The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-03-22
The Wadlington Viii Case.

A short time after Maj. Thos. B.
Wadlington's death last winter, letters
of administration were granted to his
nephews. Joseph l.. Keitt and Thos.
w. Keitt, who al once took charge Of
his estate. Not long afterwards, Mr..
John Bauskett, first cousin OF Maj.
Wadlington, filed a petition stating
that the estate had been willed to him
and Betty Reed, colored, Maj. Wad-
lington's reputed daughter, ard asking
that he, as one Of the executors, be
allowed to come Into the Probate Court,
and prove the will. The petition was
resisted by the administrators, on the
ground that the deceased LETT no will.
The case came to q hearing last Thurs
day. Mr.. Bauskett was represented by
Gen. L. F. Youmans; Betty Reed, by
Messrs. Moorman and Simkins; and the
administrators, by Messrs. Suber and
Caldwell.
The examination of witnesses oc-
cupied two days and the evidence was,
in many places, conflicting, but the
leading facts are substantially as fol-
lows: In 1873 Maj. Wadtington asked
Mr.. Bauskett to write his will, and he
sent him draft containing directions.
Mr.. Bauskett handed the papers to his
law partner, Mr.. w. S. Monteith, and
asked him to do the work. The will
was drawn, according to the directions.
giving four hundred acres OF land, a
watch and 1000 to Betty Reed, and
the rest of the property to Mr.. Baus-
kett. Mr.. Bauskett was named as eX-
ecutor and blank was left for the
name of a second executor. The will
as drawn was sentto Maj. Wadlington.
The rough draft of directions was in
troduced in evidence.
In 1873, r. V. Gist and r. G. Sondley
witnessed will for Mai. Wadlingtor,
and they swear that Capt. Jno. L..
Sondley was the third witness. Capt.
John Sondley swears that he knows
nothing aboutit, andis positive that he
never witnessed will for Maj. Wad-
lington or anybody else.
In the spring of 1882 Maj. Wadling-
ton placed a regularly executed viii ip
the hands of Mr.. Silas Johnstone, and
asked him to draw new one, making
some changes. Mr.. Johnstone remem-
bers that the will was witnessed by
r. V. Gist and some Sondley, but he
feels sure that he would have roticed
if Capt. Jno. r. Sondley's name had
appeared as a witness, that gentleman
being named as one of the executors.
The will must have been that drawn
by Mr.. Monteith. In the new will Mr..
Johnstone was directed to provide for
Betty Reed, but the rest of the estate
was to be given to Thomas W. Keitt
and Miss Hattie Keitt, instead of Mr..
Bauskett. On the 31st Of August,
1882, Mr.. Johnstone sent both wills to
Maj. Wadlington who was sick and
directed them to be put into his desk.
About two months afterwards he was
rendered helpless by fall and did not
leave his bed until his death. On the
second day after his death, search
was made by Col. Ellison Keitt. assist
ed by his sons and daughter, but moth
ing in the shape OF will was found,
except the draft drawn by Mr.. john
stone; that had never been signed.
Much evidence was introduced to show
Mai. Wadlington's feelings towards
the Kents and Mr.. Bauskett, but his
unchanged purpose appears to have
been to provide literally for Betty
Reed. A great deal was said about his
declarations as to the disposition OF his
property, but much Of the evidence
was conflicting. The case seems to
resolve itself into two questions: /.
Was the will which is attempted to be
proved ever executed? 2. If so, was
| it revoked by Maj. Wadlington?
The argument was begun at II
O'Clock and ended at 8 o'clock on
Saturday. It was exhaustive on both
sides. The Probate Judge will not
reach decision for several days; this
is about the hardest nut he ever had to
crack. In about five years we hope to
be able to give the fual decision OF the
Supreme Court in this case. The case
has excited unusual interest N our
community, both on account OF the
| novelty of some Of its features, and
the amount of the property involved.