The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-25
DENIES UNDUE INFLUENCE.
Rev. Alonzo Chase Testifies as Proponent
in Sherman Will Case.

Burlington, March 25.--Alonzo Chase
the proponent in the Caroline Sherman
will contest case now being heard il
county court, occupied the witness stanc
nearly all of the latter part of yester
day afternoon and told the jury OF hi
| business relations with Mrs. Sherman
while he was acting as her agent prior tC
! her death in January, 1912. Mr.. Chas,
was the sole legatee under Mrs Sher'
mans win and her relatives are con
testing the will on the ground that Mrs
| Sherman was unduly influenced by Mr.
Chase in making her WILL
| Mr. Chase testified that he had known
Mrs. Sherman great many years and
that when she moved TO Richmond he be-
came frequent visitor to her home, TAX
ing her books ''by the trunkload' and
reading poems to her and also keeping
her informed ON the current events Of
the day The witness said that Mrs.
sherman finally told him that she want
ed to engage him to conduct her busi-
ness affairs. They had regular busi-
ness agreement. he said as to how the
money was to be handled and during the
years that he conducted her money mat
ters, Mr.. Chase testified that he lc-
counted for every dollar that ever passed
through his hands.
There was one exception to this rule,
he said, when Mrs Sherman gave his
daughter $500 for her education. Aside
from that, strict account was kept by
means OF notes and endorsements on
these notes and Mrs. Sherman knew at
all times just how her account stood
with Chase. Concerning the claim by
the contestants that Mrs. Shegman had
given Chase money to build a house, the
witness said that account Of this money
was kept and that he started an addition
because she thought she might wish to
move into it and not spend another win
ter in her homestead.
Chase testified that in later years ne
had given more than half OF his time to
taking care of Mrs. Sherman and that
while she had often talked with him
about disposing of her property be had
had absolutely no hand in drawing up
her will or deed for the homestead
property which Mrs Sherman gave to
Mrs Chase. His attentions to Mrs.
sherman. Chase said, were like those Of
l son for his mother and he did the
work without thought OF pay or reward
Except such as Mrs. Sherman yofun
'arily talked OF giving him. At these
lines. he said, he would turn the con
'ersaton on to some other subject.
Mr.. Chase testified that upon one oc-
aston ON his return to Richmond from /
burlington Mrs. Sherman called him into I
4n1J h. hs.r n,I
vas very near. She said that she wished /
o make her will and give him the prop |
rty as she was certain she had but a
ew days to live. He told her to say |,
% more about the matter that night but /
he next day she handed him a will |,
fhich she had drawn mp and told him to
ct some witnesses. He did so and that
light the will was witnessed.
Another witness yesterday was Mrs. h
label Nye, nurse who cared for Mrs Ii
herman for several months prior TO 4
er death. Mrs. Nve was first engaged Ii
) work in the office for Chase but de-
oted most of her time to reading to and
iring for Mrs. Sherman. Mrs. Nye re-
llled the circumstances of Mrs. Sher- I
lan's deciding the property to Chase and 6
aid that Mrs. Sherman told her she q
lpected her relatives would max. i
'oube and she wanted to make things 7
) easy for Mr.. Chase as possible. c
The witness testified that Chase had T
zen present when treatment had been {
lministered to Mrs. Sherman by ply Ia
clan. Mrs. Sherman insisted upon hi, lr
sing in the room she said and. Mr. lr
hase assisted in lifting Mrs. Sherman r
I'd performing other duties of that n
nd. There was nothing improper in "
at the witness thought and from her n
of Mrs. Sherman she consid- e
ed her bright woman of perfectly lr
und mind until she died. Mrs. Sher- il
an had often told her. She said. that CO
would not be possible to repay Chase
r half his kindness to her.