Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-21
DECISION RESERVED IN
JOHNSON WILL CASE
Testimony Completes Saturday in Lo-
cal Probate Court.

Judge Nelson J. Ayling has reserved
his decision in the hearing on the will
of DR.. Nathan Johnson which is being
contested.
The hearing was resumed Saturday
morning in the local probate court.
When the hearing opened Saturday
DIR. w. K. Tingley was called by Law
yer Shields for cross examination.
DR.. Tingley testified that he was to
isee DR.. Johnson once when DR.. Dono-
hue was there and once when Mr..
Comstock was there. Did not see DIR.
johnson on the night of April IL.
Found the doctor weaker and run
down on the morning of the 18th. 1t
would seem the end was approaching.
He could not remember that Henry
D. Johnson had been to see DR.. john
son and had arranged that Henry d.
Johnson was to have the power of at
torney from DIR. johnson or that At
! torney Mathewson and DIR. Donohue
and Mr.. Mara had called and power
| of attorney was given Mr.. Mathewson.
| DIR. Tinglev heard of the matters later.
The witness stated that on April IL
he gave the order that no one was to
see Doctor Johnson and that he did
not give Lawyer MathewsOn permits
sion to see the doctor
DIR. Tingley did not know that Dr.
Johnson tried suicide. In 1911 DR..
johnson did take nitro glycerine tab
let's for heart trouble. He would-haVe
cleo nN6 years go IL ne naQ not IAN
en- nitro giycerin tablets. He mad
kidney trouble and had a tendency to
sleep at any time.
DR.. johnson might have run about
n barn and swore and talked of go
ing crazy account of taking three
or more drinks said DR. TingIey but
the tablets would not make him act as
he did in the barn.
DR.. Tingley stated that all the time
he knew Dr. johnson the latter
was sound in mind. If DR. Johnson
said he was poor and would have to
go to the poor house he must have
been joking. 1t was the remark of
an imbecile. Such a man should have
been in an asylum and not living IN
a good family.
The peculiar acts of DR.. Johnson
were due to his physical condition as
serted DR. Tingley and didn't tank
it an evidence of insanity when DR..
Johnson walked about without his
trousers on It was in keeping with
his other acts. Just as natural for DR..
Johnson to go without his trousers as
with trousers. 1t was in keeping with
his mode of life as he did not battle or
change his clothes or have his hair
cut. 1t showed that the doctor had no
regard for the ordinary rules of living.
Opium habits ten dto make a person
cunning and to keep neat.
DIR. Tingley had heard that a will
had been made early in January and
was told so in his office That was
ness phoned to Henry d. Johnson
about the matter. The will making did
not impress the doctor. While en- route
to see Mr.. Comstock DIR. Donohue
told DR.. Tingley as to the provisions
Of the will.
Witness did not think Dr. johnson
needed living in the same house with
paupers as he had a good room and
was well cared for.
Lawyer Shields next called to the
stand DIR. Charles c. Gildersleeve, as
Lawyer Avery said his side rested. DR.
Gildersleeve said that people who take
opiates live in a delightful world and
as they grow old they have to increase
the dose to keep up the effect. While
under the influence of the drug the vic
tim seems to lose all moral control. It
produces a desire to SLEEP. He also
explained the way nitro glycerin acts
Gildersleeve did not know DR.. john
son.
Opium makes people lose will pow
err and keeps good blood from going
to the brain. At times a victim is
liable to be controlled by others.
Nitro glycerin wou'sl tend to bring a
person to his senses. A large does is
liable to make a PERSONS heart throb.
DR. Gildersleeve stated that a person
to act as did Dr. Johnson must drink
or be an imbecile or lost to all moral
sense. If he talked of going to the
aims house to a person he must have
been impaired mentally or was suffer-
ing from a delusion.
On a question asked by Lawyer
Avery DR.. Gildersleeve said man act
ing and diseased as was DR.. johnson
session of his full mental capabilities.