When <a>WM^ C C A S I O N A li ly you hear ->f men who, heed ing the uncertain ties of existence, distribute their r--y- —i property in the life I tlme ' Insteati o{ \SM directing th e manner in which "Hp it shall be dls posed after they have disappeared forever from tho earthly scene. Such a case occurred a few days ago In Chicago when a man of means simply placed an estate valued at SL',OOO,OOO in the care of a trust company for the benefit of his four children. Thus with one stroke he satisfied himself that his property ■would reach the hands of those for ■whom it was intended, and no doubt this was a gratifying achievement. For, after all, the will that every sen sible man is supposed to make does not always fulfil its obpect and thus the world sees a contest of claimants which is often less desirable to view than a church quarrel. The will, as an Instrument of the law, owes its development to the Romans. India did not know of it be fore the conquest, and it was but a rudimentary affair in Mosaic law and in ancient Athens. The early ltoman will was effectual during the lifetime of the person who made it, and it was irrevocable, its object being to secure the perpetuation of the family. Thus the hereditas was vested in a person who could be relied upon to carry on the family name and traditions. Often such wills were made on the eve of battle, and they were published in ac cordance with the law. When Constantino the Great caused Christianity to be recognized by the state, this act had its effect upon will making, inasmuch as the duty of giv ing bequests to the church was en couraged Monks and heretics, how ever, were not allowed to make wills or to take bequests. Then again, wills were deposited in churches; indeed, in Engand the church exercised juris diction in testamentary matters for centuries. Up to 185S t'l* probate and custody of wills lay with the English ecclesiastical courts, but the careless ness to which the documents were ex posed at the hands of lazy and incom petent officials led to vigorous crit icism of the system by Charles Dick ens and other writers, and, as a con sequence, the church lost its ancient privilege. In moili,:i days, by reason of the prosai:: language of legal draftsmen, wills have lost much of th»lr inter est as purely human documents; but if one were to set himself to the task of writing ihe social history of a great city like New York, from its begin ning, ho could do 110 better than delve into the records of the surrogates courts. All wills are probated there: children are adopted under the direc tion of rhe surrogates; they appoint guardians and discharge them agiin. when minors r<ach the ago of leg' . discr< tiou; they settle and distribute the estates of the poor and rich. Thus there is to be found in the probate records the detail:; of social life by generation ;, and it is possible to trace the evolution of families, old and new, and their rise and fall on the tide of fortune. The skeleton in the closet is often revealed by legal procedure, and, though it cannot bo avoided, the fam ily quarrel is bound to be aired when will contests are tried before a surro gate. Many elements enter into these contests—dissatisfied heirs, forg-ry, undue Influence on the part of per sons who huvu been associated with the property owner; the existence of more than one will; vague and Indefi nite language in a man's last testa mint. for .ill things which are so writ ten in a will us to be unintelligible are to be on that account regarded as though th v were not written." Hi: !! Sage, who disposed of u vast without Indulging in su pe-rtluou s.'in; -, adopted a imple method to prevent litigation over his property. A clan >• of tits will read: "Should any of the beneficiaries un der thPi, my will, other than my said wile, object to the probate <h ■: of. or tn any wise directly or Indirectly con test or aid In contesting the tuno or any provision thereof, or the diatribe tlon nf my estate thereunder, then ml in that event 1 annul any bequest herein inadtt to such beneficiary, and It U uty will that such beneficiary shall be absolutely barred and cut ofl frot.t an hare In my estate." I"h« n was no cont< st, although It was said that thi b> m lUlar'e* grumbled a lit tie bit One oi 'he niu.-t dramatic will casei In the 1.l 'oi v <•( Mas. HI hiitetts wai trb 1 4 •I: ay. ill th« prob-alt court o< Kant Cambridge, wfcere twi claimants np|>e«retl to Unlit fort share or -Uiiat-r Daniel luu ell's < . tale, valued at s,'.>u,oo*i, lly liU wll the el,], r oil, William C. Russell, mu directed to tiMM Ihe t-Mat< equall) with 111 I 1.l tier, 1 millet lll,ike, wh« had di ic it lii |kh.., after a q iar •iit.gt.ii to lia I >ll «|lM>|| faj i - kota Dan" to members of the Rous seau family, and there was, of course, a "battle" of handwriting experts, each contradicting the other. And "Dakota Dan" brought witnesses to show that the letters were forgeries, and that the addresses had been writ ten on the envelopes after the post office cancellation marks had been stamped thereon. To these letters were added an ap plication form for membership in the Woodmen of the World. This con tained the family history of Rousseau and said that he had throe brothers and two sisters living and that an other brother had been killed in a railroad accident. All of which was apparently true. "Dakota Dan's" ex perts asserted that the answer had not ben written by him, but had been filled in by others at a later period, his handwriting having been Imitated. Thereupon the Russell lawyers showed that the paper had remained in the archives of the Woodmen of the World until the court ordered Its pro duction. The trial dragged on for several months and as It was nearlng the end a second Daniel Make Russell, who was to be called "Fresno Dan," came out from his fruit ranch in Fresno, Cal. Out there he was known as Henry .lohnson, but in Melrose, the home of the Russells. he was recog nized as the missing "Dan" by the re spon iblo citizens. He seemed to be well informed as to the details of Dan i ' early life in Melrose, but "Dakota Dan" declared that his rival had been brought onto cheat him out of ills rights, .ludge Lawton, before whom the tedious case was tried, finally de cided in favor of "Fresno Dan," and that night the Judge was burned in effigy by an angry crowd of ' Dakota Dan's" supporters. If the case is car ried to a higher court little may bo left of the estate, for the litigation has already cost a huge sum. In the many efforts of Albert T. Pat rick to free himself from a life sen tence for the murder of William Marsh Rice, an aged recluse, people have almost forgotten that Patrick was first charged with forgery in con nection with the old man's will. Pat rick, a lawyer, bad learned of Marsh's wealth and his weak state of mind through a suit in a Texas court, and ho gained the confidence of Charles F Jones, valet to the recluse, Jones becoming the lawyer's tool. Rice, In fact, never knew Patrick, although the latter posed as the mil lionaire's attorney, always working through Jones, who confessed that ho killed his master at the lawyer's In stigation Motive for the murder was held to b' desire on the part of Pat rick to obtain control o( Itlce's for tune bj means of a forged will, and iho uitird l r was accomplished by Jones at Patrick's command, chloro form being the death medium. Jones wit* allowed togo fref, while Patrick wa» sentenced to death. This was In l»e.' Governor lllgglns commuted t) <o<ntene< to lite Imprisonment, and since that time Patrick has made US iin.su> • tul attempts to regain his Phonographic records of testimony In a will ea ■( were taken In Itoston for u " at another trial. If |«»-ruiitt- d by th court This unusual procedure was th' r> ult i>( the Mluea* of on* of the principal wltneuM, who wan obliged to undergo a surgical opera I toil Immediately after giving eyl deRI > Should It be Mice Miry to In tr<>due" thi ,e records, the attitude ol ih court toward them will t>u of In ally, for H might »»rve to create a •>t i or ooldlei * 4lt the ft> 11 ur< CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1910. Army history was related in the will of Brig. Gen. Loomia L. Langdon, who died on January 7. One para graph read: "I give to my son, Captain Lang don, the silver tea service presented to me by the citizens of Brownsville, Tex., for what they termed my 'dis interestedness and patriotic services,' as they kindly chose to characterize my action during the absence of the Rio Grande garrison in organizing the cit izens of Brownsville into an effective force and assisting in defending their lives and property against the attack of the bandit, Juan Curtinas, for which I received tho thanks »112 the citizens." ills saddle also went to his son with this comment: "The saddle I used during the great Civil war was on the horse that was killed under me in the battle of Olus tree, or Ocean Pond, Fla., on Febru ary 20, 186-1. The horse was hit five timet; and one or two shots went through the saddle, but the bullet holes are concealed by a new cover of leather which was put on the sad dle." Not Infrequently you hear of peo ple who have been rewarded In wills for a kind act long forgotten, except by the person who experl"iiced It. In all probability little Information about King Edward's will Is likely to come to light, for there Is no law in England to compel the probating of such a kingly document. British sov ereigns are permitted to purchase property with tho funds of the privy purse, and they have the right to dis pose of their personal estate without publicity. It is related of George 11. that, with the consent of his minis ters, he burued the will of his father, flcorge I , because It contained certain scandalous bequests to court favor ites. and It is not improbable that oth er old kings adopted similar measures when they were deemed necessary tc preserve the reputation of the reign ing house. Dickens tells In "Pickwick Papers" how Sain Waller saved his stepmoth er's will from destruction at the hands of his father, Tony. 'This here Is the dockyment, Sam my," Bald Mr. Weller. "I found It In ihe little hluek teapot, on the top shell ol the bar closet. Shi- used to keeji her banknotes there afore she mar rled, Satnlvel. I've seen her take th» lid off to pay a bill, many and many a time Poor creetur, she might ha till, d all th< ti a pot* In tho house wltti vllls, and not have Inconvenienced herself neither, for she took w»-ry lit tie of anytfctn' In that vay lately, 'cepl on the taiuperan<« night. tan th«> Just laid a foundation o' tea to pul the spirits a-top on'" "What does It sa) "" Inquired Sam ' Jlst vol I told you. tuy boy," re jollied Mm parent. "Two hundred pound* vurih o' reduced counsels tc ti v bun lit law, Hunilvel, and nil th> re-.t o ui) property, of ovary kind aiu de- rlptlnn wotwurar 10 my htuband Mr Tony Vellwr, who I applni ss ui) sole i xnsvkiter." rfc.u * ail, Is It?" said Main. I I,.if . all. ' r. pll .1 dl We||« r "And I » pose as It's all riMUt sin mil f<t<'tory to >ou and ui» as Is Ihi i.hi | ill. lui»'> t' l (« Buy as vol i it this bit u | ijrt-i Into ib>< lira.'* "Wot are you mlolu' or, yuu tuns f.ilil Hum, snatehlng th« papei iiv, „y a* hi* parum 111 all luiom > »tt v Mined the fire preparatory to suit Mm th> actio* <u th« word. You're a m V| i ut"' liiqulrvd Mr Weller look VAN VALKENBURG IS JUDGE Judge Arba S. Van Valkenburgh, recently ap pointed United States district judge, western dl vision of Missouri, Is one of the youngest jurists 1/ on the federal bench. He is only 48 years of K Hi age * ' )U ' ; *'' s f r ' ent ' s sa y this no ' ; prevent him wHSJfcu ,||| from making an enviable record. Mr. an Valkenburgh succeeded Senator War- W * &t ncr 03 Un,ted States district attorney for the W 4A western district of Missouri in 1905 and was re- I'a -fr appointed by President Taft in December, 1909. Wljjfaiss '' / He had previously served seven years as assist wfe ' / L ant to Major Warner in that office. He was born in Syracuse, N. Y., In 18G2. When he was seven years old his parents removed to Illinois and jfl 1 later to Michigan. He was graduated from the University of Michigan In 1884, attaining high rank as a scholar. Mr. Van Valkenburgk went to Kansas City in 1885 and entered the law offices of Dobson, Douglas and Trimble, being admitted to the Jackson county bar in 1888. The same year he formed a law partnership with D. J. Haff. He was married in 1889 to Miss Grace Ingold of Kansas City. Mr. Van Valkenburgh was appointed assistant district attorney by Major Warner in 1898, .succeeding William Draffen. Upon Major Warner's election to the senate in 1905 President Roosevelt appointed him to the place he since has held. Law came naturally to Mr. Van Valkenburgh. His father, Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, was a justice of the peace back in New York In the early GO's. Friends of the newly appointed judge say that at the department of justice in Washington Mr. Van Valkenburgh was considered as ranking among the ablest United States district attorneys in the country. As United States district attorney, Mr. Van Valkenburgh first attracted national attention in the prosecution of all the packing companies to compel .hem to comply with the interstate commerce laws regarding the shipment of meats for export. He brought the suit in this jurisdiction and won it before Judge McPherson, sitting for Judge Philips. POINDEXTER IN LIMELIGHT , - Representative Miles Poindexter of Washing ton, candidate for the United States senate, g whose cause has been espoused by Theodore K-.'Sa Roosevelt, was born in Memphis, Tenn., fifty-two 4 « years ago and has lived in Washington nineteen a years. He has served only one term in congress (K and has been identified with tho insurgents, rH which makes the action of Colonel Roosevelt all \\yjjwrx the more Important to national politics. M ; j. nf-liTj 1 <M® Mr. Poindexter has been a political foe of \ ' (eg? Richard A. Ballinger, secretary of the interior \. in the Taft cabinet, with whom Qifford Plnchot, Ss&Pj former chief forester and friend of Roosevelt, has ' la d a feud for some time. A \§r Wvlßffij The Washington congressman visited Colonel Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill a few days ago and came away in jubilant spirits. Roosevelt had promised to aid him in his fight for the senate and he had a right to feel happy, for help from Roosevelt means help of the right kind and Poindexter needed it. Mr. Poindexter was educated at Fancy Hill academy, Rockbridge county, Va., and at Washington and Lee university, Lexington, Va., in both the aca demic and law courses. He located at Waliawalla, Wash., in 1891 and began the practise of law. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Waliawalla county in 1592 and in 1897 moved to Spokane. He was assistant prosecuting attorney for Spokane six years and in 1901 was elected judge of the superior court and remained on the bench until nominated for congress in the newly created third district of Washington. He was elected by a majority of 15,000. When Secretary Ballinger learned that Colonel Roosevelt had promised to lend his influence to the Poindexter cause he expressed tho belief that tho former president had been misled as to the situation in Washington. The seat in the senate to which Representative Poindexter aspires is now held by Samuel Henry Piles, who is not in the race for re-election. GIVES MILLIONS FOR BOYS ~ l — l —■ David J. Runken, Jr., one of the wealthiest * v men of St. Louis, has acted literally upon that /s//. >1 much-advertised saying of Andrew Carnegie, that w V \ "lie who dies rich dies disgraced," and has turned I over his entire fortune, estimated at a little more ,-S" - 'Jfev / than $3,000,000, to the David J. Ranken, Jr., School Mechanical Trades, which he founded, reserv- MRw/vy ' r) ing only so,ooo a year for his own modest uses. I Tho school was established a year ago with ■ (vA \l an ~nd owment Of $500,000, its purpose being to jJ'Ky' " v V*i ) k' vo hoys over fifteen years old a trade education y — '/)' for a nominal sum. The school has prospered nl "' to a,ll P'">' usefulness the additional en- dowrwent by Mr. Ranken has been made. Wirt 111 v Mr. Ranken, who was born in ILondonderry. 'Y ! "* Ireland. In 183.">, and who has been a resident of St. Louis slnco 1862, made his money In real ••state and stock transactions. The students at the Runken school are charged <>nly s:to a year, payable in three Installments, and are given a two years' course. All their education Is of a practical kind. Runken occupies three small rooms over a grocery. When he enter* the dour and climbs to his rooms he shuts out the world and declines to be seen. Here 110 has lived for years and worked out tho plans and ambition of his life the founding of the trades school where poor boys can receive a trade education for a nominal fee Mr. Ranken visits his school every day and watches the boys at work Ho wastes no time In teaching theory In the lecture rooms unless It has some practical application In the shop w irk. Geometry la taught, but Instead of having the ho>s compute the column* of a cone, they are taught the hold ing capacity of a funnel or like dimension*. Classroom work In all branches I of drawing, carpentry, bricklo)lug, painting and steam engineering Is along I similar practical lines. ASTOIfNDS CHOATE'S FRIENDS 1 Not only the iu.lg. « and lawyets of tie country /- v \ I , '" t ,k!l '"How the a (fall of tho n* > V\| " " wh»n charge* of unprafM tr Wliill "" ml , t agalast J. ,ph 11 ft *'»»«•««• fc-rmer amba ador from the tfnlted ' XV V vlll " tu Hrltaio ( g- ■*_ -i| The American Itar 1.1 latlon, <>f which Mr ' v , •' ' k"/ tl.e ct «rm■ *at lit conv»iitii>i. In < hatia j /- r v U,M,KU ' »"•»»" »•"» * r I " fw yS tflend ■ sa> thui U 110 litubl th It the Verdict v~ % IT WAS ONCE HIS. "Tou don't remember mo do you?" "No; but that umbrella has a fa miliar look." SOFT, WHITE HANDS May Be Obtained in One Night. For preserving the hands as well as for preventing redness, roughness, and chapping, and imparting that vel vety softness and whiteness much de eired by vomen Cutlcura Soap, assist ed by Cutlcura Ointment, is believed to be superior to all other skin soaps. For those who work in corrosive liquids, or at occujiations which tend to injure the hands, it is invaluable. Treatment —Bathe and soak the hands on retiring in a strong, hot, creamy lather of Cuticura Soap. Dry and anoint freely with Cuticura Oint ment, and in severe cases spread the Cuticura Ointment on thin pieces of old linen or cotton. Wear during the night old, loose gloves, or a light ban dage of old cotton or linen to protect the clothing from stain. For red, rough, and chapped hands, dry, fis sured, itching, feverish palms, and. shapeless nails with painful finger ends, this treatment is most effective. Cuticura Remedies are sold through out the world. Potter Drug & Chem. Corp., sole proprietors, Boston, Masa. Their Object. Banks —The women of my town have formed a secret society. Rivers —A secret society? Surely, that's a misnomer; women don't know how to keep secrets. Banks —But they know bow to tell them, and that's why th«y formed the society. Protected. Stella —Are you afraid of cows? Bella—Not with my hatpins.—New York Sun. The satirist can talk about the "av erage man" with impunity, because every man considers himself abova the average. Thompson's Eye Water illTrilVO Wftt«onF..rofrninn,WMb. r H S I'll I X DC. lli^t* I M I bll I w «ki rutarauwk 1>«1 IHMU.I* C a | n M.»r«* than on«* hundred Grwno County, ■Ur Jnlv Indian t improved furnis. .sumo burjr.itn» \\ rll»* tot mv n«»w calttlutfue. Vi.Hl.lt I 11. |..o\ fc, orthifiKtoii, luri. Your!. 1 Salary Guaranteed , r*Wßn« rut t v»\ and rwqntr»'»in. cm \>\ Ulor |»r«vion»«•*- i MrWiiri*. . > • ar mUpv \* *u»r*m«*«t »»» l ; U »i*'t fr«.i.» lh« llli«-r*i r«.h c.uiiMtmituM • n l oth«*r WuWM* »r o »r miwt'nuilvf hmv ■ in fwm (M *■» an v*rly. w « , If.. .r.. if !».«• I.trf rvtwrn* > <*n fr«»w thu 1 iksj, STOCKERS & FEEDERS wtliff.i' • V'f.V urdoi . I t'iia ..I Thou»ui.'l» to National Live Stock Com. Co. Al liikir X«III«I CUv. M«„ St. JOMVK. MU„ S. OATAFCA. NEK. (.illrtU' Hl.ults An* I inc NO SHtOITIMi NO HONING DAISY FLY KII.LEH Sickly Smile Wi|H! it € IT your uheruUe gtmi ha —put es that un . lit iron the < 112
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers