The morning news., 1889-01-21
A LONG HUNT FOR A MOTHER.
Whose Son Was David Ricketts2 The
Answer Will Decide Who Shall Re-
ceiva $40 600

Whose Son Was David Ricketts2 The
Answer Will Decide Who Shall Re-
ceive $15O,Ooo.
NEW YORK, Jan. IA special to the
World from Louisville, KY, says: With
out the knowledge Of the person principally
interested in the case, Lawyer Barclay is
suing at Russellville, KY, for the posses
sion of $50, 900 left by David S. Ricketts,.
He, it is claimed by Barclay, was the nat
ural son of Mrs. Elizabeth Selby, and to
he he says the property should go. The
principal defense is made by John S. and
B. NJ. Ricketts,, the brothers, and the three
sisters of the deceased, who claim he was
the legitimate child of their parents and
consequently no relation of Mrs. Selby.
David Rickets was born in Christian
county, KY, in 1888. He was very wild in
his younger days. He came to Russellville
in 1867 and went into the saloon business.
In five years he had accumulated a little
fortune, sold out his saloon and moved to
Bowling Green. There he lost over IS 900
by gambling and fast living.
He returned to Russellville in 1877 and
again went into the saloon business. He
soon gained host of friends, accumulated
much property and was in the city council
from 1880 to 1888. Maple Grove cemetery
owes much of It's beauty to his generosity.
He drank hard at last and in January,
1887, died without leaving will, and q.
II. Ryan, was appointed administrator of
his estate
1t was always taken for granted that
David Rlckets was an illigitimate child of
Hezekiah ricketts,, of Christian county, and
that his mother was Miss Haggard, of the
same county, who soon after his birth
moved west, leaving David with his father
Ryan believed this story, and engaged w.
f. Barclay as his lawyer to find theimother,
TO whom the property should go. Miss
Haggard came from HOpkinsville, KY, and
there Barclay learned that the family had
moved to Bloomington, ILL.,, in 1896. There
Elizabeth had married stage-driver named
Allen. Barclay also learned she had had
two illigitimate children the younger of
whom Charles Cabaniss, she took with her
when she moved further west.
Barclay then inserted an advertisement
for Elizabeth Allen and Charles Cabaniss in
l50 papers, but got no answer Meantime
a Prof. Haggard of Sturgeon, Mo, was
told by an old resident of Sturgeon of a
Dabney Haggard whom he had met at
Baptist association meeting in 1888. The
man who introduced them lived at Colun-
bia, Mo. There Prof. Haggard found the
introducer had died, but be learned from
an old lady of 9, man who lived there in 1910
and changed his name from CabaniSS to
Allen. Allen left Missouri in 1852, but six
years later returned, and wishing to marry,
found he could not use his assumed name.
Accordingly he took his mothers name,
Haggard and was married under it. This
man, she said, was Charles E. Haggard,
then living on a farm fifteen miles from
Columbia.
Barclay was informed of this and went at
once to Columbia. One evening he drove
out to Haggard's, arriving about dusk. He
asked permission TO remain over night.
During tie evening Barclay told Haggard
that he was from Kentucky and questioned
him as to his history. He readily told Bar
clay everything concerning himself.
Everything he told corresponded so ex-
acUly with what Barclay had heard that he
was convinced haggard was the son of
Elizabeth Haggard. Barclay next asked
after the mother and was told she was
Mrs. Selby, living near Jherei Barclay
said ne had heard of the family and would
like to see the mother.
The next morning she was sent for, aud
she gave him, although rather reluctantly,
a history of her life. She said she had two
children before moving to Missouri, the
Oldest being named David Stevenson, after
a Methodist preacher at HopkinsviIle. Bar
clay was convinced that this was David
Stevenson Ricketts, and returning to Rus
sellviile, he brought the present suit The
best legal talent in the state is engaged in
the case. Ii Ricketts, is proved illegitsmate
and Barclay does not clearly prove Mrs.
Seely is his mother, the property goes to
the state