Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-09-25
The Swank Case,
dcConnelsville Herald.

McConnelSville Herald.
1t will be reca ed by the readers of
the Herald that Miss Jennie Blanche
Swank, who until a short time ago
made her home with Capt. ]. w. Bark
hurst, of Meigsville township, is the
sole heiress of the late Lou A. Bevan.
In view of recent developments,
snort resume of her life and of other
facts in connection Herewith will
prove of interest at this time.
Miss Swanks mother was sister OF
Mr. Bevan, was married to Jacob A.
Swank and moved with him to Lamar,
Mo. She died in 1889, leaving one
child Jennie Blanche. Previous to
her death she requested that the child,
who was then between three and four
years of age, be left with Capt. and
Mrs. Barkhurst, who were her most
intimate friends. Mr.. Swank COM
piled with her request and she made
her home with the Barkhurst's for
about year. They were then living
in this city, Capt. Barkhurst holding
the Office of county treasurer.
After the lapse of that time Mr..
| Swank changed his mind and came
here for the purpose of taking the lit
| tie girl to his home. He started on
the return, taking her as far as Zanes-
vile, where the late Mr.. Bevan per-
suaded him to return her to her erst-
while guardians. The next day he
brought her back and entered into an
agreement with Capt. Barkhurst to
leave her under his roof until she
should become of age.
Miss Swank remained there until
shortly after the death of her uncle,
Mr.. Bevan, when the father again
came to Mr.. Barkhurst and pleaded
for the custody of the child. Under
protest the Captain and his wife al
lowed her to be taken away, Swank
agreeing to pay them $4,000 as re-
compense for keeping her until that
time. He issued check for $4,000 on
bank at Larmar, Mo-, saying that he
would make them present of the 5000
The check was sent to Lamar for col
lection, but was protested, Swank not
having sufficient funds in the bank to
pay it.
In the meantime Mr.. j. R. Searight
and E. M. Booth were appointed by
the Probate Court of Washington
county as administrator of the estate
of Mr.. Bevan, and took charge of the
funds belonging to the same, amount
Ing to between $11 900 and $4,000, all
of which descended to Miss Swank.
Capt. j. w. Barkhurst and J. R.
Searight made application in the same
court to have trustee appointed for
Miss Swank to take charge of the
funds derived from the settlement of
the estate.
In the Probate Court of his own
county in Missouri, Swank was ap-
pointed guardian and curator of his
daughter and he also made application
to, the Washington county court to
have the funds in the hands of the ad-
ministrators paid over to him.
By agreement of the counsel con-
cerned, both applications were heard
jointly. The date of the hearing was
Sept. IA, Nye & Follett represented
the administrators. Ivers and Ellen
wood were Swank' attorneys and Capt.
Barkhurst's interests were represented
by Berry & Weber of this city Prior
to the day set for the trial, however,
the Barkhurst claim was settled, be-
ing secured by the estate in case the
estate was turned over to Swank.
The hearing began on last Wednes-
day, the 14th, and continued until Sat-
urday. The Probate Court ascer-
tanned that Swank had given satis-
factory bond and he was authorized to
receive the funds as soon as the ad-
ministrators were ready to pay them
over. By mutual agreement the BarA-
hurst claim was paid in full and a por-
tion of the funds paid to Swank at
once, the balance to be retained by the
administrators until the end of the
year, when they make their settle
ment. The case has excited great in
terest in this and Washington coun-
ties.