The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-19
How Martin Lemlein's Affairs Were
Fixed Up After His
Death.
His Aged Wife Says She ie
the Victim Of
Fraud.
Her Own Relatives Accused-A Case for
the Public Administrator to
Investigate.

Mrs. Martin Lemle1n, woman Oh years
of age. has grievance that her friends say
needs the immediate attention of the public
administrator.
It seems that in August, 1889, her hus-
hand, Martin Lemlein died. Every old
timer knew Lemlein. He had forty acre
ranch in the canyon, about one quarter OF
. mile from Wolf Creek, on the Benton
road. Their little homestead was known to
everybody who passed that way hundreds
of times, and all recall seinR tho old lady
out early In the morning and late in the
evening attending to her chickens. She
always kept hundreds of chickens, and
they had about forty cows which, with the
garden truck they raised. gave them COM
Portable livelihood. When the railroad
came through the canyon the company paid
the old couple $500 for right of way. They
had cosy and happy home nestled in the
gorge and were getting along nicely in their
declining years. But now the old lady is
without home and with but little ready
money, but she has some friends who have
heard her story and they propose to see
what can be done to restore the aged
woman to her property, or to Sc
cure for her an equitable re-
turn that she may not be
in want during the few years that are left
to hor in this temporary abode. She says
and her story as related by herself is sub
At the time Of her husbands death her
niece. Mrs. Molliter, of St. Cloud, Mimi,
was living with her, She is said to have
taught school at Wolf Greek. Az 9 DON as
old man Lemlein passed, away the niece
telegraphed on for her husband to come at
once. and he arrived from St. Cloud in due
time His mission was to take charge of
the old lady's affairs. Mr.. Lemlein did not
leave a will, though Mrs. Lemlein SAYS that
ct some date prior to his death he drew up
a document to the effect that in case of the
death OF either, the entire estate should go
istrator ordinarily would have been called
in to investigate the matter, it is said that,
though his attention was brought
to the matter. he gave it
no heed. The old lady implicitly
trusted in her nephew, MI. Mol
advantage. It appears that he sold the
property for much less figure than it was
really worth. Mrs. Molliter says her COWS
were sold to Mr.. Hirsch, of Dearborn, for
$3.50 while the ranch was bought by man
named Houghton for $500 and, her chick.
ems, two horses and some household goods
were sold to man named Weaver for
small sum--something over 800, and some
of the payments were to be made on time,
with interest. Mrs. Lemlein had 500 cash
in the bank and she says that all the money
she received from her nephew was $3.50.
She could not get him to make an account
ing and later discovered that he had made
some false statements about her husbands
Indebtedness. One of these was a trans
action with Chas. Lehman, the grocer, of
this city. Molliter told her he had to pay
bill there of $16O but he would
not show his receipt. When the
old lady investigated she found out
that Lehman's bill was only about $65.
She also discovered some discrepancies
about other bills he claimed to have paid,
but she could not ascertain the truth as
Molliter told her he had destroyed all the
bills. The ranch was worth good deal
more, but Molliter asserted that he found
it difficult to find buyer and had to let it
20 at the figure he obtained. The old lady
has few documents left. but they are not
very significant. Molliter took her back to
st. Cloud with him. but she became en-
ragged at the treatment she had received in
settling the estate and suddenly leaving
them she came back to Montana, and she
proposes to live here as she has for more
than twenty years. Her friends assert that
the entire process in the settlement of this
estate was illegal and attorneys have been
employed to gain redress for her by process
Of law. She says she has been defrauded.
The public administrator will undoubted.
" attend to this case and see that Justice is
done the old lady. ''Grandma" Lemlein ia
at present staying at the home of George j.
RinQWald.