Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1915-02-18
FAMILY AFFAIRS
IN The COURT
Riley Will Case Brings Out
Family Jars.
MINNIE The BOSS
Testimony Taken Indicates That
Family Thought that Daugh-
ter Influenced Father.

The II. +. Riley will contest contin-
ued in court yesterday afternoon.
Upon further direct examination of
Oscar B. Riley, caveator in the Riley
will case, told of the conditions in
the household of his parents for years
prior to his death. He said that at
all times in his knowledge she con-
trolled his fathers actions, also that
it was his habit to call to see his faith
er during his last illness and that Of
ten it was the case that he did not see
his father because he was told by his
sister Minnie or brother Frank that
his father was asleep or to tired to
see him. He also said that he was
never permitted to see his father
alone during this time, there always
being either minnie or Frank within
hearing distance, that although he
never asked to be alone with his faith
er, there was always someone nearby.
The witness said that on the day on
which the will, now offered for pro-
bate, was made, that he and his broth
er Frank were in the Office in the
adjoining the residence of the de-
ceased, and that Frank told him he
had best not go in to see his father
as he had been transacting some busi-
ness with Lawyers Mitchell and Bow
en-, consisting of the transfer of some
wills of other people that were in his
keeping. He said that at that time
nothing was said Of a new will being
drawn up for his father.
He said that on a later occasion
himself and his son Arthur, since de-
ceased, had been summoned by Frank
because of the great weakness of his
father and that upon this occasion
his father said that he wanted him
and Arthur to stay with him to the
exclusion of Frank.
He said that he and his sister Min
ME had been good friends for some
time prior to his fathers death, she
having said that they must "hang to-
gether'' as Frank and Kate, (Mrs.
Zane) were friends. This was regard
ing the property of his father at such
time as he should decease.
He further said that he was not
notified as to when the will was to be
read.
Upon cross-examination he said that
his information as to when the will
would be read came to him through
Mr.. Andrew Zane, who was his broth
er-in-law.
Further cross-eXamination brought
out little b ut that there was an en-
nifty existing between himself and
Minnie and Frank, his sister and
brother
He further said that his father had
never reproved him or taken him to
task for his habits of life, which it
was averred were irregular.
Redirect examination of the cavea-
tor brought out the fact that he and
Andrew Zane had talked regarding
seeing Squire Riley when they called
during his illness, and the rebuffs
which Oscar met at the hands of his
Ieic G;pnio 1yI,oo' ao1JoJ
On re-cross-examinatio J. Hamp-
ton Fithian asked the witness about
an illness last spring, during which
his sister Minnie nursed him, making
no charge whatever for the service
rendered.
Mr. Andrew Zane, next called by
Counsel Sheppard, and a son-in-law
of the deceased, corroborated the tes-
timony of Oscar B. Riley in regards to
the absolute domination of the Riley
household by Mrs. Minnie G. Wood or
Frank P. Riley, Jr.
Mr. Zane told of conversation with
Mrs. Minnie c. Wood regarding the
will in which she stated that she did
not know what was in the will but
that she did the best that she could
for all of them.
Mr.. Joseph Daley was next called
to testify as to Squire Riley's conf
dence in Minnie C. Wood. He said