Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-30
UNCONSCIOUS
WHEN HE SIGNED WILL
IuN1rrD PRESS LEASED wlRn.l


Baker, Or, Jan. 3O.-That Thomas
Huffman was absolutely unconscious
when the will was read to him and when
his hand was held that he sign it, that
he spoke not at all nor made any
motion when asked if he agreed to the
terms of the will and that he was dying
at the time was the testimony of Miss
0ttilhe Lindeman, trained nurse, who
was in the room atthe time the will
was signed.
The case, which was resumed yester-
cay, passed rapidly and yesterday af-
iernoon the rebuttal testimony by the
proponents of the will had virtually
ended and the court adjourned with
the statement that W. ]. Woods and DR..
Standard would be recalled as witness
for the proponents today. The testi-
mony of Miss Lendeman and Miss PEN
son, the nurses, was the most striking
of anything thus far brought out in the
case.
Miss Lindeman said she first saw the
aged Durkee rancher on September 8,
when he came to the hospital in dying
condition. She said he was weak, his
hands and feet were cold and he was
blue He said nothing and continually
fell asleep, she testified and that night
there was rafting in his throat. He
gradually grew weaker, the witness av-
erred and it was impossible to arouse
him. Albert Hindman, the wealthy
neighbor who is the beneficiary in the
will, came in the morning, she said, and
after a consultation with the physician
injections of strychnine were given.
Will Read to Huffman.
When MIR. Woods, the Justice of the
Peace, at Huntington, DR., Standard and
Mr.. Hindman came in, she declared
they at once prepared the will and she
went into the room and heard Mr.
Woods read the will to Mr.. Huffman
and asked him if he agreed to it. He
did not answer, she declared, and made
no motion, but dropped over to one
side.
He was then propped up, she said
and a pencil was handed to him, which
he dropped four times. Then, she tes
titled, Mr.. Woods took the pencil in hi
hand and wrote the name for him
holding Mr.. Huffman's s hand all thu
time. Throughout, the witness averred
Mr.. Huffman uttered not word anC
she declared that he was utterly un
conscious at the time.
Mr.. Hindman left, she testified, a
soon as the will was signed, withou
saying goodbye to Mr., Huffman, ant
didn't t come back until after his death
She testified that DR.. Standard sait
that if Mrs Darby would donate tn
property to the hospital he would b
good witness for her
Other Nurse Heard Conversation.
Miss Jensen, the other nurse, VIII
was not in the room at the time, sai'
that from the next room, through
thin partition, she had heard the will
read and did not hear Mr.. Huffmai
make reply. She said that when Mis-
Lindeman came from the room she said
'I think it's shame. They pu
that poor man in chair and made hin
sign a will. EIe didn t know a thing.
Mrs Mary Helen Darby, the contest
ant, Mr.. Huffman's sister, testifie'
how she had arrived too late and ha'
taken care Of the funeral.
In rebnttal several witnesses told tha
Mr. Huffman, several years ago, ha,
told them Of his intention to leave al
his property to Mr.. Hindman on hi
death.
j. II. Cannon said that Mr.. Huffman
had told him of a quarrel with his sis
ter, IS years ago, and had said tina
Mrs. Darby had robbed him in a mininl
IL - Afsunu,1