TO-DAY'S HEARING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 12

TO-DAY'S HEARING

NURSE GIVES EVIDENCE

j The hearing of the Hiliter will case |wa3 continued to-day. j Sister Alice Maud West said she was {called to Sir George Hunter's house in Dixon street on. 27th September, 192!), by Lady Hunter and remained there until 19th December, 1929. Witness said she was on duty each day from 8 a.m. until S p.m. Sir George, when she first went to the house, was lying on his back and was more or less in a sleeping condition, which, however, gradually wore .off in from four to six days. Sir George recognised witness. He did not attempt to speak to witness at that'time other than to ask necessary questions. Throughout the time she was at the house Sir George showed steady improvement. He was of a rather reticent nature, but talked when he began to improve. Several days after Sir George took ill Mr. Dunn, visited the house. There waa some talk of a will being made. Mr. Gray: "Was that associated •ivith Mr. Dunn's presence1?"—" As far as I can remember, Mr. Dunn, was to come and sec Sir George about the will." Witness said that Lady Hunter ta.lked ' about having independent nunlical advice, and Dr. Giesen made nn examination, whi«fa took &M minutes,

at the outside. She heard Dr. Giescn say: "Oh, he's all right." Just before tho October will was read to him. Sir George said: "Leave the room, Edith (meaning Lady Hunter). Mr. Dunn is going to read my will." Lady Hunter left the room, and witness went with her. Mr. Gray: "Did you hear that the will had been signedI?"—" Yes. Sir George remarked: 'It's all fixed up now, and I'm none the worse for the ordeal.' " A few days later, said witness, the question of another will was raised in general conversation between Lady Hunter and her sister, Mrs. Cox, and subsequently Mr. Dunn saw Sir George several times. Lady Hunter, on these visits, was in Sir George's room nearly always. At that time Sir George was showing further improvement. About eight weeks after he took ill Sir George got up. "Witness said she remembered a long interview Sir George had with Mr. Dunn. Sir George appeared to have stood it well. Witness said to Lady Hunter that she hoped the interview had not unduly taxed Sir George, and Lady Hunter replied: "Oh well, West, it's nice that everybody will be happy now. I have got Sir George to leave Bobby some." Bobby was Lady Hunter's younger son. Sister West said that for some weeks Sir George had been practising his signature. He was anxious to bo able to write his signature. One morning Sir George asked witness if she would mind witnessing his will, and witness said she would be- only too pleased. Sir George had no difficulty. in expressing himself. Lady Hunter also asked witness if she would witness Sir George's will, which she did. At the signing of the will there were present Dr. Stoele, Mr. Dunn, and witness. Mr. Dunn asked witness if she thought Sir George understood he was about to sign his will. Witness thought that Dr. Steelo should sign first. Witness liauded the pen to Dr. Steelo, and Mr. Dunn asked the doctor the same question. Dr. Steelo replied: "Yea, quite." Mr. Dunn then asked witness the question again. Witness replied that as far as she knew Sir George was all right, but that as Dr. Steele was present he was better able to judge. Dr. Steele- said: "Yes, quite able." Sir George signed the will by making his mark on a number of pages. M.v. Gray said that the will was dated 16th November, and asked witness whether that was the date. Witness said she could not remember the date; it was some time in November, though. WOULD LIKE ANOTHER WILL. Mr. Gray: "Sir George had been practising writing his signature. Why didn't he write his name?" Witness said it was because it was considered that the exertion would be too great a strain 021 his right hand, in view of the paralysis in his right arm. She had a vague recollection that Mr. Dunn asked Sir George if ho understood he was signing his will, and Sir George said; "Oh yes." After the will was signed Sir George appeared very bright and talked with witness. He "said: "I hope I did not tiro you. Thank you." Sir George also said that ho would practice his signature because later he would like to have another will with his proper signature. Mr. Gray: "Did he say why?" Witness: "Yes. He said it would never do for a Hunter to have a will without a proper signature." At that time, said witness, Sir George was bright and interested in everything, and read the newspapers. Mr. Gray: "Did he read them himself?"—" Yes." Counsel: "Regularly?"—" Yes. If tho papers were not thereon time he would quickty make inquiries about them." A day or two after tho will had boon signed Sir George referred to the will rind said he was not satisfied. Sir George said there was a lot to be thought about in making a will. He had to consider his two nephews, who had been Very good to him in attending to the farm while he was ill and while lie was attending Parliament. Sir George asked witness how soon she thought it would bo before he would be able to get down to Mr. Dunn's office. Mr. Gray: "On any of tho visits of his nephews did "you notice anything abnormal about Sir George?"—"No; lie was always keen to see his nephews." "As far as you can see did Sir George show any signs of failing intelligence and mentality!"—"No; he was regaining all the time I was with him." In answer to further questions by Mr. Gray, witness said that as far as she could remember Dr. Giesen called to see Sir George three times and Dr. MacDonaJd.twice. When she left, Sir George was in an advanced state of convalescence. He was a, good patient, and was keen to make improvement. Witness said she was called to attend to Sir George- during his last illness in August, this year. While she was there Sir George died. Not long ago, witness said that she had a conversation with Lady Hunter over tho telephone. Mr. Gray: "What did she say?"— "She said she was disputing the will. Sir George had bested her and gone to Mr. Dunn's office on tho day they left for Kotorua, revoked part of the will concerning Betty, and had left his nephews £5000 each." Mr. Gray: "Did Lady Hunter then or at any other time suggest that Sir George did not know what he was doing?"—" Over the telephone she said that Sir George was not in a condition to understand altering his will." Counsel asked witness if Sir George had made any reference to his station at Porangahau. Sister West said that Sir George had stated that Lady Hunter wanted part of his land allotted to her for lemon growing. As it meant dividing the land it might cause complications later, and there could only be one head to the station, otherwise he might lose all his farm hands. THE OCTOBER WILL. Questioned by Mr. Watson, counsel for Lady Hunter, witness said that as to tho first will in October she did not think Sir George was quite fit to make a will at that time, but knowing the contents of the former will and with considerable help from Mr. Dunn, who knew liis affairs, lie would be ablo to make a will. Mr. Watson: "Did you approve of business being transacted within a week or ten days of Sir George's stroke?"—"l must have if Mr. Dunn saw Sir George. Evidently I thought Sir George was well enough." "Did you not as a fact tell Lady Hunter that it was disgraceful that Sir George was being worried about willimikiug'3"—"l shall not admit it or deny it." "Didn't you complaiu>to Lady Hunter about this will-making going on in October?" —"I might have done so. I don't, remember." "You didn't, in fact, approve- of it, did you?"—"I cannot remember, Mr. Watson.'' "Oli, surely you can remember that. You didn't approve of it, did you?" Mr. Gray: "I presume there was a medical man in charge," Witness said that she understood that before Sir George ever attempted the will there was a medical opinion that he was fit to proceed. She assumed from that, that he was able to go on with the will. Mr. Watson: "But apart from the medical opinion you didn't think he should be making a will in October, did you'?"—"I don't know that I thought at all about it. The idea was to got Sir George's affairs fixed up." "Did you think he was in any immediate "danger of death?" —"You never know in these cases." Mr. Watson said be mnsfc ofcgeafc to ;

the fact that Dr. Steelo had been nodding his head and signalling to the witness with his hands. Mr. Gray: "I must confess I have seen nothing of that." Mr. Watson: "I have been watching it closely." His Honour said he thought the witness could be relied upon. Sister West, in answer to his Honour, said she had not been looking at Dr. Steele. Dr. Steele, who had been sitting alongside- Mr. Gray, rose and protested against Mr. Watson's allegations. "I can assure your Honour I have been doing nothing of the kind," he said. Turning to Mr. Watson he added: "I am rather surprised at your suggesting it, Mr. "Watson." Dr. Steele left his seat alongside Mr. Gray and sat with tho two nephews in the jury stand, opposite Lady Hunter. A MEDICO'S WINK? Continuing his cross-examination, after this interlude, Mr. Watson asked witness whether Sir George had not misplaced his words and sometimes used the wrong words. Ho asked witness whether, when Sir George had done this Dr. Stocle had not winked at witness. The witness indignantly declared that Dr. Steele had not winked, nor, she said, would any other medical man. Mr. Watson: "I am sorry if I hurt your feelings." Sister "West: "You have not hurt my feelings.'' His Honour: "What foundation have you got for making such a suggestion?" Mr. Watson: "Another nurse, sir, who will follow." His Honour: "Oh! Perhaps it was tho other nurse he was winking at." In answer to further questions by Mr. Watson, witness said she did not think she had had to be outstandingly firm towards Sir George. "Didn't Lady Hunter have to expostulate with both you and Sister Tansoy for being peremptory in your tone?"—"I don't remember. I don't think I had any trouble with Sir George about doing things." "Do you remember Lady Hunter speaking to you and your telling Lady Hunter that you, had to speak in sharp tones to Sir George?"—"No, I don't, Mr. Watson, because Sir George was always very obedient and good." Counsel questioned witness as to whether Sir George had been despondent about his condition, asking her whether she had not seen Sir George having a quiet cry. Sister West said she did not remember ever having seen Sir George cry. "ALWAYS INTELLIGENT." Re-examined by Mr. Gray, Sister West sa'id that in Sir George's conversation generally there was nothing remarkable or anything out of the ordinary that she could remember. Mr. Gray: "In conversing with you, or you with him, would be speak as a normal person would or otherwise?"— "Oh, yes, as quite a normal man. From the beginning Sir George was always intelligent and bright." In answer to another question by Mr. Gray, witness said she could not remember having said to Lady Hunter that it was disgraceful that Sir George should be askod to make a will. "Did you yourself think that it was disgraceful that Sir George should be asked to make a will?"—"I am sure I didn't." Witness said that Sir George was a very good patient, and she could not remember having spoken peremptorily to him. "To my mind," said witness in answer to another question, "Sir George was •normal from the first and never showed any signs of being deficient mentally." After some further questions, Mr. Gray concluded his examination, and Adeline O'Connor, a masseuse, was the next witness. (Proceeding;.)