Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-02
Came iruTl India and Given
Against Advice Of Doctors.
Evidence Tending 10 Show That
Mrs. Bull Was Insane.
Her Strange Attitude Toward Her
Daughter and Other Persons.

Alfred, Me-, June Am Indian tonic
was administered to Mrs. Ole Bull.
widow of the great yiolinist, during
her last sickness, by a member of her
of the attending physicians, according
to testimony given today by Joseph q.
Thorp, brother and executor of the
will of Mrs. Bull. who was a witness
in the proceedings brought by the
daughter, Mrs. Olea Bull Vaughn. for
the setting aside of the will.
Mr.. Thorp testified that he had heard
complaints about the giving of the
tonic and that he had noticed that his
sisters condition changed steadily dur
ing the time that she was taking it.
Mr.. Thorp, whose time on the stand
today was largely occupied, as on yes
terday, with reading letters exchanged
between Mrs. Bull. Mrs. Vaughn and
himself startled the audience in the
court room when he gave his express
sion of belief as To the effect OF the.
tonic. He had noticed for some time
Immediately preceding Mrs. Bulls
death, he said, what he thought was a
quick depression Of her spirits. IT
was not until some time after his sis.
ter's death, however, that he learned
of the administering of the tonic. he
said. When he did learn of the fact.
through his receipt OF a bottle of the
medicine. postInarlSed in India and adj
dressed to Mrs. Bull he inquired and
found that the tonic had been given
his sister during her last and proceed
ing illness by asinemher of Mrs. Bulls
houseHold and in opposition TO the ex-
PRESSED wish of the attending physi-
ctaslss
HR Said he has the bottle of tonic
1lIelt he received at his home in Cam
6B3. and q physician who is to APP
8f IN the case later will be able 10
plain more fully its effects. he stat
he witness also te.ified regarding
Vie perserai feelings of Mrs. Bull to-
vard Mrs. Abbie Shapleigh of West
4 <abanon, Me-, who was formerly a
nurse IN the Bull family. 1t has pre-
& x1pus1y come out in the trial. in am
snort 10 prove that Mrs. Bun was of
(spund mind. that she said she was
A1d Of Mrs. Shapleigh because the
I'm could propel killing thoughts
& sF the telephones
To-Day Mr.. Thorp testified that Mrs.
BNii's principal reason for not wishing
TO see her daughter in the year pre-
ceding her death was because Mrs
Vaughn was living with Mrs. Shap-
leigh. Il would rather see my daugh-
a ter with the smallpox than have her
come to me from West Labanon where
Mrs Shapleigh is" was a statement
which Mr.. Thorp attributed to Mrs.
Bun as having made while she was on
her death bed. II am afraid Olea will
bring germs of harm with her" was
another statement which Mr.. Thorp
testified was made to him by his sis
ter.
i have always had a feeling of
animosity toward Abbie. although
have exchanged gifts with her and her
family" said the witness. who declar-
ed also that he had known nothing of
the making by Mrs. Bull of will in
which he and Mrs. Shapleigh were to
share equally in the widows estate to
the exclusion of the daughter.
Most of the letters read today had
a dominating sHbjeet-the attempts of
Mrs. Vaughn to see her mother before
she died, and the reasons of those sur
rounding Mrs. Bull for not allowing
Continued on Page Twelve.)