New-York tribune., 1907-08-18
GUARDIANS APPOINTED.
MRS. CURTISS IN CUSTODY.
Watt Estate Heir Doesn't AnssCe''
Sons CHARGE of ErtrGUagdnce.

Eaireerd Conn. Aug r-Upon the failure OF
Mrs Julia Watt Morris Curtiss. an heir to the I'M
mense Watt estate in New York City, 10 appear
IN Probate Court this afternoon to respond 10 the
petitiou filed by her son, Louis II. Morris. to nave
a conservator appointed to prevent waste1ul e&-
pendture of her property, Judge Nobbs appointed
Judge Elmer S. Banks. of this town. counsel ior
Louis Morris and John c. Shaw, an attorney OF
New York. as conservators. IL is thought thae
Messrs Shaw and Banks will apply to the court IN
New York to be appointed committee 10 iooA s
after Mrs. Curtiss. The bonds named were si''Vov,
After the morning hearing and as the coul' anu
counsel were proceeding to Bridgeport loi iuii0h
con- Mrs Curtiss overtaken driving Win q
woman companion from Fairfield. Mr.! ShaW so'
out of the automobile and conversed with MI
Curtiss who promised to appear In court AZ Z
o'clock, she did not appear, action was '"
on the testimony.
Testimony was introduced before Judge Nooos
to-day to show that Mrs. Curtiss was incompetent
Among Mrs. Curtisss extravagances mentioned III
the testimony the buying of dozen parasoiS
ranging in price from $50 to $50 each, CIV
ing nurse OF them. and the expenditure vi
from $4,000 to $4,000 month when her actual IN
come was $500 a year All sums over ana ABOVE
that were supplied by her aunt. Miss flckhey' oi
New York who is executrix of the watt estate'
Mrs Curtiss was represented in court py Leonard
J. Nickerson Of Cornwall. who gave way TO MIR.
Shaw.
The first witness at the hearing, DR.. Henry Is.
Shaw of New York. the family physician s'iu
that Mrs Curtiss about three years ago hao an
acu,e attack of illness. developing insanity among
the symptoms being the fact that she refused 10
sneak for about ten months. She had delusions
regarding her clothing. he said, ana oitei "oio
one tan shoe and one black one
Mrs Curtiss began to assume rationaI habits
about the first of last November, he added, OUT oiu
mot appear normal mentally until about FEBRUARY
last when she resumed many of her old haoits
and developed extravagant strain Sie was iAi
the habit of attending the opera every friday
ayaning he said and after dinner would start ior
tho onara sometimes at o'clock and sometimes
at 10 o'clock and once twice she did not get
there until every was going away
Iou,s Norris the petitioner. testified regarding
his mothers extravagant expenditures. "
that be and his uncle, Thomas L. Watt mad hau
cha-ea Of his mothers property in the last Few
,no,ths He had had the bills sent TO him ana ms
uncle had paid them. AS an example or What ms
rnother had spent he mentioned the purchase OF a
dozen parasols the aggregate price OF WHICH "d7
about 81 600 He said his mothers millinery oAiS
ranged from $50 $500 month. many or the mats
having never been worn. She spent ABOUT s'"' W
9. OoD a month for flowers some OF them being sent
m her Fairfield home when only the servants were
there. -
s+a has Yacht the Osceola, in commission with
.velve men in the crew. She keeps up an estao-
Iishment In s6th street, New York, and mas peeh
living I'm the Netherlands Hotel. the Hotel savoy
and at present at the Murray Hill Hotel She hires
one carriage by the month. and sometimes caAS
other carriages. Her livery bin amounts TO $500 a
month and the bill for tho one carriage Is -" d
month.
The witness said that his mothers only source OF
income was from property In 6sth street, New York
CITY which rented for $500 a year, ana thdt tle
money paid for her extravaganza mad peen gifts
from her aunt. Miss Pickney-