Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-13
RUGS IN WELLS HOME
VALUED At S22,22l
Experts Testify in Contested
Will Case as to Worth of
Furnishings in Summit Street
House Three Years AgO-At.
torneys Argue Over Papers

Documentary evidence and testimony
in regard to the worth of the property at
I'll Summit street, and the worth of the
furnishings in the house. and other mat
ters, took up the afternoon Monday in
the Wells will case, which Is starting
upon its seventh week i'm county court.
Among the witnesses on the stand Mon
day were Miss Edith Perry of the pro-
bate office, who testified in regard to
certain papers in the Wells case which
were filed there; Hobart j. Stanley, who
gave testimony in regard to the worth of
books claimed by Mrs. Sykes at 81 Sum
NIT street; and Albert s. Kilburn of Hart
ford. Conn, formerly of the Old Bee Hive
in this city. specialist in Oriental rugs
and tapestries who testified as to the
worth of certain furnishings in the Wells
house.
". j.. Ward was also on the stand for a
few minutes during the afternoon and was
questioned regarding what conversations
he had with Mrs. Wells relative to the
disposition of her property.
Mr.. Shanfy said that he was at the
house a. Gl Summit street Monday morn
ing and looked over the books. estimating
their worth. lie placed value Of s.. or. %
upon them He said that this estimate In
Guided about 900 volumes, many of them
what the books were worth in 1917. On
cross examination, Mr.. Billiard sought to
show that these books would not be sala =
bic in Burlington a present for anywhere
near tho estimate that Mr. Stanley had
placed upon them. and tried to get the
witness TO place a value upon them for
what he thought they could be sold at
auction Mr.. Stanley would not do this.
as he said there was no way of estimat-
ing that.
Mr. Kilburn testified that he had plac-
ed an estimate upon the rugs. furniture
and some other furnishings in which he
4 had dealt at S36.3ll. based on their worth
in 1911. The rugs he valued a. s22. 22l; tho
porcelain al $3.50 and other furnishings
at s1045o This did not include slverware
linen or bedding of any kind, nor We're
personal things. or articles in the cellar
In the stables or elsewhere about tn,
place included. The witness was ques-
toned in some detail about individual
rugs during the cross-examinaton.
Several letters were read including q
legal opinion on certain matters in con
Injection with the handling of the trust
fund under the estate of Edward Wells
Attorney Sargent offered in evidence Ger
tain papers relating to the charges made
against Mr.. Ward by Mr. Gushing as al
based upon the report of the American
Audit company. The con- estants objected
to the admission of these papers. After
some argument. they were excluded.
In connection with his argument agains
the admission of these papers. Attorne.
Billiard for the contestants stated tina
it is the claim of tho contestants that let
tiers and papers referring to the audi
company report and the charges mad,
against Mr. Ward as a trustee We're sub
mtted by Mr. Ward to Mrs. Wells fo
a purpose. and that purpose was to max,
her believe that Mrs. Sykes was persecut
ing him, and thus to influence Mrs. Wells
against her step-daughter and in his owl
favor. Mr.. Billiard declared that it II
the claim Of the contestants that Mr.
Ward sought to deceive Mrs. Wells il
this matter by telling her that there wa
nothing to the charges made against hin
by the attorney for Mrs. Sykes. and that
in this way. undue influence was brough
upon Mrs Wells
Just before the close of the afternoon
session. MIR. Sargent offered the writing
of Mrs. Wells. which had already beer
introduced as evidence for the purpose o
showing testamentary capacity, for thu
further purpose of showing that she un
dersto the things which she wrote I,
be facts, that she had a knowledge o
what she wrote. He also offered the &C
counts of Mrs. Wells, previously admit
ted for the purpose of testamentary ca
pacty, for this further purpose as abov,
stated The contestants strenuously OBJ
iected to both these offers and argumen
followed Adjournment came before TIL
matter had been entirely settled.