New Britain herald., 1917-07-28
DENIES SHE SAT
in HER UNCLE'SLAP
Mrs. Shelton Breaks Down Dur
Ing Contest Over Will

New Haven, July 2S.-Mrs. Eliza
beth Shelton, niece of Mark Ryder,
and chief legatee under his will, who
was on the stand all day yesterday as
a witness called by the contestants of
the will broke down during the
afternoon, when telling how her first
husband had shot her, and it was
necessary for Judge ellison to call a
recess for several minutes. When
the case was resumed Attorney Fatz-
. gerald for the contesting heirs made
no further reference to the incident.
I Mrs. Shelton was called upon to tell
practically her entire dealings with
her uncle from her girlhood until the
day he died in the Grand Central,
New. York.
After the cross examination by At
torney Fitzgerald, which occupied the
major part of the afternoon, Attorney
Hamilton, for the executors, the
Union and New Haven Trust COM
pany, elected in cross-evamination of
his own client, the fact that there
was no truth in the statement made
during the morning testimony that
she was seen on the lap of her uncle
at one time in his office. In answer
to his direct question she denied that
there was any improper relations be-
tween herself and her uncle.
Mrs. Shelton said her uncle, Mark
paid several of her bills when her
husband, Mr.. Smith, left her. Her
husband had sent her a letter in
which he said he didn't want to have
anything more to do with her and af-
ter that her uncle did not want her to
live with Smith. Mr.. Smith she said
Gle visit her.
She married Mr.. Shelton, she testi-
fed on April Is, 1915. Her former
husband. Mr.. Smith, had died in Jan
nary 1915. She separated from
Smith in September, 1913, and in 1914
her uncle first met Mr.. Shelton with
her. Her uncle came down and kept
her company frequently in New York
city. she testified, while her husband
was away on business. Her uncle was
}2O or % years older than she. She
married Smith, her first husband
when % years of age, and was intro
duced to him by her uncle Smith
sometimes made a great deal of
money and sometimes she was happy
with him, and more often not. He
shot himself January Ia.
Uncle Whipped Husband.
Relative to her uncle's interest in
her children, she said he told her al
ways to give them every opportunity
for an education. He corresponded at
least ,once a week with her little girl,
she testified. She said she never hint
ed to her uncle that he should leave
anything to her. Relative to her un-
cle's chastisement of her husband,
oh col ha 10
attempt to have him treat her better,
but he spoke very little in her pres
ence to him.
Speaking of a loan which Mr.. Ry-
der made to her, she said she fire.
nuently went to his office in the Poll
building and that upon one occasion
3 she asked him for loan of $500 or
$500 for Mr.. Smith. They proposed
buying little house, and they looked
FORWARD to a new start in life. Her
E1ncle gave her the money she offering
security and the loan was finally re-
paid.,
Testim ony was introduced by her
Lbwn lawyer, Benjamin Slade, showing
1.-The feeling which Mr.. Ryder had to-
ward certain of the members of John
Ryders family. At the funeral of
her aunt, Mrs. Roach, he told her he
had not spoken to them for years on
account of a matter of dispute about
Insurance. She said that her uncle
had told her he was much Inundated
to have to appear before his good
friends states Attorney Alling, and
beck his intercession for a member
BIZ the Ryder family, who had gotten
INTO trouble.
The case was adjourned until Au-
kust 10 at 1890 o'clock.