The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
FAIRS WILL MISSING
STOLEN FROM THE COUNTY CLERKS
OFFICE AT SAN FRANCISCO.
Taken from an Envelope and Worth
less Paper Substituted-May Cause
Legal Complications.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.-The will of
the late James G. Fair was stolen from the
clerks office some time yesterday after
noon and there is not the slightest clew
to the perpetrators of the crime. The dis
covery was made about half an hour be-
fore the usual time for closing the office.
Some one had come in and asked for per-
mission to see the document. A will filed
for probate is a public document, and like
all papers in civil actions and probate pro-
ceedings, is supposed to be open for the in
spection of anyone who is interested in the
and desires to see it. The clerk who
was asked to produce the will went to the
pigeon hole where it had been last placed.
He lifted the bulky envelope, on which was
inscribed Last sdwllx ando testament of
James q. Fair,raiand took 1T to the desk
where the visitor was waiting. When he
opened it the precious document was not
there In it's place lot of worthless
paper, which had been carefully folded and
inserted in the envelope in an attempt to
delay the discovery Us as long as possible:
deputy. He carefully scrutinized the enveI-
ope to make sure that the will was really
missing. A search was made in the pigeon
hole where the document belonged. There
was no sign of it anywhere. A thorough
search OF the entire office, as far was
practicable, was made, but the search was
fruitless. The will was gone There was
not the slightest trace of it, but the inves-
tgation was not given up until long after
the county clerks office is supposed to be
closed. When the chief deputy and the
other clerks who had been appriseu of the
theft left the clerks office last evening
there was not shadow of doubt in their
minds that the will had been stolen. Still
they had hopes it would turn up all right.
The disappearance of such will is far
more serious matter than would be the dis
appearance of will in any other case. The
great length and peculiar verbiage of the
document render it almost impossible to
prove the exact language, which is impor-
tant even should there be no contest. Cop
les are in possession OF the attorneys, but
if there is to be contest the accuracy of
the copies would at once be questioned.
millionaire is gone. 1t cannoe be produced
for the scrutiny of experts for identifi-
cation by the attesting witnesses, whose
testimony is to be offered in support of the
admission of the testament to probate.
The attorneys for all the parties inter-
ested in the will met to-day in conference.
regarding the theft. of the document Coun-
purloining of the will was in the interest
of the executors. 1t Is claimed by some
that the will tiledbwith sthe county clerk
is forgery; In prap5 19f this; it l. stated
that after FAR signed the Will, which was
sheets, six sheets were removed and sub
Stituted by others containing the provisions
creating the trust, the conditions under
lance of any children who may be born to
Charles l.. Fair, the surviving son. 1t is
said that the substituted sheets of paper
were of a different manufacture from the
was designed to cover up this discrepancy.
There is no clue to the robbers, but the
deputy in the county clerks office rests
under a cloud of suspicion.