The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-02-22
JUDGE EVANS STORY.

Judge Daniel Evans was on the
stand on Friday morning, and made
good witness for his own side or the
case. The direct examination was
conducted by Mr.. Brewer, and was, In
substance, as follows:
81 was first elected Judge of the
Probate Court in the fall OF 1882, and
am over 60 years old. l have known
John Funk since the spring Of 1887.
He and Wash Armstrong came
into my Office to have Armstrong
appointed the administrator of the
estate of Elizabeth Burrier Funk Red
dick. | never saw Funk before that
time, and did not advise him to have
Wash Armstrong appointed admins
traitor. Between the 18th and 10th Of
March Funk came into my Office alone.
He came at my suggestion. as l want
ed to talk to him relative to the estate
of his sister, Sis ReddiCk. We entered
the private Office and shut the door.
There is a Yale lock on the door, and
when it is shut 1t always locks itself.
/ told him | had called him In to in
form him that, during her life time,
Elizabeth b. +. Reddick had agreed to
nav me $1,000 if ] would settle the
Reddick will contest satisfactorily to
all parties. He stated she had in
formed him to that effect before her
death. / then said ] would settle the
matter for him on condition that he
nay me SO, 500. The reason Sis wanted
IL settled was because the matter was
wearing on her mind and made her
exceedingly sick, and she stated to me
she could not live unless IT was set
tied. told Funk all that had passed
between myself and his sister"
when did you last see Mr.. Funk,
relative to the will controversy"
IL never have spoken to him about
the matter since the payment OF the
$500 to me. On the occasion of our
first interview he inquired as to what
progress | was making toward effect
fnp a settlement, and was much
uiu 'nUU ltarl-nTTn % ucrrcvv cffnt 3
$500, or any part of 1t, was to
paid James w. Duncan or Jack RI
dick. On the contrary told him
was to be paid me for professional $,
vices.
Jack Reddick was willing to set
the controversy for consideration
$1,000, but | told him to consult
buuCdu " SOuOI, DCl'
he did anything. He saw them, al
told me soon afterward that they hi
instructed him not to settle for IL
than $4,000. A few days later Fun
brought me check or draft for $2. 8
and said he hoped would be succe.
full In making the settlement. lnev
told him that the county board inten
ed paying $500 toward the settlemer
but | did tell him Jack Reddick h;
agreed to settle for S. 900, but that b
attorneys prevented him from takil
less than $4,000. When Funk broug
me the check | wrote and signed a I
ceipt and handed it to him. | new
said the words professional servic,
were put in merely as blind. new
led Funk TO believe that was gettir
the money for any work other than 4
professional services in eHecting q Sc
tlement, and did not see him aga
from the time he paid me 81, 800 unit
he appeared as a witness in my court
"What did you do about arrangiT
a settlement"
II saw Jack Reddick at the depo
shortly after the jury disagreed, an
suggested the case ought to be settle,
Yes. he said, but it will take 800, On
TO settle It, He called to see me e.
cry time he came to Ottawa. | COZ
suited Wash Armstrong TO see wha
he thought about the settlement, an
he said he would spend the last dolla
in the estate before he would settl,
The matter rested for month or wv
and the outlook was very discoura.
ing. Jack Reddick came to my oiiic
10 see how matters were getting alonl
told him TO make proposition, sa,
ing at the time il would cost 5000
for a second trial Wash Armstron
was In my office quite often, and sal
he thought ii would be best TO settl,
If you think Jack Reddick will settl
that matter i will give you $1,000, bu
no more met Jack Reddick in hi
Office at La Sale, some time later, an
he said he was very anxious to settl,
told him the estate ought to Civ
more than $1,000. He said, If ca
Get the matter settled this week 10
1900, win take 1t. / don't care
d-n for.my lawyers-Iwant tosettle
j told him to come up the next da
and We would talk the matter ovel