Weekly journal-miner., 1909-02-03
DOCTORS DISAGREE IN
 STEES WILL CONTEST
CFrom Thursdays DaIlyl

! of mind of Mrs. Sarah SteeS, deceased, when she subscribed to her last will and testament, October r, twelve days before she died, in the probate court yesterday, the testimony of leading physicians of Prescott and Phoenix differed, soiled family linen was aired and the evidence of a min ister of the gospel eontradieted, while Attorneys George Purdy Bullard of Phoenix and John c. Forest of Pres colt warmly engaged in disputes over what is known in legal parlanee as leading questions.
 Mrs. Sarah Stees died in the home of her son, Joseph Mefford, in Phoe- nix, October q, after a protraeted illness. She made her son Joseph the sole beneficiary in her will. Her es- tate is variously estimated at from 5000 to $20,0O0. The greater DOT tion of it, consisting of cash and real estate, is in Iowa.
 When the will was offered for pro- bate here, contest proceedings were instituted in the names of her other children and children's children, the claim being set up by the contestants that she was not of sound mind when she executed the document and for a long time previous to her death. The eontestants' are Mrs. Louise Rhodes, Mrs. Rebecca Caudle, Mrs. Cora Kee- gan, Mrs. Alice Johnson, Jake Mef- ford, the daughter of Mrs. Kate Hanks and sons of Albert Mefford.
 Dr. Southworth, who was her phy- sician here before she left for Phoe nix, six weeks before ner death, testi- fled that she showed symptoms of sen ile dementia while under his care. He believed that on account of her ad- vanced age and debilitated condition when she left for Phoenix that her condition was liable to grow worse. Cross examined by Attorney Bullard, be said he considered her delusions form of insanity rather taan a weak ness of understanding.
 Attorney BuAard attempted to show by the evidence of Dr. Craig and At torney F. II. Lyman of Phoenix, who drafted the will, that her condition rapidly improved after she arrived in Phoenix. The versatile Bullard claim ed outside of court yesterday that any woman afflicted with any character of brain storm taken from Prescott to Phoenix was sure to regain her senses under the cloudless skies and amid the beautiful sceneries of the Salt River valley.
 Dr. Craig of Phoenix did not notice any form of insanity while treating Mrs. Stees. He admitted that she was rational the morning she requested him to summon a good lawyer to her bedside to draft her will. Attorney Lyman testified that her conversation with him was rational when he visit ed her twice the day the will was signed.
 Mrs. Louise Rhodes testified that brother, Joseph Mefford, called her vile names while she was attending her mother during her illness nere be- fore she left for Phoenix.
 Rev. Francis T. Walker, pastor of the Baptist church, testified that he visited Mrs. Stees during her illness, prayed and read a hymn at her bed side. but that he was prevented from visiting ner the following day by Joseph Mefford. who refused to admit him into the house.
 This was denied by Joseph Mefford, who denied refusing Rev. Walker ad- mission to the house where his mother lay seriously i'll, and addressing Mrs. Rhodes in disrespectful language. He stoutIy maintained that his mocler was of sound mind during the illness preceding her death. He also denied ever eonversing with his mother re garding the contested will.
 It was shown during the hearing that Mrs. Stees had purchased a farm and stocked it at an expense of sS. 900 for her son Jake Mefford, with the proviso that he should take care of her during the remainder of his life.
 Judge Hicks took the case under advisement, allowing Attorney Forest for the contestants five days to file briefs and Attorney Bullard, counsel for Mefford, five days more to file his answer.
 FLOATER REPEATS