The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-11
Aged and Inflrm Nonasenarian IN
able to be Present at Litigation
in Which She is PrInci-
pal Today.
JUDGE TO INTERVIEW
Attorneys for Both Sides Agree Thai
Court Magistrate Shall Deter
mine Who're Old Lady
Wants to Stay.

The Boatman litigation, involving
possibly the oldest witness and cause
that the courts here have ever known,
Mrs. Amanda M. Boatman, the "a year
OLD lady, was again resumed at 10
O'Clock this morning in the superior
court
On account of Mrs. Boatman spend
Ing very bad night because of
restless nervousness attendants stat.
ing. she was not brought into court
this morning as was at first expected
would be done.
Ninety-four Next October.
Mrs. Amanda M. Boatman whose be-
ing BROUGHT here has established a
record In the matter of age of the
principal witness, was born near
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October %,
1917. Her first marriage was to a
man by the name of Smith who wan
dered away from his home nearly
( seventy-five years ago and was lost.
Later, relatives believed that he was
killed. AT that time, Mrs. TIP Swish
err, daughter of Mrs. Boatman, was
born and is about year younger than
H. H. Smith, plaintiff in the pres
ent litigation.
In 1857 Mrs. Boatman came tc
| Keokuk, her second husband having
/ died here about thirty-eight years
ago. Before coming to Keokuk the
| old lady made her home near FIT
Madison for a good many years.
Commission Of Ladies.
Court opened, the first motion O
the attorneys plaintiff, F. M. Balling
er, suggested through proposal to ap
point commission of Mrs. ]. B. We'll
Mrs. D. A. Collier and Mrs. J. A. NJ
Collins to visit Graham hospital, an,
interview the elderly woman, in an er
deavor ito obtain true version @
Mrs. Boatman's desires and wishe
with regards to her place of domicile
The matter entered the records G
the court thus.
In view of the physical condition
of Amanda M. Boatman as same ha
been described to attorney for plair
, tiff this morning, the attorney sus
gested that committee composed @
Mrs. j. B. We'll, Mrs. D. A. Collier an
Mrs. j. A. NJ Cillins go quietly t
Graham hospital to take testimon
from Mrs. Boatman
The character and word of the la
dies chosen by the attorney for tn
plaintiff are beyond doubt of the bes
that could be secured in the con
munity. The ladies chosen coul
come nearer obtaining fairer view {
Mrs Boatman's wishes than the a
torney for the defendant and mysel
| The ladies may be brought into coul
and charged and depend upon a tru
, return of the situation as Mrs. Boa
man sees H. put this propositio
in all fairness and with due regard
Mrs. Boatmans physical condition
Council for the defendant state
that Mrs. Boatman is before tf
court under subpoena. The ladies SUI
gested by attorney for the plainti
are in some manner or other connec
ed with the Birge home and al
more or less interested in the cas-
and not disinterested parties. Their
for the defendant refuses to acceI
the proposition offered by the plat
tiff's attorney.
rhe defendant has counter prop
, sition hOWeyer-That the attorneys q
both sides accompanied by Mrs. II
Swisher, visit the hospital and obtai
an interview.
: Attorney Ballinger then mac
proposition that the court appoil
: any other three or more ladies witho'
suggestion from the attorneys al
have them go to the hospital as
: commission, to interview Mrs. Boa
q man. The proposition of the defen