Evening journal., 1914-07-18
Open ATTACK ON
insane MANS Will
Relatives of Pearson Talley
Object to Adopted Daugh-
ter Getting Estate
MAKES AMENDS
FOR AXE ASSAULT

The horrible tragedy that was enacted
in the western part of this city about
seven years ago, when Pearson Talley,
an aged man, went suddenly insane and
hacked his wife and adopted daughter
with an axe, is recalled by the contest
over the will left by Talley, which was
heard in the Office of Register of Wills
Walker yesterday afternoon
Under his will Talley, who died an in
mate of the Delaware State Hospital
for the Insane, on March Ia, 1914, left
his entire estate, consisting of several
thousand dollars to his adopted daugh-
ter, specifying in the will that he de-
sired to make amends for. INJURY he had
done her at the time he attacked her
with the axe. The will is contested by
half sister and several children OF
other half sisters, on the ground that
Talley was insane when he made the
will.
lt will be recalled that about seven
years ago Mr.. Talley, who was an old
and respected resident of Wilmington,
went suddenly insane, jumped from his
bed and seizing an axe struck his wife
and adopted daughter, Hannah f..
Johanson, on their heads while they
were asleep in their beds, inficting deep
gashes. While both eventually recov-
cred, Mrs. 1alley for a long while how
cred between life and death. Talley was
tried in the Court of General Sessions
on December 8, 1905 of the November
term Of court, on the charge of assault
with intont TO commit murder. Attor-
ney General Robert H Richards prose
cuted the case. Talley entered a plea OF
mot guilty, because of insanity" and
the Jury returned o verdict OF mot
guilty, by reason OF insanity" The
jury further recommended that Talley
be committed to the Delaware State In.
sane Asylum at Farnhurst, and the
court committed him to the board OF
trustees OF that institution.
On April 20, 1911, while an inmate OF
the insane asylum, Talley wrote his
will, leaving his entire estate to Hannah
K. Johanson,. his adopted daughter, his
wife having died several years ago
After making the bequest in the usual
form, Mr. Talley added the following
statement TO the will;
Because of what / unintentionally
did to her, / want her to have every.
thing, knowing l can never make
amends for what l have done"
The aged man had reared Hannah +
Johanson since she was a child. treating
her as a daughter, but had never legally
adopted her.
While j. Frank Ball. representing
Jennie Hampton, Of Philadelphia, I
halfsist Of Talley,, and several chill
dren Of other half sisters, did not fili
a formal caveat, he appeared at th'
hearing to oppose the probate of tn
will, on the ground that ralley was in
sane when the will was made. Rober
6. Harman, former city solicitor, rep
resented the will.
Several witnesses summoned by MI
Harnan gave testimony. Miss Johan
son appeared at the hearing, her fac
still bearing the scars of the gashe
which had been inflicted by the insan
mans axe. The witnesses TO the will
William S. Prediger and John Johan
son, identified their signatures on tn
instrument. DR.. William II. Hanckel
superintendent Of the Delaware Stat
Hospital, wheres sralley was committed
testified that Talley was of sound mini
at the time the will was made, bu
was afflicted with melancholia and hal
spells at times which made it danger
ous to permit him to be free.
The contestants contended that Tai
lev was unfit to make a will, the fac
that he was an inmate of an insan
asylum being sufficient proof that h
was unfit TO make a will The hearin
was then postponed until next Wednes
day morning.