The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-10-11
.Misrtllaneuns.
INDIANA SENSATION



A special telegram to the Inter Ocean
from Tere Haute, Indiana, gives the fol-
lowing details of an interesting will case
which is before the Circuit Court in that
city:
In the September term Of the Vigo Cir
cult Court, now in progress, is to come
mo for trial soon case which is exciting
considerable interest, and will furnish
food for gossips during the rest OF the
Years It relates to the disposal OF the
estate of the late DR.. Ezra Read, who
died at his residence here in June last
\Dr. Read was prominent politician OF
Terre Haute, widely known throughout
The Wabash valley, and by many persons
n all parts of the West. His brother,
Daniel Read, was formerly President OF
he Missouri University, and was for
lome time Professor in the Blooming
ION College, Indiana. The Doctor, pre-
vious to his death, was President of the
Rsculpian society, and held other nota'
pe positions. At the time of his death
he owned property valued at near S72-
300 In the form of deed, made before
bis death, he left all this to his second
wife and her children, and nothing at
all to his children by his first wife. These
are Mrs. Okalla Hanna, wife of the Hon,
'Bayless W. Hanna, John Read and Kent
Read.
These three, therefore, propose to con-
test the validity ofsuch transfer, and have
brought suit accordingly. The plaintiffs
base their case on the ground of alleged
insanity and undue influence by the
living wife. The charge of insanity will
20 against the opinions OF some, and be
received with considerable eye-openl,ng'
But at least it will be acknowledged that
Read was very eccentric man, and in
that particular exceeded the usual run OF
odd characters. He was great talker,
and his arguments were in the Johnson
ese style of language. His opions dif-
fered from those of every body else on
every subject. lie was independent, ag-
gressive, stnrdy,.yet shrewd. AS a pro
fessional man no one detracts from Ms
high reputation. But in other Respects
his eccentricities have been the subject
of MANY table talk and street corner
comment, The Doctor often expressed
nneer opinions, and sentiments based on
such principles as some thought exceed
ed the proprietes Of life.
What the complainants most depend
upon for gaining the case, is the charge
of undue influence on the part of Mrs
Read. This woman, before the war, was
a servant in the Doctors family. Her
name was Margaret Mcintyre. She was
not an angel, unless angels names some
times are found on the police records
Her temper was strung to the highest
notch. She possessed strange influence
upon the deceased, and not long after the
death of his first wife he married her
Before the marriage she accompanied his
regiment into the army. He was sur
Eeon of the twenty first Indiana. She
scandalized the regiment by her actions
until sent to the rear by order OF the
commanding officer After the war, anc
the return Of the Doctor, they lived TO
gether in peace.
She is said to have "worn the breech
e." and was "boes" in their home
Though 80 self. .willed in other things, th'
Doctor seems to have yielded to her II
all things. She was tylant, and hel
disposition was the reverse OF amiable
The Doctors son John, by his nrst Wlle
at one time several years ago, became %
angry at her exactions that he seized {
gun and shot her in the back ofthe head
She recovered, however, and John wa!
banished for some time. Her temper
continued as before. The plaintiffs viii
attempt to show that she threatened tht
Doctor with violence, and compelled hin
to convey his property to her and mel
children.
The case is the more singular from tht
fact that the Doctor was man OF high
literary attainments, while she was en-
tirely uneducated; he was a tall, strong
man. and she is small, weak woman
he accumulated one of the rarest and nm
est libraries in Indiana, while she only
delighted in getting rich. ,,,
Mrs B. W. Hanna, the Oldest child o.
the deceased, is an accomplished, refined
lady; and the conduct Of her mother'ln
law produced an enlargement toward
her father, 30 that she never afterward
visited him, until the occasion OF hl'
death.