Putnam patriot., 1925-03-13
Hampton Woman Left Property to Hartford Couple, Ignor-
 ing Two Nieces
Will Signed By Cross Seven Hours
 Before Death

Two nieces who live in the west are eontesting the will of Abbie E. Fuller, 6s. of Hampton. whe died at the home of Mir. and Mrs. Austin Howell, Hartford, January 23 last, leaving an of her property to the Howells and not mentioning any of her blood relations in the instrument. A hear ing lasting all of the afternoon took nlace at Hampton, Saturday before Judge of Probate Ray C. Fuller. At torney Roger Walcott Davis of Hart ford. executor named in the will, ap- neared for the will, while its admis- sion to probate was opposed by Att torney Howard c. Bradford, repre- senting the heirs.
 The fight to break the will is ex- nected to be made on the ground of undue influence and the improper execution of the document.
 Witnesses offered by the propo- nents of the will consisted of the doctor who attended Miss Fuller in Hartford during her last illness. He testified that she had a cold which developed into pneumonia. That she was sitting up at five o'clock and. although weak, he thought that at that time she was able to sign her name. She died at two o'clock the following morning.
 Testatrix "Willing"
 Two of the witnesses to the will testified to it's execution. One of the witnesses stating that Miss Fuller said she was willing" to sign the will and did so by making cross with no one holding her hand and that after it was signed was able to eat bowl of soup, feeding herself.
 The other witness said Miss Full Ter made her mark but was unable t1 say whether or not her name was written on the instrumental the time.
 The exeeutor testified that he was called upon by one of the benefici- aries under the will and told that Miss Fuller wished to make a will. He prepared a draft and took it to Miss Fuller the afternoon before she died. She refused to execute the will or to allow him to read it to her. This was in the afternoon.
 Died Within Seven Hours
 It was shown by the opponents to the will that Miss Fuller executed the instrument at 2 o'clock of the eve ming only seven hours before she died. The will was offered in evil dence and a paragraph which had left $200 to the Hampton cemetery for the care of her lot had been scratched out and a substitution made in writing naming Mrs. Howell as the one to see that the lot was cared for.
 Relatives of Miss Fuller testified that she visited at their homes and was friendly with them.
 Miss Fuller went to the Howell home to spend the winter. After she had refused to execute the will in Che afternoon, when the attorney went to her home for the purpose of having her execute it, the Howells called in witnesses and the will was executed by the use of a mark claim ed to have been made by Miss Full Ter without assistance.
 Several witnesses were introduced by the proponents of the will to testi- fy that Miss Fuller had told them that she was going to leave her property to the Howells. To rebut this the other side introduced witnesses to show that Miss Fuller was retieent and not one to talk about her private or business affairs.
 Attorneys Argue
 The proponents of the will argued that it was duly executed and was in accordance with Miss Fuller's wishes. The opponents pointed out what was claimed as suspicious circumstances the refusal to execute the will in the afternoon, the opportunity of the