Omaha daily bee., 1882-10-26
THE MILLER WILL.
Another Chapter in Which An
derson Cuts q Sorry
Figure.
The Mnjor Seems Anything bnt
Gallant" in Trying to Grasp
an Old Lady's Money.

1t is quite evident to all that An
derson is either one of the most ma
1igned men in this part of the
try or one of the most corrupt. In
view Of the fact that most of the
charges made have either been
treated with silence or with lame ex-
cuses, and the attempt made to draw
public attention by denouncing others
as having ga bar'l," it strikes many
that there is much in these charges.
Anderson admits many of them, but
claims he has reformed" He adj
mits giving the $1,000 postoffice bond
even, but claims it was for a holy pur-
pose, which may pass as an excuse
with those who believe in the miraou-
lous. Some Of Anderson's friends
report that he simply says i'll
explanation of these various charges
that it is evident all of them are not
true, otherwise he would be in the
penitentiary; and the fact that he is
still at large is a proof that some of
the things told about him are lies.
This may satisfy some, but it does not
satisfy sensible men, who know that a
man may do many mean acts, may be
very corrupt, may be unfit in all re-
spects for being entrusted with con-
gressional honors, and yet escape the
p%enitentiary. 1t is strange logic, in
deed, that because Anderson ia not in
the ~penitentiary, he therefore ought
to be sent to congress-.
Among the many other sh%owipgs of
the record are some interesting facts
concerning his connection with the
Miller will case. 1t has been stated in
brief that Major Anderson induced an
old lady named Miller to will him her
property, she being of unsound mind,
and he her attorney, and that he Is
now fighting in the courts to secure
the old lady's money and thus cut off
the needy heirs.
In order to deal justly with Ander-
son we give the following defense to
the charge, as stated by The Glen
wood Opinion:
1.-The facts in the transaction are
simply these: Major Anderson at n
time made a noble and chivalrous de-
Tense of a decrepit old woman in a d.
vorce case. So we'll did no present
the case, and such a noble effort did
he make in her behalf, that he won
her a large sum of money as alimony.
Now, naturally the old lady was very
grateful to him for his efforts
in her behalf. and 30, without
solicitation from HIM, she made a
will leaving him a portion of her prop
erty. AS a matter of fact Major An
derson knew nothing of the existence
of the will until a year after it was
made. He never did anything to in
duce her to make it. But the bequest
in the will was a testimonial Of the
gratitude felt by the old lady to one
who stood by her in time of sore need.
1t is another instance of noble action
meeting with unexpected reward"
The papers and records in the case
being in Mills county, The Glenwood
Journal has gone to the trouble OF
producing the facts thus shown, ex-
tending the narration through several
columns. Without tAking the space
to reproduce the official documents
the details in brief are that in Novem-
Der, 1873, a separation took place be-
tween Jesse Miller and his wife,
Martha Miller, in Mills county. They
had lived together since 1884, and had
raised a family of children. Miller
settled on his wife So, 300, and she re.
leased him from all claims. At that
time it was commonly understood that
Mrs. Miller was of upsound mind
and incapable of attending to heI
own affairs. Accordingly a trustee
was selected, as provided by the con
tract entered into with her husband,
and this trustee held the funds in
trust for her sole use and support
On the Goth day of March, 1875, she
by her attorneys, Albert r. Anderson
and II. X. McJunkin, sought to OBJ
tain a divorce from her husband, ali
mony and a monthly allowance. Ii
|. April, 1876, the court gave the di
. vorce and allowed Mrs. Miller $50
for temporary alimony attorney
|; fees) and 90, 800 for permanent ali
mony.
Mr.. Miller appealed to the suprem
court, and the judgment of the lowe
court was reversed In June, 1876
Then the affairs of Mr.. and Mira. Mi
Ter were adjusted by a private settle
ment, and the divorce suit was dis
missed.
During these latter proceeding
!. Judge 4. O. Bosbyshell became tn
agent of Mrs. Miller, she being re