The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-15
BANKER, ON STAND,
AIDS IN FIGHT ON
LAST BROOKS WILL
Donald Morris Testimony
BoISterS Fraud Claims
of Charity Groups.


Of relatives along with those Of two
charity organizations to the
sos, 900 estate Of Bartholomew D
Brooks, indianapolis business man
were introduced today in probate
court.
Several relatives and the charity
groups, the indianapolis Home for
Aged Women and the indianapolis
chapter, American Red Cross, bene-
f1ciarieS under a will signed June
%, 1920, are attempting to show
fraud in connection with another
will, signed shortly before Brooks
death, June 1, 1880.
Donald S. Morris, vice-preSident
of the Fletcher Savings and Trust
Company, administrator Of Brooks
estate, witness for the charity or
CARNATIONS, testified this morning
and identified letters, papers and
the 1920 will taken from q small
safe in Brooks home after tAi
death. This is the will favorable
to the charities agencies.
Valued at 100000
Inventory Of the estate at present
appraisement, presented by Morris
listed its valuation at $2o9,ooo. In
cluded are 121 pieces of property
valued at $4,000 and $1,000 in
personal property, Morris told the
court.
Testimony Of Morris that small
envelopes Of money, hidden in bu-
reau drawers, under rugs and about
the home of Brooks were found
after his death will be used by the
plaintiffs to support their claim he
was of unsound mind when he
signed the 1880 will, leaving major
portion of the estate to a former
employe, Robert Hackney.
Two cousins, Wilbur Clark, Clay
ton, Del, and William Clark, Bal
timore, Md, were in court today
Salem D. Clark, attorney, is repre-
senting twenty-three cousins in the
case. A half-sister, Mrs. lone
Stubbs, mentioned in the 1920 will
lives at Dallas, Tex.
Notes Against Hackney Shown
Notes held by Brooks against
Hackney were introduced by the
plaintiffs that Hackney was treated
as a stranger by Brooks and not a
the personal friend and business
advisor, as the defense is claiming
The notes, one for $4,000 and an
other for $3.50 were made shortly
before Brooks death.
Only six relatives were mentioned
in the 1880 will, while by terms OF
the 1920 document more than flf-
teen relatives received requests
averaging $4,000 each.
Testimony Of six remaining wit
nesses for the charity organizations
is expected to be completed Mon
day, finishing two weeks the case
has been on trial before Smiley N
Chambers.
The defense probably will require
another two weeks to put approx
irnately 100 witnesses on the stand
it is reported.
Jay F. Wood, Northwestern uni.
versity professor and expert or
legal documents, told the court late
Thursday che did believe there
could be the slightest chance he was
wrong in his statement" presented
earlier in the day, and purportine
to show Brooks signed blank piece
Of paper ON which the will after
wards was typed.
Look Through Microscope
On Photographic reprints Of the
will, sixteen times the original size
Wood indicated to jurors how two
typewriters were used in writing the
1920 document and how the sigma
ture Of Brooks and the witnesses
were Of different ink.
This testimony was Haunted ir
the face of previous acknowledge
ment by the defense that Brooks
and witnesse signed their names al
the same time. using the same foun-
tain pen.
Jurors were allowed TO look
through microscope and view for
themselves the things that Wood
told the court from the witne%
stand.
Checks given by Brooks to his
relatives as Christmas presents over
a period Of years were among evil
dence introduced in support Of the
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