The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-23
MRS. BELcHER's WILL.
Will Bates College Receive Its Hand
some Bequest.
Heirs Likely to Contest the Probate
of the VIII.
Especial to the Press. ]

Especial to the Press.]
FARMINGToN, Oct. 22-It will be remem-
bered that several weeks ago Mrs. Sarah 5.
Belcher died in this place leaving an estate
estimated to be worth allthe way from $780,
900 to $4,000, nearly all of which she left to
Bates College and named President 0. b.
Cheney as the executor. On the day sue
ceeding the funeral it was rumored the will
would be contested and occasionally since
then the report has been heard with, OF
course, the usual additions in passing from
mouth to mouth.
Your correspondent has made diligent in
quiry to-day and has learned that proceed
ings to contest the probate of the will, are
likely to begin at the term of the probate
court which opens Tuesday, Nov. Cd. Mr.
Frank Besse Of Lowell, Mass, a nephew OF
the deceased, arrived in town last night and
went at once to the Office Of J. G. Holman,
Esq, who it is said has been retained as
counsel by him. Besse's mother Mrs. Bel
cher's sister by the will received $500; but
by codicil made after Mrs. Besse's death
this bequest was revoked and the amount
added to that of Bates College. Mr.. Besse
was an only child.
Mrs. Belcher's maiden name was Backus,
and so far as can learn the contestants are
all in that family, the most prominent being
a nephew-Nathan F.-now in New York !;
He, by the will, received only $500, and it
was generally supposed he would receive the
larger part of the estate. as he was favor
ite of the deceased. Then there are several
heirs, in this town and Lewiston, of the late
William Backus Ia brother of deceased. who,
it is understood, have retained III. l.. Whit
ccmb, Esq, as their counsel; these heirs, as
well as the Belchers, were not remembered
by deceased.
The attorneys have been consulted by your
correspondent as to the line of action the
heirs will pursue, but they say they hardly
know. The preliminary steps in the contest
will be taken at the coming term, then the
case will be continued, and in the meantime
they will fortify themselves as best they
may. From what we can learn, the heirs
hope to show that undue influence was used
by President Cheney that he visited Mrs.
Belcher and worked upon her feelings during
her first illness in 1877, and by subsequent
visits. made at irregular intervals up to the
time of her death last month, he kept con-
troll of her feelings so that in 1882, after the
death of her sister Mrs Besse) she revoked
the bequest of $500 made to her, to the inju-
ry of the only heir of Mrs. Besse.
Certain parties supposed to be unfriendly
to President Cheney have sought to arouse a
public sentiment against Bates College, and
in favor of the heirs, by circulating the
story that by the present will the college
will hold on to Mrs. Belcher's property
(Which was mostly in real estate here) and
by so doing take some $4,000 or $4,000 out
of the taxable property of the town, claim
ing the right by chap. 6, sec. 6, Art. IL, r.
S., exclusive~from taxation of real estate
held by literary or educational institutions
President Cheney has not expressed his
views on this matter; but those who known
him best say he will do nothing of the kind,
but will, as soon as possible convert the es-
tate into money and place.it where the col
lege will receive the greatest benefit from it.
Among our people, as whole, the case at
tracts but little attention. One gentleman
who visited Mrs. Belcher frequently during
the last few years of her life, was asked by
your correspondent, What do you think Of
this contest Mr.. -; do you think the heirs
will break the will?" He answered, very
emphatically, mo, sir, they will not"