Establishment Elector Under Will of Oliver Smith

a portion of 2015 election ballot of greenfield, massachusetts lists sole candidate running office of town s elector under of oliver smith

oliver smith wealthy miser resident in hatfield, massachusetts, died on december 22, 1845. directed estate used of citizens of 8 designated towns in hampshire , franklin counties, namely, amherst, deerfield, easthampton, greenfield, hadley, hatfield, northampton, whately, , williamsburg, instead of being divided among successors. of oliver smith challenged smith s disinherited relatives.

rufus choate, representing relatives, argued witness smith s will, theophilus phelps, insane , will, therefore, invalid. according twelve different friends, physicians, , family members offered testimony, phelps had believed, since student @ amherst college in 1843, being pursued invisible force intent on capturing , dissecting him. phelps himself called stand daniel webster, acting on behalf of s executors. during testimony, phelps showed extreme composure , claimed that, while had had health issues, had not suffered headaches or fears preceding 2 years, covering time in 1844 when attested will. surrebuttals offered others had observed unusual behavior phelps; in 1 case claimed phelps had been seen sitting motionless in sleigh outdoors in middle of winter 2 hours. nevertheless, choate , relatives lost challenge s validity.