Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-16
TEE SMITH WILL
Attorney E.B Kelley One of Four
 Witnesses 10 ibe Will Tesijties.

WItueSStS tO sue siss ssSssiseS' | The foundation for the contest or
 the will of Truman Julius Smith was
 laid in the probate court this morn | ing at hearing to prove the docu-
 ment. Attorney E. B. Kelley, one oi l the four witnesses to the will, testi- fled that he just happened to be in the office of c. H. Hart when MT
 Smith was there with the will to l have it sworn to, MT Hart being a notary, and he was asked to sign it. 1 He could not recall anything else about the matter MT Hart testified that he knew MT Smith about twen~ ty years. The will was dated Octo- Der 21, 1903, and it was signed by
 Dr Edward l.. Griggs, deceased; C. F. Abbott, who is south; MT Kelley and Mir Hart himself. Mir Smith just entered MT Hart's office with his wit nesses and said, Well, here are the witnesses" Then 1t was signed. Not a word as to its contents was said. Mr Hart was an old friend of MT Smith and he was paid } cents for his trouble.
 MT Hart never heard him say T
 word about his family troubles or affairs or why he cut off his chil- dren and gave the property to Cliff ford H. Wells, son of Ambrose H. 1 Wells, who was the next witness. Mr Wells said he was an old friend of MT Smith, knowing him about twen- ty years or more He lived at "A Chestnut avenue, where his sister, Mary Abi Smith also lived till she died about two years ago. A short time before his death he sent for Mir Wells and said he was going to sell out MT Wells bought a few things at MT Smiths own price. 4 few years ago MT Smith gave MT Wells a bundle to keep for him with out telling him it's contents. On the way home Mir Wells saw bank book slipping out of the bundle and then fancy pocketbook came to view. Next day he advised MT Smith to take these things himself and MT Smith did so. The rest of the things MT Wells placed in his box in the safety vault of the Manufacturers bank and did not open it until after MT Smiths funeral. What it con- tained was not stated.
 Mir Wells admitted that toward the close of Mr Smiths life he had been drinking a good deal and his mind was not entirely clear When he gave him the bundle referred to MT Smith said that people were coming and going at the house all day look ing over things and the bundle would or that account be safer with Nj. Wells than with himself. MT Smith never said word to MT Wells about his family affairs, but few days be- fore he made his will he spoke to Mr Wells about the matter. M- Wells said it would be advisable for man of his age to make his will. A few days later Mir Smith saw Mir Wells in his factory on the Water town road and told him he had de- cided to make his will in his favor MT Wells demonstrated and said he would have nothing to with the mat ter, not ever act as executor, because people we'll knew they were life long friends and they might say he in- aueneed Mir Smith So after think
 ng it over MT Smith said he would
 make his will in favor of Mir Mells's son Clifford H. Wells. That was | different proposition. solely MT Smiths own affair, Mir Wells told him. MT Smith asked Mir Wells if he would accept s2,000 in the will and Mir Wells said he would have nothing at all to do with 1t.
 A few days later Mir Smith called again at the factory and showed his will to Mir Wells. MT Wells remark ed, you have given it to the boy, I see," and Mir Smith said, 'yes, I have"
 Mir Smith then showed the will to Clifford Wells, after which he. Smith. handed the will to MT Wells in a sealed envelope and Mir Wells placed it in his box in the bank vault and did not see it again until after Mir Smiths death.
 On being asked if Mir Smith had said why he did not leave anything to his children Mir Wells stated that Mir Smith said, they have enough. they've got their share" He never heard deceased say word against his family. but some time after the marriage of his daughter Mrs Bertha Stackman Mir Smith showed Mir Wells a roll of money and said he intended giving that to Bertha but for the way she treated him; She called him a drunken ruffian." said Mir Wells. "and tears rolled down his cheeks"
 Clifford H. Wells and his father testified that occasionally Mir Smith complained that he met his daugh- ters on the street and they passed him by without pretending to konw him. The hearing was then contin- ued to July 23.
 Mir Smith cut off his children with the valuable sum of s1" each and left his entire estate to Clifford H. Wells.