The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-06
A WILL HIDDEN IN A SOFA.
strange Discovery of a Lost Testament
Long After Death.

strange Discovery of Lost Testament
Long After Death.
After been missing for score of years,
the will of Gen. Melancthon s. Wade has
been found concealed in an old sofa, says
the Cincinnati correspondent of the Chica-
90 Herald. The discovery at this late date
of the document means fight in court for
the possession of the valuable real estate,
and is the solution of a mystery that was
talked of great deal at the time of the
generals death.
When Gen. Wade, one of the pioneer
citizens of this city, and we'll known
throughout the country as q rich man, died
socn after the war, the relatives were sur
prised to learn that he had left no will. His
estate comprised large tracts of land, in
Guiding property in Avondale, Walnut
Hills, and in the West End. Melancthon
and Wade streets were named after the
general, and he owned almost every foot of
ground on both streets, and also large tract
in Toledo, which is still in the possession of
the heirs. Government bonds, plate and
Jewels and other interests swelled the
amount of the decedent's estate close up to
half million dollars. Administration upon
the estate was delayed until thorough
search was made. But as the time wore on,
and still the anxiouslv hunted document
did not turn up, the affairs of the estate re-
Quired the appointment of an administrator,
who was named in the person of Judge
Oliver, who qualified under bond of 5000, GOO
for the personally alone.
An ante-nuptial contract entered into be-
tween the deceased and his second wife
turned up at this juncture. This confirmed
the heirs in the belief that will would ulti-
mately be discovered. Then trouble arose
between the widow and four surviving step
children, and it was broadly limited that
some one had secreted or destroyed the will.
Miss Katherine Armstrong a niece of the
decedent's first wife, were loudest in this
assertion. Miss Fanny, however, did not
have as much at stake as Miss Armstrong,
firm her suspicious. Miss Armstrong, how
ever, who often heard the general say that
he would remember her in his will, clung to
the belief Of its existence. The estate was
finally closed up and 5000 that the gen
eral had held as her guardian was paid over
rand. of La Porte, Ind. Through all these
years her belief never changed. She be-
came a widow, and from afiiuence de-
scended to poverty, and her only hope was
conferred in the thought that some day her
deceased benefactor's will would turn up
and her golden dream be realized.
Some weeks ago an old sofa, supposed at
one time to have been in the possession OF
the Wade family. turned up in an upholster-
ing establishment for repairs. When the
worn cover was torn off and the springs ex-
posed, paper, crumbled and yellow with
age. was discovered at the bottom. In
some manner Mrs. Farrand heard of this,
and from inquiries since instituted by her
she is convinced that this paper is nothing
more nor less than the long-buried will.
She has written to numerous friends in this
city. and among them Judge Hagans, and
Will make an effort through them to es-
tablish her rights.