THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, January 13, 1886

                                                        MAINE MATTERS
                                                             SOMERSET
                                                              (continued)
          They assert that the estate of Abner is of the value of about $2,000,000, that the legacies
      and devises are of about $1,000,000; that Phildander Coburn was his partner in business,
     and died March 6, 1876, leaving the same heirs as Abner except his brothers Alonzo and
     Stephen, since deceased except that Abner; was a heir of Phildander; that Phildander left
      an  estate  of about $2,000,000; that Abner distributed about $650,000 of this to the heirs,
      including the petitioners; that at Abner decease there remained about $1,5000,000; that
     these petitioners  will receive,$250,000 notwithstanding the legacies, a sufficiently large
     and bountiful provision. All the heirs except the two petitioners are  satisfied and made no
     complaint. True, Alonzo's portion of Abner's estate is given to his son, but that was on
     account of the improvident habits of Alonzo, and his want of financial capacity all of
     which was well known to Abner. As Alonzo receives from Philander $125,000, this son
      receives as much from Abner. Both are well provided for. Petitioners received a copy of
      the will, January 26th.They were given to the 23rd of February twenty-eight days, in
     which to enter an appeal. The law allows twenty days. The intention  to appeal was
      formed long after the right of appeal has  passed, denying any concealment of the will.
      The will was read to such of the heirs as were present on the night of the Governor's
     burial. The answer controverts specifically all the reason given for appeal. At the
      conclusion of Mr. Putnam's remarks Wednesday, Mr. Stewart commenced his closing
     argument by remarking that the testator would have done better if he had given less to such
      institutions as the Maine General Hospital and done more  to relieve the suffer of his
      own immediate family in Skowhegan. The judge interposed and said there was no
      testimony in the case to show that any of the testator's relatives had been allowed to
     suffer. The argument lasted six hours and at its close Judge Walton order the clerk to
      enter against the case "Appeal not granted, petition dismissed." Mr. Stewartat once 
      gave notice that exceptions would be filed on the ground that the petitioner were
     entitled to  an opportunity to test the validity of said will which deprived them  of so
      large an estate if allowed to stand.
          D. J. Moore, arrested for murdering Flora B. Bean by procuring an abortion, was of a
     most damaging character and the respondent did not offer any defense, but asked that the
     bonds might be placed at a low sum. Judge Bachelor found probable cause and required the
     respondent to give bonds in the sum of $8,000. The respondent was put in custody until
     bonds were procured.