Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-22
MATTERS IN MISSISSIPPI The Pops of LauderdaIe County
 Put Out a Ticket. THE CROWD VERY SMALL An Economy Platform Adopted and Dele gates Elected to the State Convention A B0mBSnELL WAS SPRUNG ON THE HEIRS Nearly Two Years After Probate Will Is to Be Contested Interesting Sketch
 of the suit-Sunday ct
 Camp Stone.
A B0mBSHELL WAS SPRUNG ON THE HEIRS

 court house in Meridian yesterday. The convention was organized by the election of William Green chairman and l.. J. Me Innis secretary. Every beat in the coun- ty was represented in the convention. but the attendance was very small, consider ing that it was the most important gathA ering of the populite party during the present canvass. There were about 150 persons present. The object of the con- vention was the nomination of a full leg islative and county ticket, to be voted for at the November election. After the enrolment of delegates the convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole to hear and act upon suggestions from the several precinct meetings as to the choice of the party in regard to candidates. After canvassing the pref erences thus expressed, the following nominations were made:
 For state sendtor-William Green.
 For representative outside the city of Merdian-W. H. Stinson.
 For representative of county at large W. C. Gressett.
 For sheriff-Dr. R. II. Harmon.
 For chancery clerk-F. A. Gurley.
 For circuit cierk-M. k. Gilbert.
 For treasurer--J. M. Hughes.
 For superintendent of education-R. r.
 
 Walker.
 For tax assessor-Willlam F. McDon- aid.
 For surveyor-I. l.. Stone.
 Before these nominations Were ratilled by the convention and made final Will liam Green, the nominee for state sena- tor, asked that the honor be conferred upon another and that he be excused. lie pleaded that on account of incompe- tency and being old and intirm he was unftted for the duties of the place. lie seemed to be the most available man, however, and his name was retained on the ticket.
 The populites claim considerable sfrefsth in-the county outside of Merid- ian, but beyond the probable election of | few of the beat officers there is not the ghost of a chance for them. They have placed some good men on their county ticket, but the last one of them will be buried by an avalanche of democratic votes at the November election.
 Resolutions were adopted pledging the populite party to a reduction of sa aries and economy in all public expenditures. An executive committee was appointed and delegates selected to attend the pop ulite state convention, which will meet at Jackson on the 3lst inStant, after which the meeting adjourned.
 The papers were prepared yesterday, and will be filed tomorrow in chancery suit that has elicited already considera- bic interest and speculation among the people of Meridian as to it's final out come. About two years ago Con Shee- han, one of the Wealthiest citizens of Me ridian died and left an estate estimated to be worth at the time $125,000. This es- tate embraced some of the most desirable and valuable business and residence property in this city, as well as valuable property in Jackson, Miss. Shortly after his death will, duly executed, in which all his wealth was bequeathed to par ties connected with him by marriage and adoption, was filed and probated in the office of the chancery clerk of Lau- derdale county. MT. Sheehan buried his wife several years prior to his death; he left no children of his own, and his prop erty was therefore bestowed upon those nearest and dearest with whom he was associated in life. The following named parties are the beneficiaries of the will that was probated: Mrs. Mike Kearney, Mrs John Lutz, Misses Katie Mamie and Ellie Giles, to whom was bequeathed the Meridian property, and Mrs. Herbert. a sister of his deceased wife, to whom the Jackson property was bequeathed.
 Two months after the death of Mr. Sheehan, and directly after the will was probated. investigations were begun in behalf of other heirs-three brothers and a sister. who live in the states of Con- necticut and Illinois. The preparations for the contest. which is now fairly un- der way, were continued so quietly un- til the last few days that the matter was entirely lost sight of save to those who were on the inside. Timothy N. Sheehan of South Norwalk Ct, brother of Con Sheehan, accompanied by John W. Shee- han, Esq, an attorney of Little Rock Ark, have been in the city for several days and have been quite active in com pleting the preliminary work necessary to a preparation of the papers in the contest The legal firms of A. J. Russell Esq, Hamm, Witherspoon & Wither- spoon and Woods & Woods of this city, J. W. Sheehan. Esq, and Col George w. Murphy, distinguished attorney of Lit tie Rock, Ark, have been retained to prosecute the case. The parties to the contest are: Timothy N. Sheehan and Dan Sheehan of South Norwalk, Ct. Patrick N Sheehan, Bridgeport, Ct, and Mrs. Ellen Best of Kansas, III. It is said that these parties are all comparatively poor and without much means with which to prosecute a very expensive suit, but they seem very sanguine of success in their efforts to have the probated will set aside.
 On the other hand MT. John Lutz, whose wife is one of the beneficiaries of the will, is confident that the contest will be failure, and that the parties who are now in possession of the prop erty in pursuance Of MT. Sheehan's will, cannot be disturbed therein. Able coun- sel have been retained by them also, and the fight over this large estate promises to be one of the most stubborn ever fought in the courts of this county.
 At full meeting of the democratic ex- ecutive committee of Lauderdale county, held yesterday, the previous action of the committee providing for the submis- sion of the question as to whether the party favored the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to l. or whether it fa- vored the single gold standard. to the democratic voters at the primary election to be held on August 1. was ratified. It Is very generally conceded that the 16 to 1