The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-21
SISTER AGAINST WIDOW
For the Possession of the Estate OF the Late
Colonel CockeriII

!. New York, March 20.-Surrogate Ar
mold today denied the application of Mrs.
Hettie c. Campbell of Torresdale. Pa,
| for permission to examine certain eff
| fects of her brother, the late Colonel
John A Cockerill, which reached TIL.
| city from Cairo. Egypt, few days ago.
| Colonel Cockerill who was we'll known
| as journalist all over the United States
died of apopleXy in Cairo In April of laA
year. Mrs. Campbell, who is the wife of
Dr. John Campbell, alleged in her peti-
ton that an examination of the effects
of her deceased brother would disclose
the existence of will executed subse-
quent to the instrument under which the
widow of Colonel Cockerill, now Mrs.
Walter Lehman, is made his sole heiress,
and, in addition, that Colonel Cockerill
had assigned 70 the petitioner, his sister,
a policy of insurance for $4,000 The
petitioner also alleged that Colonel Cock
Grill had for some time prior 10 his death
been estranged from his wife and tina:
he besides instituted here an action for
absolute divorce.
Mrs. Campbell asserted the belief that
should Colonel Cockerilrs effects first
come into possession OF his former wife
the later will and the assignment of life
insurance would be destroyed.
The surrogate'S denial of the petition
is based upon the proposition OF law ina.
an order Of discovery and inspection can
only be granted in a proceeding which i.
actually pending.
Mrs. Campbell received the following
letter from Colonel Cockerill soon after
he mad gone to apan TO act as war COR
respondent OF the New York Herald:
Grand Hotel.
Yokohama Sent 20 ISq5
My Dear Sister;
Il am JUS starting for Corea and
China. / have left some valuables here
in charge OF Mr.. W. :. Stone. manager
of the American Trading company
Should anything happen 70 me ne has
your address ana Will communicate with
you. l want To say that whatever l left
behind is yours in the event OF my death
Before my wife left here, l settled
with her by paying her certain sum
in cash in consideration OF her rslin-
gushing all claims against me. The
sum was $1,000 in gold. In the event OF
my death she will have no claims. Ny
Insurance IS also made out N your be-
half. Should l come out Of the some
what perilous expedition, I shall return
to the United States some time in Janu-
airy OF February.
With best wishes. affec:ionately
yours JOHN \. COCKERILL
In the affidavit is part OF letter dated
Yokohama. September IS. 1895. which
reads:
My Dear Sis;er:-Mrs. c. returned
home q week ago. There Is 10 use try
ing: We cannot live together. and a di,
vorca must De had as soon as / come
back which / hope viii be n January
Don't say anything OF this 70 anybody
save 20 thed octO-. Il Is impOr,sn, that
you should not | have done my best.
bu, IL is of no use As ever. J. a c"
Az the time Of the death OF her brother.
Mrs Campbell says that she was in
formed by Lawyer T. c. Campbell o.
this city. that proceedings for an sbso-
Lutte divorce from his wife brough, by
the colonel. were pending in this city.
Bristol r. l., March 20.-SuPer.n;snd- I
ent Schlosser OF the National India Rub
Der company has received orders from
Colonel :. P. Colt 20 Dc as sxpe5ious az
possible IN finishing up the small orders
as Mr.. Colt wishes 10 Close the mil az
soon as II can be done. The shutdown !
viii probably occur EEK, Tuesday.