Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-07-07
THE O. ]. FORD CASE.
Tns oTnER SIDE or T4s STORY
a Correspondent Gives q Very Dit
fsreat Version OF the Case
Who 10 Responsible.

| The article recently published Ia IHE
Tuscan. with reference - the case Of q.
j. Ford, claiming that he is confined IL the
insane asylum at Kalamazoo for the purpose
| Of obtaining possession Of his property, and
| that he is not insane, has attracted s good
deal OF attention 10 the case The article
purported 10 come from the pen OF his son,
Alvin Ford. a boy about II years Of age
The following communication gives = very
different version of the case, and II is pub
ished that both sides may bs heard Fol-
lowing the communication some extracts
are given from the will of Edwin Ford. q
certified copy of which hss been furnished ~
THE TELEGRAM:
Editor Of GRAND RAPIDS MoRsIse TELnGRAk
ALLEN, Mich, July 3-Dear SIR. A copy
OF our paper dated June 3, loo5, was handed
10 me this morning, containing an artlcie
claiming 10 have been written by one Alton
Ford. living In or near Kansas City.
We have every reason TO believe than he
never wrote, or even thought of the things
stated in that article, but that II was written
by the boys mother, Emily Ford, living Ia
Allen, Hillsdale county. The article speaks
Of O. j. Ford. who Is now IN the insane asy-
lum at Kalamazoo, and who IN all probability
will never be any better. The cause of has In
sanity was the devilish disposition of his
wife. who from the first of their married life,
began To urge him TO have has father divide
the property. DE did go, giving Job nifty
acres of land, but that did not satisfy his
wife, she wanted more, and as they could
not live pleasantly there they concluded 70
move west. Job sold the 6fty acres
back to his father, Edwin Ford,
and took the means 10 buy
farm in Kansas. His father afterward
sent more money, and still his wife was not
contented with that. Job finally decided
half of the farm 10 her and shortly after
ward the other half, and then, after getting
all his property she turned him out doors,
saying and doing every thing that heart
less woman could do.
After going back and forth from Kansas
to Michigan several times trying every way
possible to live with her he at last broke
down, his troubles proving too great strain
uponihis mind, aud he Is now hopelessly IN
sane.
In January, 1882, Edwin Ford died and
lust four weeks after his death the barns,
corn crib and other buildings were burned.
The article stated that Mrs. Edwin Ford and
her daughter, Jane Hoyt, burned the build
ings TO get the insurance, and II was never
paid ON account of the insurance agents
thinking that these parties burned the build
ings.
This ia all false the insurance was paid and
the barns were rebuilt and II Is the opinion
of quite number to-day that Emily For
set fire to those buildings, as IL was so coon
after the will was read and she found that
she could not get any more of the property.
as she had said that he intended 10 do. The
article also speaks of grand father Ford
saying on his death bed that his watch and
several other mementoes were TO be divided
among his grand children. and that the
watch, especially, belonged TO Alton. We
have good proof that Edwin Ford never
gave any of these things away, and as to
giving them on his death bed, he died in his
chair with hardly a moments warning. We
speak of these things to show how incon-
sistent il all appears from the first. Emily
Ford, after spending all of the money her
husband had, and mortgage Is on the old
farm to-day that Jobs father put there 10
help Job and his wife, she now seeks TO cast
reflections upon our name, but this she can
not do she is too well known in this vicinity
and as for her husband, whom the article
states is not insane we only ask an inyest-
CATION to prove that what we say is true.
Yet, we believe that if his wife would heartily
atone for her misdoings il might do little
something to lift the dark cloud that has
fallen so heavily upon her mind.
We have answered this article because we
| thought the circumstances demanded il. and
we firmly believe that if not In the near fu-
ture that sometime justice will be dealt out
to the one who has so cruelty wounded her
husband and slandered his family.
The following extracts from the will of
Edwin Ford appear TO be proof conclusive
that he intended to make ample provision
for the support OF his son Job, but whether
| an attempt has since been made 10 defrsud
| him of that support is still question be
tween the parties interested. The bequests
| Of the will are in the following language:
First-I give and belueath unto my wife,
| Alyirah g. Ford. the use of all my property
both personal and real. TO have use and en-
| JOY 90 long as che may live. and IL il be-
| comes necessary for her to use mp. cell or
| dispose of the personal property for her
| support and maintenance then she may be
| Mt liberty to do so. This bequest is upon
| the express condition and understanding
| that my said wife shall furnish and give TO
| my son, Job, comfortable home, care,
| support and maintenance, during bic natural
/ life. il he shall desire and wish TO stay and
| live with her.
Second-After The death OF my said wife I
| give. devise, bequestb and direct that all Of
my property, both personal and real. shall
| go TO my daughter, Jane Hoyt, 10 be hers
| and her heirs forever, but subject, however.
to the identical terms, condition and obi
| cations concerning the care, support and
maintenance of my son. Job, that attaches
| to the beguest 10 my said wife, my intention
herein and hereby being first 10 beqoeath 10
| my said wife life interest in said estate,
| subject to the charges, care, support and
! maintenance OF my son. Job. as herein
before set forth. And, second, my infeiation
herein and hereby js TO bequeath al Of my
said estate absolutely and in fee 20 said
Jane Hoyt and her heirs forever, after the
termination Of the estate herein bequesthed
= A. -. Al
support of my son Job, ss herein before
| mentioned and set forth.