The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-04
HE TOSSED OFF WILLS
Benjamin Davis Gave Vast Estates
Away with Liberal Hand.
Il. w. Fleming Will Exchange One Will
for Tailor Bill Payment-An
Old Mans Ways.

T. w. Fleming, merchant tailor at No.
6S Indiana avenue, few days ago came into
the possession OF an alleged fortune through
circumstances most peculiar. He was made
the legatee of all the landed possessions of
Benjamin Davis, an aged man, who 1t ap-
pears had penchant for making wills. The
latter is over seventy years of age, and,
although he is very frail, he is said to re-
tain gift of tongue remarkable. Just now
Mr.. Fleming is looking for his aged benefac-
tor. Mrs Sallie Atkinson. of No. 253 North
Mississippi street, is also on the alert for
a glimpse of Davis, and the desire of Mr..
Fleming and Mrs. Atkinson in this direc-
ton Is shared by George Raper, proprietor
of the Denison House cigar stand Mr..
Raper also holds one of the famuos wills,
which IL seems were so readily executed by
the old man.
Benjamin Davis entered the Raper house
hold a year ago as boarder. Mr.. Raper
met him at the hotel and lent an ear to the
lonely old gentleman's story. The result
was that Mrs. Raper gave him a room and
a place at the family table. Davis repre-
scented himself as being a man of wealth,
but said that his money was tied up in
thousands of acres of lands. He had
journed at the Raper home but a few weeks
when he announced his intention of leaving
Mrs. Raper all of his property. He ex-
planned that he was childless, and rapidly
drifting toward the grave. He followed up
the announcement by executing a will, duly
signed and witnessed in favor of the Rapers
They have the document to-day. After the
will had been disposed of Mr. Raper alleges
that Davis borrowed $50 from him, stating
that he was going to New Jersey to dis
pose of valuable Motel property. He left,
Two or three months ago T. w. Fleming,
the tailor, formed the acquaintance of Da-
Wis at the Bates House. Fleming invited
the old gentleman to call at his place Of
business, and the invitation was accepted.
The two became fast friends, and Fleming
states that 1T was not long until he learned
Of the immense wealth in the way of real
estate which Davis purported to own. lie
says that he was given to understand that
Davis possessed ten thousand acres of land
in Georgia. a large amount of coal land
erty in the East. The West Virginia land
Davis claimed, he was about to sell to
an agent of the Vanderbilts, and on the
strength of this approaching deal Fleming
says that he credited Davis with a thirty
dollar suit of clothes. While the garments
were being made he became the sole heir
of his customers vast estate.
One day. while visiting the shop, Davis
and proposed naming as the beneficiary Of
the property his friend Fleming. The lat
ter states that the document was prepared
in real-estate office and locked in the
safe. At the same time, he says, Davis
produced deeds and papers which appeared
genuine. The clothes which the old man
ordered were completed, and he
informed Fleming that he would
pay for them in April. Fleming
has not seen his customer for several days,
and is quite willing to exchange the docu-
ment in the real-estate office for the price
of the clothes.
Mrs. Sallie Atkinson claims that Davis is
indebted to her for board and lodging in
considerable sum. She was also placed
in possession of the fact that her bOarder
was quite wealthy. He left his lodgings
last Friday and had not returned last
night. The munificent old gentleman is
said to possess mild, courteous manners,
and a happy way of convincing people of
his honest intentions.