The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
: ROMANCE In REAL LIFE.
Treasury Clerk WiIIed a Fortune by
"a Sweetheart.
washington Post.

Washington Post.
AS the result of trial which has just been
concluded down at Huntsville, Ala, a we'll
known treasury clerk has been put in pos
session of a fortune willed him under most
romantic circumstances, and for which he
Las had to fight for several years in the
courts of that State. Incidentally there was
an attempt to stock a jury in the United
States Court, and the theft of court paper,
which was the principal evidence against the
conspirators, which have led to Attorney
General Griggs setting in motion an investi-
cation, and for the purpose of making that
investigation effective some of the secret
Service men of the Treasury Department are
now on their way to Alabama
DR.. Llewelyn Jordan, of Port Gibson Miss
is the hero Of the romance in this case. and
is the beneficiary of a will by the terms of
which he comes into fortune estimated at
S0o,O0o. This was left him by a young lady,
a former sweetheart. In the early eighties
young Jordan, who belongs to one Of the
most prominent families in Mississippi was
appointed to West Point While in the first
year of his cadetship there he went to
Huntsville, where his fathers family had
lived and where he had many relatives to
spend one of his vacations. There he met
N~N
and attractive young girl, relative of his,
and it was case of love at first sight. The
young people We're much in each other S
company, and after Jordan went back to
West Point they kept up a correspondence.
Jordan did not graduate at West Point,
his health giving out; but he came here
to Washington and secured a good position
In the Postoft1ce Department and afterward
was transferred to the treasury, where he
now is.
In 1859 he and Miss Fennell became en-
gagged TO be married, but about two years
later the engagement was broken because
the young lady thought that the blood re-
lation which existed should be a bar to mar
riage lie was poor but ambitious, and
While holding government clerkShip he had
found time to study both law and medicine,
and had prepared himself for practice in
both professions. His preference is medi-
cine, and he Is known as Doctor"
There was something intensely pathetic
in their love experience aside from the
breaking OF the engagement For several
years Miss Fennell was dying with con-
sumption; during those years. DR.. Jordan
Gid not see her, for she would not let him.
Il want him to remember me as he last saw
me, We'll and strong, she always said to
entreaties that he be allowed to come to her.
He had not seen her for nearly six years I'M
til the day before her death, when he was
allowed to bid her a last farewell
That was in February, 1897. Miss Fennell
died at the family home near Huntsville.
She was wealthy in her own right, owning
plantations and other real estate, Alabama
state bonds, and other evidences of wealth.
She was a young woman of real business
ability as she demonstrated by assuming
the management of her plantations and her
affairs generally.
AS far back as in 1924 she announced to
her friends her determination of making
her will so as to leave her property TO her
mother during the mothers lifetime, but
after her death to DR.. Jordan She made
such a will in December, 1895, and from
then to the day of her death persisted in
leaving it unchanged.
The mother died before the daughter
so that left DIR. Jordan the sole beneficiary
under the will Immediately a contest was
begun by the sister, who is the wife of Dr.
MCDONNELL OF Huntsville. The first trial in
the Probate Court at Huntsville resulted in
a hung jury. Or. Jordan was not party
to that trial, a kinsman who was executor
of the estate defending the will. Afterward
DR. Jordan became party and had the case
removed to the United States Court, and it
was there that the trial just ended was
conducted.
In the course of the trial II developed
that the reason Miss Fennell gave for leay-
ing her sister out of the will was that Mrs.
Mcdonnell was already well provided for