Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-16
SUPERIOR COURT
WaterVille. June Is,

WdleTNllie. June 10.
Court came in at $50 this morning
The case on trial all day yesterday,
Blanchard VS.. Stetson, took up the at
tention of court and jury all of today.
and probably will not be complete until
tomorrow afternoon.
The plaintiffs had a number of wit
nesses who testified in support Of their
contention that the defendant agreed
to deed them his farm if they would
come to the town Of China and take
care of him as long as ne lived. Ono
or two witnesses testified II regard to
hearing the defendant state that the
plaintiffs were to have mis- farm under
the conditions as stated by them. 9th
err witnesses testified in regard to the
conduct of the defendant and his
treatment by the plaintiffs.
Mr.. Sanborn opened for the defense
Immediately after the noon recess. He
explained the position of his client il.
the matter, what he expected to prove
and his view of what the plaintiffs
would have been required To do under
the contract as claimed by them. He
said that the defendants position was
entirely opposed to that of the plain
tiffs' and that he expected to show that
the defendant was in Brookline, Mass,
and was written to by Mrs. Blanch-
ard and asked to come to Hookset, n
H.. where plaintiffs lived at that time;
that upon arriving there the plaintiffs
asked him if they could not go to
China. live upon his farm and care for
him. This suggestion, Mr.. Sanborn
stated, met the defendant favora bly,,
and he said defendant would state that
he told the plaintiffs his place was
leased, at that time, but that the next
September they could come there and
live upon his farm, and if everything
was pleasant, he having no relatives,
if they would come there and make
him happy home they could have
the farm when, he was done with it.
Mr.. Sanborn said he would show
that the plaintiffs agreed to care for
and support the defendant during his
life. and defendant was to will or
deed his farm to them.
Mr.. Sanborn claimed that under a
SoAlIdSl VI lIdl hllu, lHe
would be well within the meaning of
the terms care" and support if they
took the defendant down there and
gave him food enough to keep him,
put him in quarters that were wind
and water tight and let him stay
around the place, but. he said, the law
places upon those terms a somewhat
different construction. So, legally, if
the plaintiffs made contract where
by they agreed to support and main
tain the defendant, the standing of
the parties must be taken into con-
sideration. and all the circumstances
of the case. Captain Stetson's age
must be considered; and it must be
considered that this was the property
Of the defendant. which he had work.
ed for and earned. And it was the
plaintiffs part of the contract to prop
erly support and maintain the defend
ant and make him a pleasant home
and that if the plaintiffs are to re-
cover 1t must be shown that during
all this time the defendant was treat
ed cordially and civilly by the plain
tiffs, as a man Of his age should be
treated
Mr.. Sanborn said the big issue in
the case was did the plaintiffs prop
erly support and maintain the de-
PENDANT as they contracted to do, and
did they give him proper food and
clothing. and. further. did they con-
duct the farm and keep up the build
ings as they agreed to do. and above
all, did they make the life of the de-
PENDANT happy.
Various witnesses testified as to the
conduct Of the parties to the alleged
contract, quarrels that took place anu
language used.