The Parish Will Case Before the Surrogate of the City of New York..

1857. New York: John F. Trow, 1857.. New York: John F. Trow, 1857. Testimony of Seven Medical Experts in a Notable Nineteenth-Century Will Case Involving Questions of Sanity [Trial]. [Parish Will Case]. Parish, Henry [1787-1856]. The Parish Will Case Before the Surrogate of the City of New York. Medical Opinions upon the Medical Competency of Mr. Parish, by John Watson, M.D., D.T. Brown, M.D., M.H. Ranney, M.D., Pliny Earle, M.D.. Luther V. Bell, M.D., LL.D., M.H. Ranney, M.D., I. Ray, M.D., Sir Henry Holland, Bart., M.D., F.R.S. New York: John F. Trow, 1857. [iii], 573 pp. Each section preceded by divisional title page. Octavo (9-1/2" x 6-1/4"; 24 x 15.8 cm). Contemporary three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, gilt-edged raised bands and gilt title to spine, speckled edges. Some rubbing to boards and extremities, moderate toning to text, light foxing to a few leaves. A well-preserved copy. $450. * First edition. Henry Parish, a New York merchant, died in 1856 at age 69. He had made his will in 1842 but subsequently amended it with three codicils signed after he had suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1849. These codicils were contested by James and Daniel Parish, residuary devisees in the will, on the grounds of mental impairment. The New York Surrogate's Court (and subsequently, the state Court of Appeals) ultimately rejected their argument and upheld the codicils. This trial attracted a good deal of attention and involved testimony by several leading medical and legal experts. Our volume collects this testimony. Later editions were issued in 1858 and 1860. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 11386.