Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-07-05
Breaking the Old Mans Will.

Old man Gubbett died only last
week. He willed all his goods, chat
tells and effects to his house-keeper,
leaving Jim, his nephew and next OF
kin, only his blessing.
Jim consulted a lawyer about the
possibility of success in contesting the
will of his uncle,
counselor, I've come in to see you
bout busting my uncle's will," ex-
planned Jim.
"On what grounds?'' asked the
lawyer. did he have two witnesses
and explain that the paper was his last
will. and request them to sigp?"
$ Yes. sir, he did; but3Ang me If I'd
signed if I'd knowed that he was
goin to leave me out in the cold. Not
me!'' r ,<
"You did not have to know that; it
seems we can't work against the for
mality. Was he of sound and dispos-
ing mind, Or, in other words, was he so
peculiar that a jury of twelve sensible
men would regard him as incapable of
making will:'' -a~i. II ..-.
Il think he was,' answered Jim.
feeling treasured.
''Now tell me what makes you think
so. Try and recollect anything he did
that would warrant us in regarding
him as crazy"
g In the first place, he alters paid his
debts right up to the handle. Never
disputed the bills when he knowed they
was right and save dollar here and
there. / think that oughter be against
a man, don't you?" -.
Eyes, it shows want of foresight
We might call it unbusiness-like and
rash. I'll put that down. Give me a
few more instances like that and
you'll have your uncle's money"
81 never seed that man shirk a col
lection at church by stayin' home.
never seed him look for his hat under
the bench or gaze in raptur's at the
ceilin' when the plate come round, but
he PANIED out every time'
'.He certainly showed unmistakable
symptoms of alteration not to shirk
miss ionary collection. Your uncle was
clearly incapable of making a will.
Tell mo some more foolish things he
did"
"Well, less see. What would YOU
say to a man that bought paper every
mornin' when he could have borrowed
Dimes on the top floor just for walkin'
up for it? 1t strikes me that a man
that'd sooner buy than borrer is clean
gone"
Il fully agree with you. So would
any Judge or jury, Mr.. Gubbett, you
ought to be q lawyer
Il don't 'spect you'd say man that
was ridin' on Tnird avenue car and
the conductor forgot to collect his fare
and bimeby in gcttin' out han it over
to the conductor-I don't 'spect you'd
say SIGH man was born statesman,
would you?" l.a..aI
"Who would be guilty of such era
zy act?"
"Why, my uncle done that very
thing. l was a lookin' at him dom it,
"Mr. Gubbett, since the beginning
of the world there hasn't been such
another foolish man as your uncle. He
was a spendthrift. He should have
had committee to take charge of his
estate. Now tell, had he strange re-
ligious opinions such as would render
him incapable of making valid will?"
Eyes he had. Though hewas one of
the richest men in the church, never
heard him maxim long prayers. He
never tried to run the preacher or the
congregation. But the foolishest thing
he done was to refuse to have his name
on stain-glass window that he gave to
the church. Refused point blank. -
s'That will do, Mr.. Gubbett. IT'S as
plain as day your uncle was lunatic.
Not try to run the pastor, refuse to par
ade his name before the whole congre-
CATION: Yes, sir, your uncle was
looney."
Counselor, let me tell you another
thing he done just before he died. 1t
seems he once borrowed ten dollars
from a man in Vermont twenty years
ago, think. Well, he forgot all about
it until after his will was made, and
hang me if he didn't say that he wanted
that man paid the ten dollars with legal
interest. He had forgot or he'd paid it
rta.-
Enough, enough, Mr.. Gubbett. A
man that would pay an outlawed debt
has not the shadow of chance of hav-
ing his will upheld. never yet heard
of man so crazy in all my professional
life. That'll do. Come on Monday
and I'll file allegations against his
will"
Good day, Counselor"
'Good dav, Mr.. Gubbett. IN y
World. q. . -, .
The American Pig.