The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-08

How His Last Testament was Stolen from
His Pillow and Hid in His Coffin.

How His Last Testament was stolen from
His Pillow and Hid in His Coffin.
Evansville Special
The sensational developments concerning
the long lost will of Robert Barnes, the wealthy
merchant of the city who died In 1871. has
aIed the greatest excitement in the community,
and the result of the investigation will be
watched with intense interest. The committee
of spirit ualists who were refused the privilege
of exhumine the body of Mr.. Barnes applied to
Circuit Judge Parrett this morning, who listened
to the strange recital. and then told them that
the Trustees of Oak Hill Cemetery the
proper officials to grant their request. The ma
jority of the board of trustees being absent
the committee were disappointed in this quar-
ter.
The facts so far as they could be obtained
seemed point to the knowledge of the will be-
ing in the possession of a single person. and that
he or she had carefully guarded the secret un-
till the present time, Tor reasons best known to
themselves 1t was Known positively that just
before the death of Mr. Barnes he made will
which was under his dying pillow, but which
very mysterously disappeared and never
afterwards found This will was known 10 be
adverse 60 the interests of Certain heirs and IN
favor of the founding of ,arian college
Now comes the runner that during all of these
years of litigation ard wrangliDg estate
worth half million the document that would
have settled all things was beside tue dead man
in his grave.
The motiva for it's being placed in the coffin
instead of being destroyed if it wanted out
of the way by interested parties, IL not known,
but the theory is advanced that il was DONE by
the way. and while fulfilling the contract feared
to destroy the will. 1t is also claimed that the
will was the exact counterpGrt OF the last will
and testament of the late Stephen Girard, the
famous Philadelphia millionaire. VINO endowed
. college OF his own name from which all minis :
tiers are to be excluded.
In conversation with parties familiar with all
of the circumstances of this remarkable case
the was informed that the first in
timaIion of the existence of the last will
obtained last December. just how this know
ledge came or who was the informar Is yet a
mystery. but the source of it was somehow
located in Chicago. The only person in that
city who Is supposed to know an, thing.
who has always been thought to know a great
deal. It 10 none other than the Mrs Tourney
who figured as the possesSor eff n note signed by
Robt. Burns, and made payable to her after his
death. for $50, 600 She of the
nurses of the dead man, ana had the
best opportunity of any to know
what might have become OF anything miss
ing from the room, and comes the
information that spirituslistic
seance q few evenings stranger
spirit announced that startling news would be
received by this community in a few DAYS.
Then followed a letter from the conscience
ciety and giving the Information that the will
could be found In the grave in che inside coat
rocket of the dead man. Gen. j. d.. Shackel-
ford attorney for the society. will 20 morrow in
stitute proceedings in the Circuit Court asking
Judge Parrett 10 issue order ON the proper
authorities 20 exnume the remains OF Mr..
Barnes In the meantime guard has been
placed over the grave.
In case the will is found q vast amount of
litigation will follow, nearly ali the property
has been disposed OF by the heirs Under the
State law the property holders will have to pay
the value of the property at this time. and the
property holders will have recourse to the
heirs of the estate.