That Truthful Tombstone

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 91

That Truthful Tombstone

A dispute over the \ahdity of a v.i'l caused some amusement recently m the ixrth. The contestants were the deceased's own family, who thought that he had been r&ther lavish towards obarities, and who wished to have- the will set aside on the ground that tho testator was insane when he made it. Iheir actioii was opposed, and a number of witnesses wore called to speak to the tcstatoi's sanity and to testify to his character, the deduction from tho latter line of argument being that he was just the man to leave money for benevolent objects. One witness, who did not seem to have been very familiar with the deceased, was interrogated by the judge. " Can you give me any evidence," he said, "in regard to the character of the testator?" "Yes, my lord," was the ready answer. "He -was a man without blame, beloved and respected by all men, generous and considerate, pure in all his thoughts " "Where did you learn that story?" queried the judge, with a smile. " I copied it from His tombstone, my lord — erected by his family, my lord!"