Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-23
State ofKansas

State OF Kansas,
County Of Jackson, S.
Before me, the undersigned, clerk OF the
district court IN and for the county and
state aforesaid, came the aforesaid j. H.
Bennett, and in my presence signed the fore
going statement and made solemn oath
that the matters and things therein set
and are true. C.E ROSE,
Clerk District Court Jackson county KAN
As explanatory OF the doctors bill,
amounting to $50, which Willis paid, and
then procured credit against the estate for
$40, we copy the afddavit Of DR.. j. W. Balls
ley OF Oskaloosa:
STATE OF KANSAS, lss
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON, s.
Personally appeared before me j. W.
Balsley, who being by me duly sworn on his
oath says:
am physician and surgeon, and have
resided In OSkaloosa, Jefferson county,
quainted with John F. Willis, and have
known him most of the time since have
resided In this county. was called TO visit
the year 1873. My bill for services in at
tending upon Mr.. Willis during his last
sickness mess amounted to $50; John
tate, called upon me and paid me the sum
of S. so in full for such services, and re-
quested me to sign receipt for $50, stating
the benefit OF the estate for me TO do so.
Having no suspicious at the time that the
receipt would be used for any improper pur-
pose, did sign receipt for $40, believing
at the time from Mr.. Willis statement
that IL would be used in some way for the
benefit of the estate; Mr.. Willis never
paid me any other or greater sum than S.. SO
and there was no other sum asked from him
nor due.
1 was called as a witness in the case OF
Anna B. Lincicum VS.. John +. Willis and
| others. when
court OF this county, and gave my evid ence
as here stated. j. W. BALSLEY, NJ. D.
| day OF October, 1890. w. A. HAMILTON,
Notary Public.
Commission expires October 4, 1891.
Mr.. Bennett resided in this county for
twenty-five years and was one of our
best known citizens. Two years he held
the Office of clerk Of the district court,
and other places of trust. His present
address is Holton, Kansas. DR.. Balsley
resides at Oskaloosa and stands at the
head of his profession in this county.
Any voter can write to these gentlemen
for verifcation Of the sffidavits here
copied. AS to the genuinensss Of the
papers here copied the public 10 referred
to David Smith, probate judge, and w.
+. Lssch, clerk Of the district court,
Oskalooso, Jefferson county. Ksnsas-
This, then, is the man who aspires to
the governorship of Kansasl He takes
charge of his fathers estate, worth S435,
as shown by the sppraisement, and IN
less than one year so manages and
manipulates it that his wife has the title
to the real estate, while most OF the
money finds its way into his own pocket,
and not q single cent to widowed
sister, whose helpless children In their
poverty would have excited every manly
sentiment of his heart, II any there was.
The neighbors, in their kindness, did
take meat and other provisions to her
In her need, as they are ready to testify.
| The title of the forty acres, appraised
by his neighbors at $40O, passes into his
wife g name without the payment by her
Of single cent, flor as shown, she had
neither money or property, at one-half
Of its real value, and then John +.
Willis, in the report of the sale made
to the probate court, swsars that "he
did not directly or indirectly purchase
such real estate or any part thereof or
any interest therein, and that he is not
Interested in the property sold" Who
paid the 500 for Mrs. Willis? Certain
" she nsver did, for she was without
means, John F. Willis reported his
payment, in violation Of the truth, and
thereby charged himself with $500, be-
cause he was interested in keeping the
land in the family.
He took credit for $50 paid to DR.. Bal
sley, when in fact he only paid him
s5.5OI He took credit for S6 paid to the
appraisers when in fact he paid them
nothingl And then solemnly swore that
L ,- nd I'M
This, too. in the settlement OF his
fathers estate, when the only effect
would be to swell his own Golfers and de-
fraud his own flesh and blood OF honest
dues.
But worse than all, if it be possible, he
| charges the estate 800 for caring for his
father during his last sickness and for
looking after the 40 acres! Think Of .
governor Of Kansas standing over the
death-bed of bis father and asking the
estate to pay him 500 therefor. 1t was
shown on the trial that his sister,
Mrs. Lincioum, attended the dying
man almost constantly during his
last ILLNESS, but no allowance was
made for hsrI That would have
taken so much money from this unnat-
ural brother. The bill that was present
cd this 800 il above given, with the Aft
davit on which John F. Willis procured
its allowance by the probate court Read
it and then say If this man is worthy OF
the great distinction which he seeks.
But this il not all. Mr.. Willis also
has q record as q member of the grange.
For a number of years prior and subse-
quent to 1886 Delaware grange No. SO
carried on q store at McLouth, and Mr..
Willis was its financier. From time to
time money was borrowed to put into
the business. Notes were executed for
such borrowed money by Mr.. Willis
and his brothers in the grange, whereby
they became jointly liable for the same.
In 1887 the store failed and went into
liquidation, leaving q number Of these
notes unprovided for. Mr.. Willis,
it seems, was quite willing to 60 in with
his neiRhbors and brethren in the order,
and borrow money, and to stay with
them while the sun shone. But when
adversely came and the mercantile VEN
ture failed, leaving them with several
hundred dollars to pay, we find this man
deserving his friends; his property is
promptly put into his wife's name, and
bis associates and neighbors are left to
pay, not only their own share Of the loss
but also the share that by every honor
able consideration John F. Willis
should have paid.
Here is the affidavit of one of tn sign
srs of the notes mentioned:
STATE OF KANSAS, co
Jefferson County.
WI. Leach, Of lawful age, being duly
sworn, on his oath says, that he resides at
Oskaloosa, Jefferson county, Kansas, and
during the last four years has been and still