New-York tribune., 1912-01-04
MISS CAMPBELL FREAKS
FondneSS for Pet Cat Described
at Trial to Break viii.
SPIMSTER CALLED "CRAZY''
Cousin Testifies Aged Woman
Said: Kitty Takes Me for
All NV Walks. ;"

The trial OF the contest over the will OF
Miss Maria L. Campbell, who left an estate
valued at 100000. was continued yes
terday before Surrogate Fowler. There are
sixteen contestants OF the WILL most OF
them being members OF the best known old
families. including those Of Van Rensselaer,
Bleecker and Livingston. The allegation
on which is based the objection to the dis
position made by the testatrix Of her estate
is that she was OF unsound mind when she
executed her will. and was under the undue
influence OF some person whose name has
not been mentioned.
An effort was made YESTERDAY by counsel
for the contestants TO bring cut some of
the mental weaknesses Of Miss Campbell
who was eighty-one years old when she
died, on May 2. 1910, at her home. No. n
Fifth avenue Some stress was laid on
her fondness for her pct cat. Mrs. Killian
Van Rensselaer,. OF No. 81 East 49th street
whose husband was a cousin. testified that
on one occasion when she offered to take
Miss Campbell ont for a walk she replied
"Oh. Kitty takes me FOR all my walks"
Continuing. the witness said:
'T called on her in juno. 1903. and said,
I came TO say goodby. ! am going TO
Paris to see my sister She looked up and
kissed me but said nothing"
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, added that on her
return the testatrx seemed pleased 10 see
her. but again did not speak. The witness
said that she asked Miss Campbell II she
had seen Howard Townsend. Said Mrs.
Van Rensselaer,:
She rose forward over the table and.
lifting her finger. said: Don't speak OF
him. He has $4,000 OF my money. ] don
want TO hear his name She acted In an
irrational manner and said nothing more
Howard Townsend, who was mentioned.
Is a we'll known lawyer. He was named as
executor in the will of Miss Campbell and
had been her counsel. His mother, Mrs.
JustineNan Rensselaer, Townsend, was one
OF the four legatees In the Will.
Did you think he had her money"
asked James w Osborne. counsel for the
contestants.
NO; | simply thought she was crazy to
make such a remark"
J. V. Bouvier, jr. attorney for tho pro-
ponents, cross-examined Mrs Van Rensse-
laer. He asked is II not possible that IL
was more Interesting to Miss Campbell 10
feed her cat than listen 10 what you had
10 say?"
Perhaps. but she seemed to be duh ana
listless.'
In answer to a question Mrs Van Rensse-
laer said she had hoped her two sons. XII
iaen. jr.. and Stephen. would be legatees
under the will Of Miss Campbell The wit
ness said that the smile the testatrix wore
when she greeted her on her return from
Europe was a vacant smile. AN IDIOT
could have smiled the same kind Of smile.
but she did not accompany the smile with
words"
The witness told OF a series OF Incidents
that made her believe Miss Campbell was
not of sound mind. one day she walked
within the hall Of the old woman when
the latter said Walk softly; Kate is up
stairs" She referred to a sister who had
been dead nearly ffty years
Miss Frederica Bigelow,/ OF No. 21jl
Broadway, daughter OF one Of the con
testants. testified about some OF the Pc
culiar things that she said Miss Campbell
did. saying that the aged spinster seemed
TO be mentally weak.
The trial will be continued to-day.