Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-20
CONNELL'S HEIRS WIN
Will Case Comes to a Con-
clusion in the Circuit
Court,
NEW TRIAL NAY BE SOUGHT.

NEW TRIAL NAY BE SOUGHT.
CoAtsstaats Show That the DeesoseA
va Twice Aojadged Inaans, 90 Died
While sUndsr Esostnent - Mercy Hoa-
pitai In Dsssapore-Jary Returns Afsse
Celebrating 10 Hoars.
The heirs at law of Martin Cornell
are victorious in their suit 90 arnul
his will, In which he ignored the ma
jorisy OF them and bequeathed the
bulk Of his property. valued Of sew
eral thousand dollars, to St. Joeeph's
church, Rock Island. and st. Mary's
church. Moline. The arguments in
the case, which has been on trial in
the circuit court since Oct. 8, were
concluded 1t O'Clock YESTERDAY
afternoon, when the Jury retired.
The jury remained out all night, re-
turning verdict to Judge Gest at 9
O'Clock this morning. that the paper
writing introduced in evidence
was not the will of Martin Cornell,
The Jury was composed OF G. A.
Darling. John c. vogle, william
Crab. Charles Heald, Arnold Rursch.
Frank Goff. Charles Jones, Perry
Willis. N. P. Lewis, John Schsat,
William CoPp. j. A. johnson.
1t 10 probable that Q new trial will
be asked by the proponents. II this
Is denied the case may be carried to
the higher courts. But the expense
attending such q move would, it 10
saio. be greater than the amount a.
stake warrants. II there 10 no fur.
Their legal contest, the next move
will be for the appointment of an ad-
ministrator of Martin Connell's
estate. and then will follow the d.
vision OF the property among the
heirs, each receiving what the law
provides.
The case was . hard fought one.
The proponents OF the will intro.
duced w. j. Entrikin, OF Moline,
who drew the first will June 2, 1892.
He said Mr.. Cornell was perfectly
rational at that time, but was in
great pain. evidently suffering from
q protracted spree. and was at deaths
door. In this will he left all Of hi Q
property to his three nieoes. But
soon afterward he revoked it on oc-
count of their alleged illtreatment @
him. W. A. Meeso testified that The
will IN controversy was drawn BY
him; that Connell was sane at the
time; knew all about his property,
and remarked that his reason for not
remembering his heirs more gen.
erously was because they had
not treated him right. and
that Revs. Fathers Greve and
Msckin had been kind to him
and he meant to reward them BY
leaving a portion Of his property to
each. Neighbors and fellow-work.
men OF Connell's were placed on the
stand, and said that during their &C.
quaintance with him they never
thought he was insane. The contest.
ants introduced q large number of
witnesses who testified that Cornell
had for years been Q hard drinker;
had peculiar actions. and some of
them characterized him as being o
" SSA AAAAAoOu SSAuOu. AOCum6uB ID
placed in evidence showed there had
been three inquests into Coanell's
sanity. The fret in the Rock
Island county court, June %,
1892. when he was adjudged insane.
He was treated at Mercy hospital,
Davenport. from which he was dis
charged cured three weeks after.
July %. 1892, he was declared sane
in the county court. Sept. s. fol-
lowing, the will in controversy was
made. May 20. 1898. he was ad-
judged insane by the insanity co.,.
mission at Davenport. He was
placed under treatment 1T Mercv
hospital and died there . few DAYS
afterward.
Other Court Mattsrs.
The cases Of the people against
j. A. Brown and Anna fouitz. an
Peals from the justice court, we're
dismissed.
Charles Evans, whose case was sp-
Peaied from . justice court. plesd
guilty to fast driving this morn
ing, and was fined O. and costs.
The following trial list of criminal
cases has been arranged for this
week: Willis Hooper. appeal; Jesse
Eastman, appeal; Gust Nyden, lar
Cenv. ErAd Rrookaav Y.,~.. .