Telegram-herald., 1891-01-16


~ oas,nos 0nzk>ei,asksA - oE. Rsek
an< whss - tsH -
t. 60 sskextsy stsrted - ths eas-
csst eesrt. - - ado assd givsa -
Clare 3. Cock b. Franki,n Peek. de-
csass1. msnsion Of which = s,ssuhers
made. has its real exigla IN the peculiar
halinelastens of ths dsad grantee.
unAsz - inausnes u waieA he -
eams imbnsd With sGrAnxely unnstural
dsss. 4 esaflsnaAn, sozAsuhss fsm-
iliar With his eccentrieltlss, ssys thai
The trial of he case oil abound with
sensational features The CHI gen.is-
nan claimed thai be was 81 years Of
sgs. bat MAny Of The oldest inhahisaats
declared that he vas Nearer the cen
tury peg. For years he suffered from
. mild form OF dementis. bat retained
his bussness sngacity with undtmlnished
bsighGneo. Some time during the past
summer he WAS injured IN . runaway
accident, after which his lunscy de-
vslop<d into . pesversa and wholly ua-
eontroilable Authorization thai had e.
listed In . dormant stats for tuo OF
three years. He suddenly became
welded 70 the idea that his two cnil-
dreu were not his son aud daughter,
and soiemnly declared that he vas and
alwss had been incapable OF Yeproduc-
ton. L2boring under this strange ce-
to impart the startling information
to everyone who would listen TO him.
Some time prior TO tho accident he vls-
tied family named 6prik, residing at
Moline. Hero bright little unnamed
baby had arrived, and the old gentle.
man at once proposed that it Do named
after him. He said the happy father
and mother constituted his ideal OF
married life, and seemed to desire to
educate their children. He promised
that il the name Of the child was made
Franklin Peck Sprik that he would be-
stow upon him . sufficient SUM 70 IN
sure good education and give him
good start in life. In view Of tho fact
that the old gentleman was reputed to
be worth $40, 900, tho child Was named
Franklin Peck. Before the settlement
was made the accident occurred, the
old mans reason became clouded, and
the doctors announced that he could
not live. Proceedings were At once
commenced by his relatives for the ap-
pointment Of . guardian, and while
these were pending the old gentleman
was visited by MIR. Sprik and one Clark
to agree upon and secure the execution
of his promise to settle = competence
upon the formers son. 1t is claimed
that at this visit the whole mischief WAS
done through the Over-cautlOusncss OF
Clark, who evidently feared the legality
of the transfer to the child and to make
assurance doubly sure prevailed upon
the old gentleman TO deed the property
and assign the securities to his own
wife. This was done. and by sharp
stroke of legal practice the appoint
ment OF 4 guardian over Mr.. Peck was
postponed from time to time until he
died. 1t is claimed that the deed to
the property given Mrs. Clark twas
registered on the same day that Mr..
Peck Died, aud since then the property
has been conveyed to others 30 that
two or three innocent purchasers have
held the property since 1t was first con-
veyed to her.
The old gentlemen was q keen bust
ness man and his wits, though mentally
deranged, never left him. for when the
application for appointment Of q guard
ian was made he astonished both court
and lawyers with the ready and cogtnt
reasons he urged why he should be
allowed to manage his own affairs.