Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-05
FRAILTY OF HUMAN WILLS.
A Story From Chicago Showing How Easily
They May Be Broken.
'TlLlMAN'S ESTATE AND ITS DIVISION.
Colonel Cody Talks Very Freely on
Indian Affairs-His Praise of Gen
eral Miles-He Thinks Sitting
Bull Murdered.
CHICAGO OFFICE OF THE BEE, |
CnIrAnn E'nh

Judge Halves this morning disposed of
tangled suit which has been hanging in the
courts for years, and which involves, besides
some 100000 worth of property, some cele-
brated people of the regime of President
Graut. A bill for partition was brought
by George s. Sheppard against
William La Foog and a score OF other de-
PENDANTS, to decide the property interests of
he various parties in the premises on South
Clark street occupied by Kohl & Nliddleton's
museum, valued at over 100000, and some
North Clark street property of less value
In 1871 Nelson Stillman of Galena died,
leaving about S30O,0OO worth of property.
He was a we'll known citizen and an
intimate friend of General Grant
and other distinguished residents of
the northwest corner of Illinois. Stillman's
wife, an exceedingly beautiful woman, did
not live. happily with her husband
during the last few years of his lite,
and when he died she was bequeathed 100000
worth of property on condition that she did
not marry again. Charles Phelps Stillman
was left good share, but the bulk Of the es-
tate was left in trust with George B. McCel-
Ian mot the celebrated generaD for the only
daughter Mary Louise, who was called the
most beautiful girl in Illinois, and
in after years was styled the
hundsomest woman in Washington
society In the event Of her death the prop
erty was to pass to her children. If there
were none, it was expressly provided that it
should revert to the heirs of the testator a
few years later Mrs. Stlman, the widow,
became Mrs Louisa Kellett. But before
doing so she had taken steps to frustrate her
deceased husbands designs, and had waived
her rights under the will and petitioned
for her share of the estate according to law.
She was given her third Of the property The
son plunged into vortex of high life in Chi
cago, attained great celebrity as wealthy
man and brilliant society leader. and finally
partook of his last banquet, danced his last
waltz ard died at the age of thirtv-two with
out leaving dollar for any heirs to fight
ouer.
The lovely daughter married an equally
handsome man, Colonel George G. Pride,
formerly member of General Grants staff,
and went to Washington, where She and her
dashn husband fairly dazzled society, and
passed miserable domestic existence. The
colonel ran through large proportion of his
wife's money ana deserted her, Sho secured
a divorce and died few years later--of
broken heart, it is said.
But the trust funds remained to cause
trouble and were held by John a. G. kendie,
successor to George b. Mcclellan. The heirs
at law claimed the property by reason of the
reversionary clause of the will Mrs, Kellett,
the widow, claimed that it all passed abso-
lutely TO her daughter and that she, as her
! daughters heir was entitled 10 it. On the
claim that the will was invalid, Judge HaweS
holds that the widow takes her place as an
heir rat-law and is entitled to half of the
property, while the brothers and sisters OF
the testators, eight in number, are entitled to
the other half. The case will probably go to
the supreme court for settlement.
COLONEL CoDY's CONVERSATION.
Colonel w. f. Cody, otherwise Buffalo
Bill" is at the Leland entertaining his
friends with stories of the late Indian cam
| paign.
"That II. G. Chadwick, who came on from
Utica, n. v said he, land endeavored TO
| pass himself on me as a regular army lieuten-
| ant should don infants clothing instead of
| telling newspaper men that / started out to
capture Sitting Bull dressed in ballroom
| attire Chadwick never went farther west
| than the Mississippi, and never saw any In
| dians except those he met in New York;
! Colonel Cody has nothing but words of
| praise for General Miles.
"The general said he, handled that cam
paign in phenomenal manner. 1t will go
| down in history as being the most wonderful
| Indian war on record. There We're critical
| points when the entire west was trembling
| for the safety of thousands of settlers. The
| Nebraska militia, posted along the state line,
and the South Dakota militia, massed in the
| best places, enabled General Miles to CON
|
| dians in the bad lands. The Wounded Knee
| affair was an unfortunate event. What will
| be done with Forsythe is purely an army
| matter. l think he could not have done
| otherwise, considering the circumstances"
Colonel Cody saws the Indians will make an
| effort to secure Major McLaughlin's return to
| Pine Ridge agency. The friendlies, he
! says, headed by old John Grass who went to
Washington Yesterday, will have great iniiu-
| ence in amicably settling the perpleXing
| questions of their government,
"What do you think of Sitting Bulls
| death!n was asked
at was a cold booded, cowardly murder"
and in his indignation the scout rose and took
a turn in the rotunda sit was nothing but
MURDER and the Investigating committee
will so find out" he continued. Il don I
deny that his death was good thing, but the
| desrability for it did not Justify his murder
am glad it was done by the redskins"
DO you suppose they were ordered to kill
himg'
Buffalo Bill pulled his goatee refectively.
NO. he replied, II don't suppose that. II
was probably jealousy They called him
from his bed in the morning. He came TO
the door of his cabin. They began to read
the warrant for his arrest to him, and as he
| listened he was shot"
AN EXTENSIVE DEPOSITION.
The taking of the deposition of Architect
Meyers in the case Ryan 4 Walsh against
Douglas county, which was begun on Mon
day afternoon, was concluded here this even
ing. There were $50 items in the bill for
extras presented by the plaintiffs and the
testimony is consequently very voluminous.
1t will probably make in the neighborhood of
two hundred and fifty typewriter pages.
AN APPROPRIATE EMBLEM
plaster cast of the figure Of herald
that is to be placed before the gabel of the
new building of the Herald on Washington
street, on which Sculptor Gilbert has been
working for some time, is now on view at
his studio, 1888 Oak street. 1t is ten feet in
height and represents IA herald of the six
teenth century blowinga trumpet The figure
is spirited and suggestive OF action. In addi-
tion to the picturesque garb of the herald of
that time is gracefully draped tabard, bear
ing the seal of the city, where in olden times
was the coat of arms. In the right hand is
on open copy OF the Herald and in the left is
a baton. From his plumcd hat TO the low
buckle adorning his shoe the figure is beauti-
fully and hrmly modelled 1t will be, when
completed and placed one of the interesting
and attractive features of the art of the city
WESTERN PEOPLE IN TOWN.
| Among other western people in Chicago
today were the following At the Leland
Mrs. +. Nj. Wetherold, Mr.. and Mrs. c. NJ
Wetherold and two children, Hebron, Neb,
Hon. w, +, Cody, North Platte, Neb. lshan
Reavis, Falls City, Neb,
| At the Grand Pacific: Edgar c. MoXhaln
Johnstown, Neb,; l.. Hovebach, Mrs. j. q