The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-21
STILL SEARCHING FoRTHE WILL.
In Its Absence the City May Prove
Its Claim by the Witnesses.
The Widow Alleged to Be Given .
Small Annuity-Question - to the
Lowman Heirs' Claims - Lawyers
Striving for Fat Pickings-Possibil-
ity Of Half-Breed Contestants.

Will contests in the history Of the Pacific coast
The original claimants ~ the estate are nstur-
ally the widow and collateral heirs, but not oaly
Is there likely to De a contest between these two
branches OF the family, bu: The city OF seattle
viii come forward with tie startling statement
that Hr. fesler ief, a will, which cannot be
Iound, bequeathing 81 his property 20 the city
with the exception o. a small annuity 20 his
widow. There is also tai OF some haif-breefs
setting up q claim 10 share n the rich in
heritsnce IS Mr. Yesler's children. AZ a result
Of this conflict OF interests lively struggle be-
tween riva! lawyers for the privilege OF repre-
senting the widow has occurred.
II wss well known among NJ. Yeser's init
mate friends that he made several wills and
nat be destroyed several. lie frequently
talked with them about his intentions as' 70 the
disposition OF mis- property and made ii evident
hat he contemplated making q handsome be-
aGest TO the city. But il was difficult 10 tell
whether he had carried out the intentions lie
oppressed verbally or, II he had put them in
writing, whether he had not changed them. He
was man OF rather quick temper, though
ordinarily so gentle that il WIS not easy 70
imagine him il anger, and II any person 10
whom he hai Left anything in ais latest will
I'D anything TO irritate him. he would destroy
and begin 10 cogitste on another. He had u
book Of directions for making wills. so that he
could draw I'D one without the aid OF lawyer.
Il he did employ a lawyer IL was different one
avery time, and though he was laxative enough
beforehand on the subject, he was secretiye
when it came to the point, taxing the paper To be
witnessed By different persons usually ignorant
81 its purport.
At the tine Of Mr. Yeslers death it was gen
orally supposed that the last will had been
3rawn By Judge ]. L. Iewis, who was then in
California, and telegrams OF inquiry on the sub
ect were sent 10 him. but the reply that lie
bad no will. Judge Lewis had witnessed the
execution OF = viii by Nj. Yesler in the year
81, aud this was probably the one he destroyed
n the presence Of 9 l. Crawford q few months
alter the great FIRE At that time be very
sngry with the city FOR cutting of the corner OF
BIS property 10 make Pioneer place without
providing ior compensation, and tore UP the
document alter showing Mr.. Crawford a clause
oequeathDg 10 the city the block on which his
residence stands. He was married 20 Mss Min
ale eagle in 1880. and is said 10 have made some
promises to her as 10 what provision he would
make tot her in his will. What these promises
we're il u matter OF surInise but one of his init
mates is authority for the statement: that he
,iten talked with her about what he would do
and expressed the opinion that g.. 900 a year was
plenty for woman 70 live on; in fact became
Initiated when she returned 10 the subject as he
vas with any person who suggested the sub
'ect He protested 70 be in no hurry, as he was
70 confident Ia his own longevity that be ex.
pected to reach the age OF o. years.
The will which is believed TO have been in
existence al the time OF his death was probably
made soon alter his return from the Eastern
Zip he made Las: summer. At that time he had
been Modified towards the city by the payment
Of the condemnation awards amounting TO
il25,ooo out Of the proceeds of the las, bond is-
cue. and was again talking OF nakiny a will to
Iome OF bis companions that trip. His earlier
mention 10 make considerable beouest to the
sity had returned
This will peaueathed the whole of the estate
20 ths city Of Seattle. with the exception of a
mail annuity 10 Mrs. Yesier. Mr.. Yesler 10 said
DOT to have deposited 1t in a safe. but 10 have
placed i; in some hiding place of his own about
ais house. When inquiry for the will was made
{ could not be found. though it was known By
friends TO whom Mr.. fesler had talked on the
subject tia, he had made one, and several per-
Ions claimed 20 have knowledge OF its pro-
Visions. Accordingly on December 3. Mira. Yes
.er applied 10 Judge Lichtenberg, in the probate
department. OF the superior court, Tor the
appointment OF n. 4. Maddocks as airninistra.
sor, alleging HAT after diiigent search and
inquiry no Will had been found She
named as Mr. Yeslers next of kin herself,
Daniel Lowmsn. q half brother: Annie L0wnan
Johnson. Il hall sister; Betsy Lowman Bernhart
half sister; Alfred Lowman and - Lowman,
.atldrsn o. John LowInau, Il half brother who
dead; Mary Lowmsn WampIcr and - Low
and George LowmGn, children OF Andrew
Lowmsu, half brother. Some OF these reside
z Maryland and some in Indiana. The selec-
ion OF Mr. Maddoeks to administer the estate
Is said by his friends 10 be at the express wish
81 Mr.. Yesler himself, of whom he was lie
ong friend. but Others who seem 70 know a
great deal about the affairs of the family attri.
puts it To his influence over Mrs Yesler
1t was not Icing before evidences Of prepara-
lion for IA contest began to appear. Had all the
interests been working together in harmony. il
probable that Mg. Naddocks would have been
appointed without much delay, but opposition
same from several directions.
First Of al came & scramble among the law
Tets for she opportunity 10 earn tho lat ices
growing oai o. the Impending contest la some
nganer-aceour.s ditering-Juige IAchsenterg
MAS brought into personal commun ication with
Mrs. lesier and one afternoon caisi on her
Tie outcome 81 tha interview Was that
10 agreed act as her attorney rs
soon bis term on the bench should expire.
sud there and then began 20 draw II petition To
The court on behalf of Mrs. Icsier asking Ia be
allowed 10 Withdraw her former petition for
The appointment of Mr.. Maidocks a. admins.
traitor Ia some wsy Nj Nadiocas got wiad of
what Vas going on, and reinforcing H. r
shields. whom he had previously retained with
Vi h}te < MHudAy, hurried 10 The scene oi seton.
A. he entered Ihc room where the conference
IL progress tho judges pea was
,tiu scratching AWAY. Macdocks ana
bis retluus oi lawyers asked for
sac. minutes conversation with the Ia Is
aaa she went 10 another room with them " hen
she returned TO The judge, shs refused TO sISn
She paper or 20 employ him as her attorney and.
alter an exchange OF couFtes!es with Ng Mad
iecAs aud his psrty, he Withdrew. The ascend
Aney of Mr.. Naddooks over The vsctllnt;ur
widow Was restored and The curtain went down
81 tie act
few days later. that is. \ week ago ye.tar.
day, Juntus Rochester and Mayor Ronald Y.rs,
tn earnest conversation in the soyer OF the seat.
lie theater. he plAy was rhe last thins thew
we're thinking about, ieT rhev were too much
sRsorbsd in the drama Of real life Mr. K hester
cas- pouring ycFy interesting tale Into tie
mayors escer ear. aad The latter IA his ocrs-
sonsl questions nna comments. struggled hard
T. bold his iar-reaehiuG voice down t. a wis.
per They suddenly LEI: lie buIaitr
together and tee MAYOR went T. pa
tee headquarters aud had few minutes
tax WITH CAiet Audrew jackson. Then the
ehiaf dispatched some of his trustiest officers 70
the homes of the coGuciimen Next morning
the council met n secret joint session IN TIE
ei,y hall. the door beiug guarded by two officers
and each member being sworn TO preserve
secrecy as 10 the lasf OF tho meeting aud the
business transacted
The subject az this meeting was the missing
wilt Mr. Rochester. either ss the lawyer who
drew II ar As witness IN its execution, knew
It's purport. and the information which he was
pJuriag into the mayors ear that igbt 81, the
sAe4isr wAs the tact st Its existence aud tie re-
quests ~ contained, When the mayor leaned
Iust be might oy prompt action secure - Tie