The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-27
Or. IMR|E
FASTENED DEATH /.
OF MISS F|NNEI
Attorney Hunt Makes Sensational
Charge In Will Case Physician
Got Document Drawn By Fraud,
Lawyer Also Declares.
Witness to Testament Says Testatrix
Had Been Drinking and Seemed
Mentally Incompetent.

When the matter of probating tho
Will or the late Sarah Finney was call
ed In thep rebate court before Judge
Durfee, Thursday morning, o. r.
Hunt, who. with Daniel Altland. q
appearing for Jared w. and James
II. Finney. brothers of the testatrixs
who are contesting the will, surprised
the petitioners for the probate OF the
will by filing a disclaimer from MrD.
Emma Bronson. an old friend Of Mas
Finney, who was bequeathed 800 by
the testatrix.
Mrs. Bronson said in her disclaimer:
Il have made some investigation
of the issues involved in this proceed,
ing and have ascertained sufiicient to
and was not the last will and testnr
ment OF Sarah Finney, deceased. and
should not be admitted to probate 20
SUCH"
The disclaimer was received by the
court and entered in the records Of
the case.
DR.. A. W. Imrie. who. AZ residuary
legatee, is bequeathed about $4,000
by the will, was in court. He is repre-
sented by Attorneys James III. Pound
and Allan II. Frazer. who also ap-'
pear for the petitioner, DR.. George w.
Orchard, veterinarian, OF Windsor.
who was willed 500 by Miss Finney
for professional services given the
dogs belonging to the testatrix.
James III. Finney was the first wit
ness called by Mr.. Pound.
Mr.. Hunt objected TO the form Of
procedure, contending that witnesses
to prove the making of the will be.
produced first.
The court overruled the objection
and ordered Mr.. Hunt to sit down
when he continued to object.
Mr.. Finney was merely questioned
regarding his acquaintance with Miss
Finney, his sister. He told of her
age, 6S, and of her death. Jan. "a
1911.
William Webb testified as to Wit
Messing the will in March, 1908. Asked
regarding the condition of Miss Fin
ney at. the. time he Witnessed the
will. he said he didn't think II was
very clear;@that she appeared to have
been drinking.
Didn't see Will Signed.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Hunt. Mr..
Webb said he boarded at No. $50
Cass-ave., opposite the home OF Miss
Finney, where he had lived for IA
years. Miss Finney also boarded
there, coming there about 10 years
ago and remaining until March or
last year He said he didn't see Miss
Finney sign the will, but identified .
signature attached to the will as hers.
He said he went to Miss Finney's
home to witness the will at the re-
quest of Miss Maude Hester. his
landlady. When he arrived in the
Finney house, DR.. Imrie opened the
door for him, he said, and said that
Miss Finney wished him to witness
her will
Attorney Pound was also there and
DR.. Imrie introduced him to the wit
ness, according TO the letter. Mr..
Webb said Mr.. Coleman was al
so present. The witness said DR.. I'M
rie showed him where to attach his
signature to the will. Mr.. Coleman
also signed the will as witness.
Miss Finney never told the witness
that the paper he signed was her
will, but he said she asked him II
II was her signature that was attach
ed TO the will. The witness examined
the signature and said IL was hers
He knew Sarah Finney well and was
also acquainted with DR.. Imrie. He
had seen the doctor call at the Fin
ney home as often as twice q day
during the six or eight years prior
tCoutinued ON Pare yineD