The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-14
New Castle Attorney Makes
Opening Statement in the
Famous COnnersville Will
Case in Circuit Court.
BACHELOR ECCENTRIC
Document Contains Queer
Conditions Attached to All
Provisions With More on
Many Clauses.

I'VE will prove that Daniel NJ. Han
kins was insane, monomaniac," de-
clared Judge Forkner of New Castle,
representative Of Mrs. John Chitwood
when making the opening statement
in court today in the suit of Mrs.
Chitwood against Manford Dale and
others to break the will of Daniel Han
kins
Judge Forkner went into detail to
explain the wealthy bachelors eccen-
tricities, described him, gave his char
acteristics and read history of his
life
Little difficulty was met with in
either side in getting a satisfactory
jury. Only six men were discharged
and nine of the original jury seated
yesterday morning, remained in the
box. The jury was sworn at 4 o'clck
yesterday afternoon when court adj
journed. 1t consists of Robert Boyd.
real estate agent; David Hoover, farm
er; Henry Stricken, retired farmer;
Alfred E. Williams, retired: Mark
Duke. farmer: Kerr D. Cofield, farm
er; Horace Hoover, farmer and bank
er: Daniel 0. Clevenger, farmer; VIII
liam l.. 'Fouts, farmer; Benton Wag
ner, retired farmer; Maberry Study,
farmer
Forkner Opens.
The entire forenoon session of court
was given to Judge FORMERS opening
statement. He elaborated on the &C.
centricities of the intestate, declaring
that only one clause in the long will
left by Daniel Hankins. is valid.
The opening statement of the de-
PENDANTS was short and dealt mainly
with the friendship between Hankins
and Manford Dale, through whose in
fluence in land deal in Texas, Han
kins acquired $4,000 of his fortune
The will of Hawkins is perplexing
one and entirely neglects Hankins
sister Mary Belle Chitwood with
whom his relations during life were
friendly. However, the brother. Will
liam J. Hankins with whom Daniel
Hankins could agree on no question.
Judge Forkner asserts, is made one Of
the chief beneficiary together with
Manford Dale, the Warren Lodge of
Masons, Isabel Ansted and others.
Daniel Hankins was born in Con-
nersville and died there in the Palace
hotel in January, 1913. His father had
been a merchant and Hankins with
his brother, William. and sister, Mary
Belle had been we'll educated Han
kins became associated in business
with his father but their store failed
to pay and they made an assignment
IN 1878. Until 1900 or for twenty
two years, he did not have any bust
ness and worked little. At that time,
he became associated with Corners
vile Buggy company, representing
them in Texas.
Had Hot Temper.
after the parents died, the boys
lived in hotels said Judge Forkner.
"but William and Daniel could not
agree on anything. William was diss-
rated until few years ago, and I'M
friendly relations prevailed between
the brothers. However, Daniel fire.
ouentlv and for long times, visited
his sister at New Castle.
He was small of stature and OF a
very irritable and overwrought dispo-
sition. For that reason he had no
close friends. He was subject to sui
len depressing moods at times and at
other times was excessively cheerful
seeming almost eXhilerated. Some
times he did not speak to the members
Of his family for weeks. He could
rot enter an argument because he i'm
r1ediatelr flew into a passion.
We was associated with ManfOrd z.
Dale from childhood and later made
him the agent of his s37 900 estate. 1t
IVES through Manford's influence that
Hankins bought land near Dallas
Texts for a small sum and when it
depreciated in value. sold it for $37.-
600. He never asked for an account
ing of the money and held nothing to
show It was his after he made Dale
his agent.
Dale Starts Cemetery.
For the purpose of gain entirely
Dale started the Dale Cemetery as
sociation, bought the cemetery
grounds and started the beautiful Dale
cemetery near Connersville. The as
sociation was capitalized at $4,000 of
which $4,000 worth of stock remained
unsold, $4,000 was sold to Daniel Han
kins and small amounts were sold to
other COnnersville persons.
Then Hankins exhuned the bodies
Of his father and mother from the
cemetery where they had been buried
and placed them in Dale cemetery
This was done without the consent of
either of the other children. Later he
wanted to eXhume the bodies Of his
grandfather and grandmother and his
beck generations and have them bur
led in the Dale cemetery
After reading over the Hankins will,
Judge Forkner declared that he will
introduce overwhelming evidence to
show that Hawkins was insane. al
though competent to handle small
business matters.
With every bequest made by Han
kins in his will there is a condition
named, and in some cases. as many as
four conditions are set out