Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-15
MRS. WARD 1ES1|F|ES
IN WELLS WILL CASE
Says Most Friendly Relations
Existed for More Than 20
Years Because of Love and
Affection Which Each Wont
an Had for the Other

The relationships between Mrs. Effie Il.
p Wells and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Il.
Ward were brought out 10 some extent
yesterday when Mrs. Louise X. Ward.
wife of Henry l.. Ward, the man to whom
Mrs. Wells left a good share of her prop
erty. took the stand in the Wells will
case. Mrs. Ward said that there had been
the most friendly relation between their
family and that of Edward Wells for
more than 20 years
The Wards were quite intimate with the
family of General William Wells, also, and
were acquainted with all the Wells fam
HES. Since the death of Edward Wells in
1907. the Wards have visited back and
forth with Mrs. Edward Wells at frequent
intervales. and Mrs. wells has taken a
great interest in the Ward family their
joys and their sorrows.
When Mrs. Ward was asked what was
the relation between Mrs. Wells and her.
self, as shown by Mrs. Wells action and
her own feelings, she answered.:
Affection and love"
And asked what her own personal feel
ings toward Mrs. Effie Wells, the wit
ness said simply:
IT loved her"
After two days and half of documen-
tary evidence at the beginning of this
week, in which the principal witnesses
we're Charles f. Heath, formerly of the
Burlington Trust company and Frank
l.. Roberts the present treasurer of the
Trust company. the evidence took new
turn shortly before the close of the MORN
ing session Yesterday when Mrs. Ward
was called to the stand. she continued
on the stand during the greater part of
the afternoon, and when she completed
her testimony, the proponents sprung
something of a surprise by calling two
members of the Wells family, Frank Il.
Wells and Mrs. Bertha Jackson, the wife
of Or. II. Nelson jackson. for brief testi-
mony. The audience section of the court
room, which has been nearly empty for
the last two days during the introduction
of the documentary evidence, filled up
again this afternoon.
In her testimony, Mrs Ward told of the
social relationship between Mrs. Wells
and herself and Mr.. Ward. They met otter
10 play bridge whist sometimes at the
Wells home, sometimes at the Wards
sometimes at other places. Mrs. Ward
described in some detail the way in which
Mrs. Wells was taken sick just before she
died This sickness came on while Mrs
Wells was at the Ward home. Mrs. Wells
came there that afternoon feeling cold
and said that she had been shivering al
day. She lay down on the couch and Mrs
Ward covered her up and started a
heater going near by.
Later. they were playing cards with the
parkers. when Mrs. Wells began to fee
III and had to lie down again. This time
she became worse and DIR. Sabn was call
! ed Mrs. Wells was then removed to hei
home. DR.. Sabin and Mr.. Ward accom-
panying her. Later. Mrs Ward went t.
, the Wells house and spent the night witt
, Mrs. Wells.
During the day after Mrs. Wells wa.
, taken sick, Mrs. Ward went there to SCI
| her in the late afternoon and found he
! IN the bathroom partially unconscious
J Mrs Ward helped her back to bed anc
stayed with her for a while. on the fol
| lowing day. Mrs. Ward called again an'
then found Mrs. Wells very i'll, with tw'
nurses in attendance. That was the las
: time the witness saw Mrs. Wells befor
, her death.
! One letter from Mrs. Wells to Mrs
Ward was produced as evidence and read
They were letters which combined bust
ness with general news for the most part
The witness gave information regarding
pcnics and automobile trips which tn
Wards and Mrs. Wells had taken in com
pany.
On cross-eXamination by Attorne
Brown, Mrs. Ward said that Mrs. Well
always appeared to love her grand
children. but the witness had not see
these children at the Wells home grea
deal during the last four or five years.
Mrs Ward was cross examined. also, i
regard TO the bond which. it is said MI
Ward lost for the Sykes family, but tn
witness knew very little about that, Sh
disavowed any knowledge, also. Of til
relationship between Mrs. Wells an
Anna Wells Sykes, saying that she ha
never talked with Mrs. Wells about tina
matter.
Questioned regarding the business rela
tonship between Mrs. Wells and NJ
Ward, Mrs. Ward declared that she kne'
nothing about this, as she never talke
over business affairs with Mr.. Ward. Sh
knew that Mr.. Ward used to go 10 III
Wells home at times to talk over bus
ness matters, especially during the late
years of Mrs. Wells life, but these visit
were not frequent.
Frank r. Wells, a nephew of Edwar
Wells, testified in regard to a Telegram
received by Mrs. Effe Wells about Octc
Der 3, 1919, and concerning which she cor
suited him. This was a telegram frol
Carl Wells, another nephew of Edwar
Wells, in Hollywood, California, askin
that Mrs. Effie Wells Frank Well
Bertha Wells Jackson, and other men
beers of the Wells family make an inves
ment In certain project in California
which he was Interested Frank Wei
was not in favor Of taking up this prof.
osition and advised Mrs. Effc Wells nc
do anything about it. \ telegram Wa
sent to Carl Wells by Mrs E1ic Well
on the following day, saying that the
had decided not TO accept the proposition
The witness testified, also to Mrs Eff
Wells part in business deal which COZ
cerned the Wells e. Richardson compan
in which she was interested. He state
that she met with tho directors Of II
company and attorneys, and that Two
three hours were taken to explain TO h,
the transaction which was being Co
sidered. At the end of that time, aft
she had asked a number of question
Mrs. Wells signed the contract which hi
been drawn up, and from which the Wei
e. Richardson company was later sold
Mrs Bertha W jackson, the wife
stand just before the close OF the afto
noon session. FOE very brief testimony
regard to travelling in Europe with Nj
Effie Wells, and also regarding Fl;
Cross work, in which Mrs. Jackson S ma
participated to the extent Of MAXI
collections