The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-15
THE STORY OF a LOTTERY PRIZE
A winning of $4,000 IL Years Ago
That Has Been in Litigation Ever


Since.
From the Kansas City Journal
On Dec. 9. at the court house door IN
Lexington Mo. United States Marshal
Joe Shelby will SELL under execution is
sued from the United States circuit court
here, $50 acres of fine farm land located
near Odessa, in Lafayette county. The
sale will close a hard-fought and historic
case. 1t is the old lottery claim of LOUIS
Cohn against Alvin Kensler. partners in
the purchase of a lottery ticket that prov
ed a winner and drew the capital prize
SIS, OO0 in the famous old Louisiana State
Lottery in its palmy days. The cash has
been productive of everything but comfort
to all interested parties since 1t was paid
out by the lottery company, dozen years
ago.
During the fall Of 1888 Louis Cohn and
Alvin Kinsler were the best Of friends
Both lived here in Kansas City ana for
q long time had been partners in the Dur-
chase of lottery tickets, and had jointly
invested IS each month in search Of a
fortune. One day during that tall keus-
Ter was given $50 by Cohn TO make the
accustomed purchase. Later in TIE Gay
Cohn asked for the money, saying he was
called out of the city and would need 1t.
He asked Kensler to advance the amount
agreement, so he says, was fully under
stood. His visit was prolonged Until af-
ter the drawing, and then Kensler learned
to his establishment that he held the
ticket that called for the capital prize,
and was entitled to $4,000. Just sibuut
that time Coin came back and rendered
him the $3.50 for his half in the ticket,
but Kenser answered him nay. Then
there was a row.
In the due course of time Kensler de-
posted his stick with the express com
mo md "a he ch
ed over to him. Cohn at once began suit
for his half of the sum, ana employed
Maj. William Warner as his attorney,
while Kensler employed Senator George
Vest to defend his case and his cash. The
case was filed in the federal court IN Kan
sas City, Dec. &c. 1884, and asked for one
half of the amount. The case was in the
court for three years, and on Nov ], 1881
the verdict was rendered for the plaintiff
for the sum asked for, with legal interest
The legal battle attracted a great deaf
of attention. Maj. Warner fought for his
client with remarkable zeal, and Senator
Vest who was paid 5000 to defend Kens-
Ter, made a stubborn defense. 1t was a
tilt between trained and experienced legal
gladiators, ana is remembered by other
attorneys and the officials.
But kensler did not stop fighting at the
close of the litigation. He invested a
large portion of the cash in farm of 532
acres down near odessa and married. 50
that his wife would be able TO have
claim in the property. A baby was bOrn
and another legal complication was pre-
cipitated. The farm was decided 70 otn-
ers, and every device known was resorted
to in order TO delay or defeat settlement.
Finally Mrs Kensler died, and some years
later the baby died ana Kensler is said
to have completely abandoned the case
and gone to the Pacific coast, where he
has accumulated some property and aban-
doned lottery enterprises.
The attorneys for Cohn watched the le-
gal complications, and at the proper time
the judgment was assigned 10 Isaac w
Avitt ana in his name was revived and Is
now In force The matter was at once
put into motion, and an execution was Is
sued and the property seized and sale
advertised. The advertisement has beer,
satisfied, and on Dec. the sale OF the
lands viii take place at Lexington.
The farm is one Of the best in La
fayette county, and Is worth, so inter
ested parties claim, fully $50 per acre
and while lt viii not satisfy The judge
mont of the plaintiff, u viii be- "A big fac-
tor The judgment, with the legal Inter-
aat eddsd- new stands "a k44E17lll