So. 500 year from New York business
property. All the other money she spent
was purely gratuitous from her aunt, Miss
Pincknsy. executrix of the Watt estate In
| New York
| Miss Priscilla E. Becleli. who was a nurse
| - ! ,I;ohra
until recently. testified that on one occasion
Mrs Curtiss made her a present of a $40
parasol and when it was returned to Mrs.
| Curtiss the next day she professed 20 re-
member nothing Of the occurrence.
She also testified to Mrs. Curtiss's vio-
lent temper at times and to her drinking
habits OF late.
Mrs. Curtiss is a sister OF Thomas l..
! Watt, the banker and yachtsman. and a
niece OF Miss Mary G. Pinckney. who owns
more real estate than any other woman in
! New York.
She is q member Of an old New York
family which owns a great deal Of real
estate between i25th street and Macomb's
Dam Bridge. She is a granddaughter OF
the original Archibald Watt. who with
his brother James owned two farms, one
| OF 300 acres, In Harlem.
Mrs. Curtiss's first husband was Peter Nor
ris of New York city. from whom she got
divorce in 1870. She had three children by
him, one of whom Louis Morris. has insti-
tuted the present proceedings. The others
are Charlotte Morris. who is 1e years old.
and Keith. who 10 1s.
Soon after she got the divorce from
Morris she was MARI led to DIR. Rollin A.
Curtiss OF Bridgeport. Conn. who acted
as her private physi clan. In 1904 DR..
Curtiss got a divorce from her. alleging
that she had been extremely Incorporate.
Since then Mrs. Curtiss has lived for she
most part in this city at her home. I42 West
! Eighty sixth street. New York.