Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-10-12

tiers. They mingle together IN groups
and discuss the merits OF the case 10
be tried.
It is evident that the sympathy Is
one sided and that the rows OF specta-
tors are of cue mind, perhaps because
it is natural to take sides with the
cause Of the weak, the helpless ana
the presumably innocent.
What is known far and near as the
great will case of SilaS Grounding VS..
the Estate of Andrew NOrdrum is set
for hearing Distinguished lawyers
from the city have been employee on
both sides. The Judge takes his place
on the bench, the clerk slips into the
chair in front of the Judge desk, the
persons summoned as urors are called,
and the long and tedious LABOR OF Sc
curing a Jury who knoWed little or
nothing about the case is completed,
the Jurors are sworn to render YER
dict true, according to the law and the
evidence given them in court, and the
case is ready for the first witness.
By the time this interesting point
has been reached the day is spent.
The lawyers have exhausted them
selves in their efforts to preserve and
promote the legal rights OF their
clients.
The men presented for jurymen have
been catechised as to their knowledge
of the case, and as to the extent OF
their bias, if any, for Or against either
party. 1t has been quite difficult to
obtain a jury composed entirely OF
citizens who have not formed an Opln-
ion as to the validity of the will, nor
heard the merits of the case discussed.
The jury, as finally selected, are
mostly farmers, men of intelligence.
possessing an ordinary amount OF good
sense, and who were known to be fair
minded and honest.
The populace have confidence in the
Jury. and believe that Justice will be
done, and their idea of justice in this
case is a verdict in accordance with
the drift Of public sentiment.
Upon the adjournment of court the
people return to their homes, coming
again early in the morning, eager for
the case to begin and end.
The case has been commenced by
Mr. Silas Grounding, the person
named in the will as principal legatee,
to recover from Mary Nordrum, the
daughter OF the person making the
will, the rents and profits coming into
her possession by reason of her claim
ing to be the sole heir-at-law Of her
fathers estate, there being no will in
existence. as Miss Nordrum had every
reason to believe.
The attorney for the plaintiff,
Groundwig, opened the case to the
court and jury in an off-hand, careless,
conversational style, as though the
fact of the will giving his client the
greater part of Major Nordrum's for
tune was matter OF course and of very
little concern to any one except Mr..
Grounding, and while, under the cir
cumstances, there might be some Of
the gentlemen of the jury who would
sympathize with Miss Nordrum, and
deeply regret that her honored and re-
spected father had not deemed it adj
visable to leave all his wealth to her,
yet on the other hand these same
Jurors thought that it was truly q
heroic act-nOblo and self-Sacrificin9
and worthy brave and gallant soldier,
to remember in his will, in such 3 lib
ersl manner. a comrade who had faced
death TO save the testatOr's life.
Undoubtedly the Major had his own
notions about bestowing his fortune
upon young girl, even though that
girl were the fruit of his own loins,
and no doubt, as he had averred in his
will, it was better that she should learn
to earn her own living and thus be
able the better to enjoy such pleasures
and comforts as she should secure by
her own efforts.
Mary Nordrum had not been left
penniless.
Far from il.
A home with neat and rare surround
ings was hers to enjoy and hers to dis
pose OF as she might desire.
S;i}as Grounding had led checkered
life. Crippled on the battlefield, de-
MED a pension because he was unable
to procure evidence that his disability
was caused while engaged in the mill
tary service, he had continued to
struggle on bravcly and manfully
against the yicissitudes of i'll fortune,
until, in providential manner he
was directed to the home of his
old army comrade, whom he found
an invalid, and by whose side he re
manned, nlinistering to his wants, until
the eyes of the noble hearted Major
were closed in death.
Il now offer in evidence" continued
the attorney, 'of the validity OF Mr..
Nordrum's estate, the will signed by
Andrew Nordrum in the presence of
two witnesses, who signed their names
as such witnesses in the testator' pres
ence and at his request, in accordance
with the requirement of the law.
AS YOU will see, the will has been
properly probated, has the seal Of the
clerk Of the Probate Court affixed
thereto, and his certificate attached, to
the effect that the attesting witnesses,
James Martin and Matilda Patterson.
appeared before him, legal notice hay
ing been given of the time of proving
said will, and made oath that they
did SO sign such will as such wit
nesses."
The attorney took his seat. apparent
" quite exhausted with the effort he
had made, He wiped the perspiration
from his brow. and looked around TO
see what effect his opening OF the case
had ,,noD h - audi ap.o