Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-16
BELIEVES SISTER
WAS BORN INSANE
John Hcwricon on Cross Exam
nation Sticks to Original
Opinion

North Hero, oct 1o--John Howricon
who is fighting to break the will of his
euicidc sister which left all her property,
zeal and personal to the Mary FIetcher
hospital of Burlington, testified on cross
Examination this afternoon in the Grand
sic county court that in his opinion
Maud Howricon was born insane. The
Statement was given as the answer to II
question asked hv Judge Charles H.
Darling of Burlington, chief counsel for
he hospital, as to when he frs; noticed
hat Maud was insane.
The relations between Maud and him
self became the center of many of the
,uestions asked John on cross cxamina-
ion and lie admitted that there was Il
good deal of trouble between his sister
nd himself He attributed the greater
part of them to Mauds unbalanced mental
condition. He denied that he knew Maud
possessed affection for him and said that
he had none for anybody. judge Darling
cad passages from Maud's diaries telling
where she prayed that Johns health
would be better. The witness admitted
at she might have written the passages
but 1t did not change his belief that she
pared nothing for him.
He did not object to Maud's appoint
nent "a administrators of the estate Of
lor mother, he declared after the uues-
ion had been asked as to why ne did
bot when he knew she was mentally un-
sound. He said he agreed to tho appoint
lnent to avoid further trouble. Maud
was neat about her home and kept the
arm property well, he admitted. The
valuation of the estate was Increased in
money but was decreased as far as the
arm itself was concerned in the opin-
on of the witness, and is not worth to-
lay as much as it was when she first
ook it over. The cross examination Of
Ohm will be resumed on Monday morn
nE, there being no sessions tomorrow.
MORNING SESSION
John G. Sabourn of Rouse's Point. n
E.. proprietor of a meat market, the
irst witness of morning session testified
hat Maud with Mrs. Hunter visited
his market in 1909 and tried to tell him
nat she knew more about the cuts of
meat than he did. On this day Maud
paw man painting n house and told him
hat he was not painting the house right
md the man asked her who was doing
he painting to which she replied that
be would not do any for her He was
ross-examined only briefly but said
Maud was of an unsound mind he be-
ieved.
Charles Rushlow, proprietor of a mon
iment and granite shop nj Rouse's Point
a1d Maud came to his shop in 1909 and
lsked for his brother. He was out and
he asked the witness to direct her to n
food dentist. He tod her where the Of
Pfice Of DR.. Charles Stewart was I'D
Maud insisted that he go there with her
lie did and introduced Maud to the dem
fst and left. Maud wanted u tooth filled
md as the dentist was looking at it she
Fot up and left. Back at the Rushlow
hop she came and asked Charles what
Kind of ditch-dgger he cent her to. On
mother occasion Maud asked him to
70 some stone work for her and asked
he price. He gave it and she said that
be wanted to rob her. and accused him OF
coughing in her face In an ungentleman-
manner He coughed but turned his
head. he said.
DR. Charles Stewart of Rouse's Point.
old of the first visit of Maud to his Of
Ice. while in the chair looking at her
eeth she told him that she wanted the
ervices of dentist and not a dltch-dig-
ger She left but came back on several
occasions later and had work done He
nought she was Of an unsound mind
because of her peculiar actions. On cross
Examination Attorney Webster attempted
o show that people act pecuiar under
he stress Of visit to dentists office
Ind the pains experienced there The
|octor admitted that they did.
George Sharpley, steward at the Ethan
Allen club in Burlington. formerly stew
Frt at the Van Ness House in Burlng-
on. told OF how Maud used to get up at
$50 O'Clock mornings and practice sing
ng in the serving room and of other
ueer actions He finally sent for her
brother to take her back home On
REORGANIZATION 1t was brought out
hat Maud was taking singing lessons at
hat time from George Wilder OF the
Wilder studio across the road from the
otel.
John Howricon, the contestant recall
ID to the stand for direct examination
vas questioned about entries IN Maud,s
ieries about his not getting up in the
morning and working hard. He said that
his applied to the time when his mother
vas living and he gave them help on the
homestead farm gratis and did not even
et any thanks for 1t. He and his moth
managed the Homestead farm, he said
Judge Darling cross-examined him and
sked him IL there ever was q time thai
10 treated or spoke to Maud in such a
way that a person of normal mind would
ave been insu!ted and he said that he
ad. The occasion Of his taking awav n
evolver from her by force was one that
person OF normal mind would have been
nsulted over Most Of the entries on the
homestead account book were made nv
daud and not by John