Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-04
FOUND HOLE GUT IN
ELECTA RIGGS WILL
Method Employed to Remove
Name of Eugene Thompson,
Who Was a Beneficiary to the
Extent of 3,OOO-Proponents
Finish Their Testimony


after her death, played an important
part in the testimony Thursday at the
trial Of the case in which this will is
being contested. The peculiar thing
about this copy Of the will Is the fact
that there is hole in the paper where
a name has been cut out. The paper was
identified by a number Of people as the
one which was found In the home Of the
testatrix following her death, and II was
testified that the hole was in the paper
at the time It was found. pointing to the
fact that the testntrix herself cut out
the section Of the paper which Is missing.
The name which had been cut out Of the
paper was that of Eugene Thompson.
a man who had boarded with the testa-
trix for some time and to whom she had
left 5000 under the will.
In support of the theory that the tes-
tatrix had cut this name out of the copy
of the will because she wanted TO take
away from Thompson the legacy which
she had formerly given him, testimony
was introduced by the contestants to the
effect that Miss Rugg had misunder-
standing with the man during the latter
part of the time that ne boarded with
her. Mrs. Emma Perry, of Milton, in
whose house the testatrx lived during
the last six months OF her life. testified
that Miss Rugg told her that Thompson
had deceived her about letters which he
claimed to have received. and that she,
Miss Rugs) was not going to leave him
n cent. The witness declared that Miss
Rugg had told her on several different
occasions that Thompson would get moth
ing through her will.
The proponents rested their side Of the
case Thursday morning shortly before
1890 O'Clock and the contestants spent
the remainder Of the day in putting in
their evidence.
There were many witnesses heard
Thursday. L. d. Latham Of Milton was
on the stand for few minutes in the
morning and was cross-examined by At
torney Alexander concerning the COPY Of
the will found among the papers of the
testatrix which was first introduced at
that time The attention of the witness
was called. also, to certain pencil eras-
ures on the paper. we'll az to the sec
ton cut out In connection with the
cross-examnation, Mr., Latham testified
that his statement to the probate court
regarding the amount Of the estate of
Miss Rugg showed II to be worth s11.S7612
The original COPY OF Miss Riggs will
was read In court Thursday and showed
the following legacies: Rose Allen Stur-
CESS. Utica, N. Y. $1,000; Eugene Thomp.
son. Milton. 81. nm: Laura Patterson. Bur.
lngton, $1,000: Milton Cemetery Associa.
ton. $500. with which to keep up the
Rugg family lot and to beautify the Gem.
etery; Robert Farr Burlington. $1,000
Flbrdge Rugg. Fairfax. $1,000; Ethe
Farr. Burlington. "household STUFF; .
trustees Of the Episcopal Diocese Of Yer
mont. for the benefit of the Episcopa
Church at Milton. $500; Carl Day. New
York City. the residue of the estate
which. according to the administrator
statement to the probate court. would
amount to about $500.
| Among the witnesses called to testify
for the proponents Thursday was Rose
Allen Sturgess, of Utica, N Y. who told
Of the very close friendship between her
self and the testatrix. She testified tina
Miss Rugg had said that some Of hei
cousins never came to see her except n
the case of death in the family or some
thing equally serious. The witness sait
that Miss Rugg was confined at HON,
for quite while before the death OF he
parents because both Of them were Grip
ned and needed care Miss Rugg cared
for them, did the household work on thu
farm, and took the responsibility for run
ming the house In general. according Il
the testimony of this witness, who salt
she had not the least doubt but that tn
testatrix was of sound and disposins
mind.
The contestants put on large numbe
of witnesses during the afternoon. TIL
undertaken who had charge of the funera
when Miss Rugg died, testified to help
ing pick up papers which were fount
around the house. following the death o
the testatrix. and to the finding Of s14
between the feather tick and the mattres
on her bed The Rev. Mr.. Bessey .recto
Of the Episcopal Church nj Milton, CAV
similar testimony. He took the paper
away and later delivered them to tn
stenographer of Mr.. Latham
Mrs. Emma Perry, next door neighbo
to Miss Rugg and the woman who owne
the house in which Miss Rugg spen
her last days, told OF their intimate re
lationship since last June up TO the tim
of Miss Riggs death in January.
was this witness who told of converse
tons with the testatrix concerning Flu
gene Thompson, who boarded with Mis-
Rugg last fall. The witness told of goin
into the house one day and finding Mis-
Rugg sitting with her feet in the over
with shcepskin moccasins on. as we'll a
several sweaters. but with no fire in tn
stove. Electa was complaining OF tn
cold, and the witness SAID she built
fire and stayed with Miss Rugg unit
she got warm. This was about 10 day
before Miss Rugg died. Mrs. Perry sal
that during the time just before Mis-
Riggs death, she carried food to he
several times, cared for her, built fire.
logged in coal swept paths, sifted ashe
etc. The witness told, also, of findin
Miss RrV; dead in the house where sh
had lived alone The body was foun
about eight o'clock in the morning, lyin
In an upper room at the foot of the bee
Mrs. Perry said she knew that Miss Rug
had more than 5000 in the bank. becaus
Miss Rugg had once asked her to figur
the interest on It.
Other witnesses for the contestant
were Miss Ella Bushey, of st. Alban
stenographer for Attorney Alexander
Mrs. Emma Danforth. Of Fairfax Mr.
Jennie B. King, of Fairfax; Clara l
Fisher. of Milton; Mr.. and Mrs. Ira
Rugg. Of Fairfax; and d. G. Danforti
cousin Of Emma Danforth. Mrs. Oar
forth. Mrs. King, Clara Fisher and Ir
c. Rugg are all first cousins of the testa
trx and contestants of the will, TIL
testimony of all OF these was In regar
to the relations between themselves an
Miss Rugg.
: STRTTCK Nv AIJrTO