The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-03
MRS. LAWRENCE SEEKS FREEDOM .OF CONSERVATOR $s .~f Judge Banks Anxious to Be
 Discharged From Duties :
 As Conservator
 Petitioner Tn Connecticut Husband and Famous Medi-
 cal Men Testify She Is
 Temperate and Able to
 Manage Her Own Affairs
Petitioner Tn Connecticut

stss
 
 Judge Elmore s. Banks of Fairfield Is very anxious to be discharged of the duties of conservator over Mrs Julia Watt Curtiss Lawrence This fact was brought out and his inten- tion of resigning if the conservator- ship is not discontinued, were made known today when Mrs. Lawrence appeared before acting judge, Daniel B. Bradley of Westport in the pro- bate court at Fairfield; when her ap- plfcation to be restored to her full legal rights was given a hearing. This has appeared in this state for all of five years though she has carried on any number of legal fights to se- cure control over her estate.
 Attorney Robert E. DeForest and Attorney Jacob B. Klein, together r1d p1saTsd 5oseph fo Wilson ta nst f tioner: Attorney Charles Northrop of New York city appeared in behalf of the petitioners children. Hilda o. E. Morris and Keith ". MUrrie Attof- ney Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport and. Washington appeared for Judge Banks
 The hearing on the petition was for-l1- o'clock Mrs. Law renee and Aevera1 witnesses from New York garrfved in large limou- sine car, About 1O:45 o'clock and for three quafters of an hour waited out side of the town hall During this time there wkfe informal conferences between witnesses and counsel. At torney Northrop was at first inclin-s ed to seek b continuance of the hear ing. Negotiations are being made however to have Mrs. Lawrence fur fund for her chiidr4n;s. care. The boy, Keith is said to be deaf and dumb and the girl, who is a minor is frail and sickiy. It 10 Attorney North-l rop'e desire as guardian ad Item, to- have Mrs. Lawrence nuke provision lSs stter s hs. .ss s.sa e M apats asrs fe os pn,s time. Finally Mrs. Lawrence stated 5ef Mffifn8nees B sfln bond papers, IF this iS, done before Next, Monday then Attorney Northtop will be sati@ probate court without introdrcing witnesses of his own to appear against the petition to have the conservator 
 Under this agreement it was decid- ed to have the hearing on the petition go on, and the. evidence of the pe- titioner submitted Under stipulation W es was reserved in, behalf of Attorney Northrop and Attorney Davenport. If the bond agreement is kept before next Monday then. there will be no cross examination of the witnesses who appeared today and it will re- decision without their further appear ance.. This course was decided upon to save the expense of having the witnesses come to Fairfield again.
 Attorney Klein. explained to the court that the object of the petition ate discharged and the petitioner re- stored to her legal rights, she claiming @ be fully capable and competent to ldminister her own affairs. It Is un- ierstood that if thiss application is 'uccessful in obtaining what the peti- ioner is after then all the other mat :ers before the courts will be dispell-
 When the application was submitted O. have conservatOr appointed over Mrs.. Lawrence, at. that time, Mrs. curtiss, much evidence of her extrav- lobbs appointed Judge Banks as the There were several ! tormy and spicy hearings before this vas done. There was judgment | Llso that Mrs. Lawrence was in con- empt of court and for that reason he has refused to appear in Connec- icut before today in the different le- ,aI fights she has carried on.
 While under a conservator Mrs. lawrence went to Wilmington, Del, nd married pr. Lawrence and fhis vas also in contempt of court It | tas stated by Attorney Davenport ounsel for the conservator that Mrs. lawrence had repeatedly refused to ppear in Connecticut to allow the an opportunity to see her. IS the result. of her refusing to co- perate in this particular Judge Banks ad not seen her for over two years. [e was introduced to her after the caring.
 If the hearing is to continue it will e held at ii o'clock, Monday fore oon. If the negotiations over the ond are settled before then the case i'll go to the court for decision. le petition the witnesses were heard. Dr.. Frank E. Miller of New York ty appeared as the first witness. He as Oeen a practicing physician 29 ears and knew the applicant seven ears He had opportunity to note ie mental condition of Mrs. Law ,nce at least 20 times during each ear from examinations made as theI suit of throat and nose troubles Id other ailments needing treatment. He considered Mrs. Lawrence purely normal woman capapie or anaging her own affairs. He never new of any intemperance on the part : Mrs. Lawrence. Dr. Miller said he as consulting physician of two Newl 1 ork hospitals and told of other of- .ial connections in New York pr. Graeme M Hammond of New l ork and Greens Farms, specialist $
 nervous and mental diseases was He'd. Dr. Hammond is noted spe- alist and has official connections in ew York city which places him in :, c rank of the foremost nervous and , ental disease experts. $ He knew Mrs Lawrence from girl ,od He has seen a good deal of i 1T in the last two years. He. made $ examination in 1910 and very fre- ( lently after that for the express ! Irposc of making a study of her