The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-17
ANOTHER WILL CASE
Mrs. Helms Was Almost Snubbed by
Her Late Husband.
SHE HAS A sISTER-IN-LAW
Il IL Alleged That the Decedent
Was Not of Sound Mind-His
Hatred for His VIE. and All
Without Foundation.

Another will contest was instituted
In the courts yesterday. the contestant
being Mrs. Mary Helms. widow OF Her
man II. Helms, who died on the S0th
of last September. leaving a will by
which he cut his wife on with a leg
acy barely as much as her dover right
in the estate would have amounted to.
The estate. consisting of number OF
houses and lots In the city. 10 estimated
to be worth s12.500 with large rem
tai. BY the provisions OF the Will. Mrs.
Helms Is to have the homestead, said
to be worth about $1,000. Another
house. worth about $1,000. was willed
to a 13-year-old daughter. Pearl. Other
property valued at 5000. was given to
Mrs. Meta Richter, q sister or the de-
ceased living in Butte. and TO a brother
and sister living in Hamburg, Ger
many. Certain other property. consist
ing Of tenement houses. were directed
to be sold and the proceeds applied 10
the payment OF Helms debts and the
remainder to be equally divided be-
tween Mrs. Helms and the little girl.
Neighbors OF the Helms tell some
strange stories regarding the actions
of Helms during the last year OF his
life. and especially in his conduct to-
wards his wife. 1t Is said that he had
an intense hatred for her for several
months preceding his death and con-
stantly accused her of all sorts of
things, the accusations being entirely
without foundation except an appar-
emily disordered mind from which they
emanated. 1t is said that Mrs. Helms
had always borne the best reputation
as a wife and mother. yet her husband
worked up such a hatred for her that
he would have cut her off without a
- hoI a a
Il.
The will, which has been filed for pro-
bate, names Thomas Macarthur as exc
cutor. In her opposition to the admis-
sion of the will to probate, Mrs. Helms
alleges that the will Is not the will of
the deceased. and that at the time he
signed II he was not of sound mind.
The will, 1t Is alleged, was not attested
by at least two competent witnesses
| and in the presence of the decedent.
At the time Of the alleged signing he
| was under undue influence OF his sister.
Meta Richter, who sought to influence
| him in the disposition of his property
| In her favor and against his wife, and
| did so influence him. For the accom-
plishment OF her purpose Mrs. Richter
constantly visited him during his i'll
ness and before the will was signed
sought to supplement Mrs. Helms in
the attentions and services which he
required and which 1t was the duty of
his wife to furnish. and which she had
furnished him. By reason of Mrs. Rich
ter's unnecessary attentions she ac-
| quired undue influence over him and
his wife was, by reason of such infiu-
erce, excluded from his presence and
Mrs. Richter used her influence to in
fiuence him to treat her more favorable
in making his will to the prejudice and
| injury of his wife.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Helms had been mar
| ried for about IA years. He was 80 and
she 40 years of age. and Mrs. Richter is
IS. Howell & Harvey are attorneys for
| Mrs. Helms.