The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-10-24

a Remarkable Paper Admitted to Recor'
bya wealthy and Peculiar Individual.
What the viii SAYS.
A special from Cuthberr tells this sen
sational story:
One Of the most remarkable papers
ever admitted to record IN RandolPl
comfy was the will Of the late Jacob ID
Jeffries, who died on the 1Zth instant
Jeffries was white man, and on account
of his long residence in the county, anC
his prominent family connections, II
makes the matter all the more peculiar
and interesting.
HE WAS A PECULIAR MAN.
Jeffries had always beenknown as
peculiar individual. he it was who pos
sessed considerable propertysand people
had become acquainted with that fact.
1t was further understood that he held
most of it in ready cash, and that be
carried it in belt around his waist. An
account was given in the Constitution
about lis coming 10 Cuthbert about two
wears ago. getting ON drunk and on re-
Tprning to hls home, about SIX miles be-
low Cuthbert, was waylaid and robbed
OF over 81, 900 ir gold that he had around
his waist. He never recovered this
money, IL + had any clue to who the
parties were. 1t weighed heavily upon
his mind and no doubt fastened his death,
w itch occurred on the 18th Of this
month.
A STORY OF HIS EARLY LIFE.
The people generally knew that JEFF
fries owned considerably property.
although his appearance indicated that
of a man in abject poverty. a history
of Jeffries' early life might throw addi-
tional light upon the recorded facts as
set out in his will. During the war JEFF
fries owned several slaves, and among the
number was good looking mulatto girl
by the name of Alice. When these slaves
were made free Jeffries kept this woman
Alice and they lived with each other as
nan and wife, although they were never
married. AS result of this Illicit love
and relation five illegltimate children
were born to them. Jeffries always
looked upon and called these his chill
d1en. OF the number one was a girl and
four boys. The girl was sent north and
given good education. SO were two of
the older boys sent north for an educa-
at the time of his death. His concubine
died prior to his making the will that
was placed on record yesterday. To her
he decided fifty acres of land-the land
that he lived on, six miles below Cuth-
bert. He had often remarked that he
intended to leave his property to his
children, although he had a sister living
in Cuthbert, and nephews and nieces in
and near this city, whom every one
thought would get his property, but MT
SO.
WHAT THE WILL SAYS.
In his will, which was admitted to re-
cord in common form in the ordlnary's
office yesterday, was disclosed the fact
that the same was made October %,
1887, that it was in duplicate. When he
die no will was found. Some $500 in
money, some land and some notes, &C
counts and personal property were left.
There was no one to take charge, so his
nephew by marriage came to Cuthbert
and petitioned for temporary letters of
administration. Hardly had these been
granted before Eva WilburD, a mulattO
and wife of Herbert Wllburn, who lives
in Albany, Ca, came forward with a du-
plicate copy of the will. She, together
with two of the boys, were named as
executors. He bequeathed in the first
item of the will house and lot in the
city of Cuthbert, fifty acres of land,
mules and wagons to Albert, the young
est child, on account of his being the
youngest and most dependent.
The second item in the will save Eva,
William, Ed, George and Albert Jeffries,
the children of Alice Jeffries, his former
slave, now deceased, all his money,
notes, accounts and other property,
equally, excepting the bequest made Al
bert in item /.
Eva, one of the executors named, pro-
duced the will, which was written with
accuracy and precision. 1t was admitted
to record, and she took charge of his
effects,
And so 1t was that he did intend to
provide for these children, illegitimate
as they are the children of his slave.
HE LOVED THE WOMAN.
1t is generally understood that when
Jeffriess slaves were freed that he settled
g., 900 on this woman to remain with