Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-25
THE ELDER GOT ANGRY,
As a Result the Missionary So
cieties are Losers.
Rev. Miller's Daughter to Contest
His Will.
A Wealthy Methodist Minister and His
Quarrel With His Adopted Daughter.
He Failed to Mention Her in His
Will-She Brtegs Suit.

Elder J. G. Miller died at South Pas.
adena some six months ago, and left Z
widow and fortune estimated to be
between quarter and half million
dollars. The bulk Of this was left to his
widow, but large bequests aggregating
many thousands OF dollars were left to
various charitable and missionary socie-
ties.
None OF the latter will be paid, simply
because the elder lost his temper some
years ago, and forgot to mention the fact
to the lawyer who drew up the will.
The story is an interesting one, particu-
larly to rich men who wish to cut off an
heir effectually.
Elder Miller was long q prominent
Methodist clergyman, until he was re-
tired some years ago on account of his
age. He formerly lived in Lincoln, Neb.
Having no children be adopted girl in
FAINT, going through the necessary legal
formalities, making her in the eyes of
the law his daughter. The child grew
to young womanhood and was sent to
the Methodist college at that place,
where she met young man named E.
N. Lewis, who became enamored of her.
and she reciprocated his feeling.
Young Lewis went to the elder and
asked for his daughters hand, and was
promptly refused. The girl then pleaded
with her father, but he said to her:
II have cared for you and reared you
as my child, with the idea of your being
asmissionary to India; to successfully
pursue that career you must remain all
lIfo q oa1fhotn IL
to Gods work. You understand this,
and I warn you now that if YOU marry
this Lewis will disown you.''
When girl has decided that she is in
love, nobody but an elder would dream
OF her receiving the ultimatum with
equanimity OF being a vestal all her life.
The girl sighed and went to school. So
did Lewis. In few days they decided
they naturally eloped and were married
and were happy ever since. Mr.. Lewis.
at the last session, was elected secretary
wife probably never thinks of India or
celibacy.
Elder Miller did not like his daugh-
ter's action; this is a way that parents Of
decided notions have, 80 he moved to
home at South Pasadena, and devoted
himself to church work as far as his
years would permit. He never omen-
toned his daughter, however, to any
one. At last he thought it best to draw
up his will and consulted lawyer, and
gave khim memoranda of how he
wished his property distributed, but
omitted to mention the daughter, not
even leaving her the proverbial shilling,
which would have allowed him to leave
his many other dollars as he pleased.
At last the elder died and his will was
probated and the secretaries of a num-
Der of missionary and church societies
were made happy over the knowledge
that their organizations had been left
thousands of dollars.
But Mrs. Lewis has knocked, or at
least will soon knock the will to pieces.
She has recently heard of her fathers
death and has placed her claim in the
hands of lawyers, and there is no doubt
in the minds of those informed on the
Gaze that she will get half the estate, as
no mention at all was made of her in the
will. To disinherita person who is di-
rect heir, it is necessary for the testator
to state in the will that it is his wish
the person should inherit nothing, or
else he should leave the person nom
inal amount, which is in England usual
ly shilling and in this country dollar.
The will was probated here a short
time ago, but the matter will soon be
reopened, when Mrs. Lewis will show
that she is not as much disinherited as
the elder thought when he bade her
choose between him and her husband: