The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-03-05
QUEER WILLS.


SpitefAl Persoas Who Are Anxious to Have
sRsvsage By WILL,
One of the most curious features in
this revenge by will'' is the msny
times it has deceived the ends of the
will-makers. A very remarkable in
stance occurred not many years ago.
and is recalled by the writer.
A gentleman of large fortune was
married to lady of some attractions.
For a time they lived happily, but
soon disagreeable temper began to
be exhibited in the husband. This lat
ter turned to q positive dislike, quite
undeserved on the wife's part, and
which deepened into a malignant ha-
tired. Her forbearance and temper
carried on matters with tOlerabie
smoOthness for some years, when the
husband was seized with an illness that
proved fatal, and he went out Of the
world in the old ill-conditioned way he
had lived. Her friends were congratu-
lating themselves on this release, and
as she had but slender settlement it
was known that all his large fortune
must come to her. When his will,
however. was opened it was found that
every thing was left away from her
artful and ingenious devices had been
used to deprive her of the smallest arti-
Gle of property-and, with almost dia-
bolical maiignity, last blowwas given,
land l made this disposition for a rea.
son that she herself best knows" This
scandalous insinuation only recoiled
on the head of the testator, for her
friends knew her character too well,
and the charitable set down this
ungoverned hatred to something
akin to insanity. The lady accepted
her lot, but not long after a relative,
who was also lawyer. happened to be
talking to one of the witnesses to the
will in the street. Suddenly a gentle
man passed them.
There's q coincidence" said the
lawyer, ''there's your fellow-witness
A. b.
"Oh, was he" said the other care
lessly; Il didn't know"
..What?" exclaimed the lawyer. A
question or two followed, and it came
out that the two witnesses had signed
at different times. The will collapsed
of itself, without even a legal proceed.
ing, and the lady was triumphantly re.
stored to her rights. One might almost
wish that her baffied lord had been al.
lowed one peep from his grave to know
the failure of his malignant efforts.
Daucer, the famous miser, bequeatheG
to one legatee four old stockings, to an
other two more old stockings, to 8
third a blue stocking and his red cloak
| to fourth an old boot and red fan
mel pocket, and to an old woman who
had sometimes given him food his jug
without handle. The legatees were
naturally disguised with their bequest!
until the jug was found to be full O.
sovereigns, and on examination tn,
other articles named were also fount
to be the receptacles of the deaG
miser's hoardings.
The writer once saw the will of ont
/ of the Camerons of LOchiel in Scotland
who was beheaded for participation il
1 the rebellion of the Forty-five. 1t wa.
dated the night before his execution
and after forgiving all his enemies
with the exception ''of Appin and hi
bloody son." it went on: Il leave t.
my eldest son, Donald. the buckles
have on my shoes. l do this because
they are made of neither silver or gold
but of steel, and that is the only meta
that will avenge my DEATH" Nice sor
of sentiments after forgiving all his enc
( mies!-ChtcdQO NerS.