Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-10
BRONSON'S QUESTIONS
Brought Out Statement From
 Another Witness Today.

| Bronson to-day of Mrs Mary Macken, a daughter of the late Truman J. Smith, in the hearing on the proving i of his will in which he left his three children, daughters, $1 each. and the rest of his estate, about $6,OOO, to Clifford H. Wells.
 ''I should say I did," was her an- swer.
 And you mean to say that for your share of this s6,000 you be- lieve there was a family taint and that you can't yet say how this taint will affect yourself?" she was next asked.
 T believe the property belongs to us girls and am willing to tel! the truth" was her answer.
 Would you say the same if your share in this estate was $1,0O0?'
 T certainly would.
 Would you say the same if the total estate was only $1 ,000?"
 T certainly would"
 Even for freedom from the neighbors' comment"
 T don't care what the neighbors think"
 Well, must say" said MT Bron- son, that I have lived here some time, I know the people of Water- town fairly we'll and never before heard this said of your father. Would you think the same as you do now if your share was only $l,- OO0?"
 "I certainly would"
 Do you approve trying this casa on the theory that your grandfather and your father were insane?" Ob- jected to and question withdrawn.
 Do you undertake to say that these inflictions were inherited by your father?"
 ''Only from what I hear. Since can remember father was unsound in his mind except at intervals" Then Mrs Macken went on to say that she did not care what the news papers said about her, and that one of those sane intervals her father ex- perienced was when he bought her bicycle. She was about IA then and he drew the money from bank and told her all about the art of deposit- ing in and withdrawing money from a bank. She said that she believed her father was insane when he treat ed the children badly, and he was sane when he treated them kindly. He was sane, she said. in reply to Attorney Bronson's questions, when her father was enforcedly abstemi- ous on account of over-indulgcnce and consequent illness. When he was we'll and drinking he was in- sane.
 Mrs Macken said she did not at tend the funeral of her aunt, Mary Smith. but she was present at tho ceremony in the cemetery. She did not wish to attract the attention of her father because she feared scene. He might shoot or stab me-" she said. T was afraid of that all the time"
 Witness lived for three years on Fairview street, near Chestnut ave- nue, when her father was living there. On the day in 1900 when he turned the family out doors he was cross all day Toward noon he changed his clothes and, remarking that he was going to Waterbury and expected to find them all gone on his return, he went out. She was then 16 and she got work in the Ameri- can Pin shop. Her father would never meet her glance op the street and he told her that he did not wish to see her It was testified to earli- CT in the trial that on the occasion of witness's birth her father was very angry and broke her mothers right leg, as the child did not happen 10 be a boy.
 Smith did not give witness any bank book when she reached her 18th birthday, but when she YVES 14 he bought her the bicycle already TO- ferred to. She always understood he had bank book for her. and 1t was at school she first heard the cause of his anger on the occasion of her birth.
 Coming down to the characteris- tics of her fathers family, she said her aunt Martha, from whose estate there is due the three girls s9,000 or so, was peculiar. And instancing her peculiarities, she said Aunt Mar tha used to use what is now known in ultra society circles as paraluna to keep the moons rays of her face, and she used to wear red stockings and mems slippers to the services of the Second Congregational church in Watertown, which church she at- tended.
 Witness knew Philip Hapennv, whom her father used to hold over their heads, as it were, as his possi- ble legatee. Hapenny worked on Smiths farm, and they were great chums later 1t seems.
 Mrs E. l.. Zimmer. whose husband, Elon E. Thinner. testified for the dis inherited children a few days ago, corroborated his testimony. She added that Smith used to take the locks on her back door and imagine he made the keys or what he called fascination keys.
 The first witness of the day waE John S. Atwood of watertown. He went into the Smith family history a great deal and was a strong wit ness for the children.
 The case for the heirs was closed at noon and adjournment was taken to Wednesday forenoon. when, If the beneficiary, Mir Wells, wishes to put on testimony for the will he can do so.
 Knitting Mill Burned.
 Jonesville. s. C., Aug l0.-The Jonesville knitting mill took fire and