A trial was held today in Nisi Prius Court No. 2, before Mr Justice Gibson and a special jury, to determine the validity of a document from December 11th, 1889, as the last will of David Burton, a woollen draper from Newcastle West, County Limerick, who passed away on November 16th, 1901. The plaintiffs were Joanna Burton, widow of the deceased, and his nephew Thomas Slack, both legatees under the contested instrument. The defendants were James Hogan and Buckley, executors of the last will, and John Burton, another nephew of the deceased.

The defendant, John Burton, argued that the document had been obtained through the plaintiffs’ undue influence and had been revoked. The plaintiffs countered that at the time of the alleged revocation, the deceased was not of sound mind, memory, and understanding. Both sides were represented by legal counsel.

During the trial, Mr Justice Gibson noted that the signatures of the testator and witnesses had been carefully removed from the document. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury ruled against the validity of the contested will.

Northants Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 18 June 1902