The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-31
He ASKS FOR $3.50
Claims of g. w. BaIch Against Fathers
Estate in Probate court

The claim of S. w. Balch of $3.50
against the estate of J. ]. P. Balch, his
father, was up In the probate court be-
fore Judge Haymaker yesterday for ad-
justment. The trial was conducted be-
fore a jury and, was continued through
out the day and will probably be brought
to finish today.
The claim of S. W. Balch is for the
taking care of his father and mother in
their old age and for seven years of
labor on bis fathers farm Immediately
after his reaching his majority. The
claim for the seven years labor had been
acknowledged by his father, but they
had never reached a settlement during
the fathers last years. For a number
of years after his father became feeble,
he and the mother still lived on the home
place and S. ". Balch superintendent the
working of the farm. For this he de-
mands pay, and hence the claim.
Some time ago the case contesting the
will of the late J. ]. P. Balch came up
in the district court and has been ap-
pealed to the supreme court for a de-
cision. The will of the late J. J. P.
Balch was made eight years ago and
gave each of the children different por-
tons of the property remaining In the
estate. BY his second marriage there
was one daughter and at the time of the
death Of Mr.. Balch she claimed one-half
of the estate asking for her mothers
right, in connection with her own. This
was allowed her by the court, giving her
ten-eighteenths OF the entire estate. The
property was sold off TO satisfy the DIFF
ferent claims of the heirs and after the
adjustment S. W. Balch filed his claims
of yesterday.
A number of witnesses were examined
on both sides and the case is closely con-
tested. A number of neighbors of Mr..
Balch were put on the witness stand and
stated that for a number of years
he had managed the fathers farm and
had also worked for him during the
period Of seven years just after reaching
his majority. The Balch farm was quite
a large one and 1t required considerable
attention from the son and it seemed TO
be the opinion of the neighbors of Mr..
Balch that he should have some re-
enumeration for his services looking after
r's f~+r-- go rcGttc- during the last
years Of their life
Mrs. Maggie Jackson is the principle
witness for the defense. and as she re
ceived the greater portion of the estate,
it seems very natural She was PVT On
the stand yesterday and was cross exam
fred by the attorneys Sc sta.-1 that
for a number ~of years she had lived
with her husband IN Scott county. but
that several times she had visited the old
people and that she was not aware that
S. W. Balch had charge Of the father 5
arm during the latter years Of his life.
When cross-examined her testimony was
not so clear. as she stated that several
years she did not visit the hou- and
that part OF the time, when she was
az home. that II was not IN the farming
season.
The case will come up at 9 o'clock this
morning and VIII probably be finished to-
Gay. The attorneys in the case are Bent
ley and Hatfield and Amidon md Ccnly
for Mr.. Balch and R. L. Holmes and o.
A. Reach for the heirs OF the estate.