The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-10-05
John Funk Again

John Funk, alleged sole residuary lerates
OF Elizabeth Burrier Funk Reddiok, is &C.
cused of defrauding the heirs of his half
sister, Mrs. Margaret Mohr, out Of about
$l7 900, a bill for the setting aside of the
proceedings thus far had in the Elizabeth
B. F. Reddick estate matter, and asking for
q revision, having been filed by Mayo &
Widmer, attorneys for the heirs of Mcrgaret
Mohr, residents Of Dungenheim, Germany,
in which this accusation is made.
On the fourth day of April, 1880, Francis
Funk father Of John Funk, Elizabeth Bur.
rier Funk Redditk and Margaret Funk
Mohr, died on his farm, near Streator, lsav-
ing last will and testament, which was I'D
milted to probate three days later. By this
will he left five hundred dollars to Elizabeth,
the same amount to the heirs of Margaret,
then deceased, the use of small house and
one hundred dollars annuity to his aged
wife, and the remainder Of his estate, real
and personal, amounting to Sl6,668, to his.
son, John Funk. The legacies were paid by
the administrator of that estate, and $500
to the heirs of Margaret Funk Mohr,
through his representative in Dungenheim,
province of Prussia, Germany, and he re-
oeived his receipts from the six heirs for
$685. each, with the interest then due.
This is the tale of the records Of the Probate
Court.
Elizabeth Burrier Funk Reddick, adopted
daughter of the late William Reddick, died
on the twenty second day of February, 1887,
leaving no will. On the twenty fifth, not
outstanding the fact that the records Of
proceedings of seven years before showed
the existence then of other heirs, John Funk
went before the Probate Court and swore
that he was the only surviving heir Of the
late adopted daughter Of William Reddick,
and peti,ioned for the appointment Of hon.
George Washington Armstrong as admins
traitor. The inventory shows personal pro,
perty SIG, s4S IS. and real estate, SIC, 900,
q total Of $36, 84355. Funk received near
ly all Of the property. In Nov. 1887, the
estate was ordered settled, but the order has
never been complied with.
THE ACCUSATION.
The heirs of Margaret Mohr, Simon, Ger
truds, Peter and Franz Mohr, Maria Rhine
burger and Catherine Wilhslminie, of Dun.
genheim, Germany, by their attorneys. Mayo
& Widmer, say in their bill that shey were
unaware of the death of Elizabeth b. F.
Reddick until August, 1887, whom John
wesseling, Q friend Of John Funk, visited
Germany. and. stopping at .Dungenheim,
told them Of their aunt's death. He repre-.
scented to them, SO they maintain, that the
estate was heavily involved in litigation
and would scarcely net the heirs anything.
Their share, he represented, was but one.
quarter, and fair deal would be acceptance
by them of $4,000 in full payment Of their
claim. They demurred. Wesseling again
pictured to them the precarious condition Of
the estate, but though they were German
peasants, unlettered and unaceustomsd 70
business transactions involving points Of
law. they refused until he offered 5000
marks, or 81 500. This they accepted, un-
derstanding whom they did so that the %,
tate was not worth over $500 marks, or
Sc, 600, and that under the American law
they, as heirs Of half sister, were only en-
titled to ons-quarter Of the estate. This
amount was paid to them in the City Of
Colonge, in Sept. 1887. At this time all lit
igstiou in the Reddick estate had ended, and
John Funk was practically in possession Of
Miss Reddick's portion.
To FREE TRADER reporter Mr.. Mayo
stated these people we're never appraised
Of the full value Of the estate or Of how
Funk was treating them until August, 1889
when Judge Bsrnum, who was travelling In