Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-09-02
SCHMIDT'S WILL.

Yesterday morning the community was in
expressibly shocked to hear that our well
known and honored citizen, John Schmidt of
East Darby township, had passed away from
our midst. Mr.. Schmidt came from Holland
to this country when quite lad. By honesty
and industry he amassed farm of eighty
acres and was universally respected. Owing
to our going to press today, we must postpone
his biography until next week, but we under
stand his real and personal estate is left to o
| nephew The deceased came to his death by
catching cold while killing hogs.-Darby Ban
ner of Freedom
Notwithstanding the ''inexpressibe
shock" the East Darby community, very
| little excitement was visible when the
worthy John Schmidt was laid in his
grave. On account of spell of dry
weather great many farmers staid at
home to attend to the haying, and not
more than twenty people all told listened
to the new clergyman, who had not even
known the deceased by sight, while he
spoke in fiowery periods for five minutes
In fact, as Jonas Waters, the selectman
remarked, Nobody could be expected to
take much stock in man that never got
married nor went to church" Interest
centered, however, on one old man and one
young one, both dressed in black and both
strangers to the community.
Presently it became known, in the mys
FERROUS way in which things do become
known, that the old man was a lawyer
from New York and the young man a
nephew of the deceased and the presuma
BILE heir to his wealth. Then from the
same occult source there came the infor-
nation that John Schmidt's will would be
read at his former residence day after next
Thither focked threescore of Darbys
| a nd mot, or Lei, ,1x
by curiosity, since no neighbor was insane
enough to suppose that the old gentleman
would leave anything to him or the town
The old lawyer was on hand, with a snug
and mysterious air; so was the young
nephew in black, and SO also were three
strangers, also in black, of varying ages
and visages, but alike in nervous twitch-
ing of lips and suspicious distrust of one
another.
ut was the wish of my esteemed client,
John Schmidt, that his last will and tesla
ment should be read IN public within three
days after his decease," said the old law
yer, producing a large envelope and exhib-
| iting it to the audience. 1.-THE law does
not require this formality and it is against
my advice. but that is immeterial will
also add that do not know the contents of
this will, since it is a holograph."
|
ing upon perplexed dismay, spreading over
the audience, the old lawyer FASTENED to
add, THAT is, written by the testator him
SELF
Calm being restored the lawyer, with
exasperating slowness, opened the envel-
ope, and after proper pause began to
read in n manner which, at first eminently
professional, soon became decidedly diff.
| fuse
81, John Schmidt, farmer, of Darby
county, \. Y, here make my will. have
this farm and the houses on it mot couched
i'll legal phraseology, my friends, but l have
no doubt it will standl, which / value at
5000 This valuation will have to be veri-
fiedl, and / also have an iron box
| Here the lawyer produced in a legerde-
main sort of way small box from the III
terror of his coat and remarked, Here is
the box-it has been in my possession for
two years" Then continuingl-"iron box
which contains the remainder of my for
tune-sl0O,00O"
A prolonged whistle from Elder jackson
and "Jewhittaker'' from Jabez Waters
broke the silence, while the nephew and
the three strangers in black looked red
and blue by turns.
The old lawyer held up his hands warn
ingly and proceeded; Some people think
don't know anything, but I'll show then
John Schmidt is no fool. made all thi:
money at one lucky stroke in New York ,
Bin speckulatin," said Jabez Waters il
loud whisper. Stocks"
"Loozyanner lot'ry," responded the
elder, in piously hoarse voice
Il worked hard" read the lawyer in
sharp voice to command silence, ''for years
but made more in one day than | ever die
in all my life. And now | leave all w,
got to my nephew-(er- hum-yesl -Johr
Smith" The old lawyer folded up tn,
will and had just remarked THE will i
properly signed and'-when the nephew
hurried forward.
MY poor, dear uncle" he exclaimed
dabbing his eyes vigorously with his hand
kerchief, II always knew
Pardon me, )" said one of the stranger
in black; will you allow me to look at tn
will? Thanks-oh, yes-as supposed"
"You supposed" repeated Nephew JOIN
TREMENDOUSLY.
Eyes, as supposed. On looking closer,
to the old lawyer, you will see that tn
name of the legatee is Jehu Smith. NJ
poor, dear uncle"-
at strikes me-" interrupted the secon
man in black, looking over Jehu's shoul
der, thai Uncle John has written Joshua
He never was good speller or writer, bu
the last time saw him he gave me to uu
underestimate
"And | give you to understand" erie
the third man. rising from his chair an
speaking in bloodthirsty voice, that IN
name is job Smith, and am full cous
of Johns, and if I've been forgotten Il
know the reason why"
An expression almost beatific stole owe
! the old lawyers face.
"A contest" he murmured softly. "GeI
tlemen, as executor of this will find tia
this question cannot be decided at TIL
time and place. | shall hold the WHIP
, But the boxi" said Nephew John.
: 81 shall also hold the box until an agree
ment is had or the courts decide on tn
rghtful heir"
A quadrlateral howl arose, but the oil
. lawyer buttoned his rusty coat with til
} air of chief justice, and the Darby pc,
? pie, who We're all agog over the impendin
f fracas and possible homicide, were disal
( pointed. While the heirs wrangled anon
themselves the attorney slipped away wit