Mr. Cook's information was not testimony. We don't know what he told officials in private. He asked to be interviewed privately.
As for witnesses, in my experience, I was asked to wait after my own appointment with my attorney in order to witness a document.
I did not need to know what document or who the people were.
I witnessed strangers signing a document, and saw their IDs matched the names on the document.
I would never remember their names to this day.
If a need arose for me to verify who it was, they would either have to find
me or put out some kind of bulletin and the only way I would remember would be by the date. The date I have knowledge of- because I had an appointment there that day.
The secretary or paralegal or clerk in the office, I think, was
one of the witnesses. Just personal info on witnessing Shelley's will.
As for Uncle John, he says at the inquest:
105
Q. Did he ever talk with you about a will?
A. Yes Sir, he has.
Q. When was the last time?
A. Somewhere within a year.
Q. When you were there at the house?
A. No Sir, I think we were outside at the time.
106
Q. What was the talk?
A. He said he thought he should make some bequests outside to charitable purposes. He did not say any more either one way or the other.
Q. Did he say he had made a will?
A. He did not say .
Q. He did not say whether he had or not?
A. Whether he had or had not.
Q. Did he talk as though he was intending to make a will?
A. I judged from that that he was intending to, I drew my conclusions that he had not, but was thinking of it.
Q. Did he mention the bequests outside he thought he should make?
A. He did not.
Q. How came he to be speaking about it?
A. Common conversation, I suppose, same as about his land. Before he bought the Birch land, I was down there with him. He says lets go up Main street. We went up. He says “here is a piece of property, dont say anything about it, I have got a chance to buy. What is your opinion about it”? I asked what it could be bought for. I dont know as he told me direct, but about. I says “I think it is good property in the heart of the city. The city will be coming towards it all the time. I believe it will be a good investment.” Several months afterwards, one Sunday, he says “John, I did as you told me to”. I says “what is that,” I forgot all about it. “I bought that Birch land.”
Q. I wish you would recall the conversation about the will as explicitly as you have this.
A. That is all he said about the will, he thought of making some bequests out, you know, for charitable purposes. His farm over there, he was talking about the Old Ladies Home, “I dont know but I would give them this, if they would take it.”
Q. Was that the same talk?
A. I dont think it was the same time.
Q. Did he talk to you any other time about a will?
A. I think that is all.
Q. That is the first and last time?
A. Years ago, out West at my place one time, he said he had a will; several years ago he told me he had destroyed it.
Q. How long ago did he tell you he had destroyed it?
A. 15 years ago.
Q. Did he tell you anything about the contents of the will?
A. He did not.
In the Book, "Lizzie Borden The Legend, The Trial, The Final Chapter", on the pages 178 to 180, it was stated
