The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-02
HIDDEN FORTY YEARS
DARK LIFE SECRET OF JOHN.
MCCLELLAN is AT LAST
REVEALED
WAS AN ENGLISH DEsERTER
Feared Death IL Appreciated, and
Consequently Lived Life of
Terror-In the Legal Fight for
His Estate the Facts Come to the
Surface Was Killed Aug. 2 by
Being Crushed in IN Elevator.

SIOUX FALLS, s. D., Jan. THAT
John Mcclellan, the wealthy Sioux Falls
pioneer who was killed here Aug 2 last
by being caught and crushed to death in
an elevator while going to his quarters in
one Of the business blocks, was DESTROYS
Of concealing some episode In his career
previous to his coming to Dakota had
always been the belief Of those init
mately acquainted with him here, his
marked aversion to talking of his rela-
tives or their whereabouts giving rise to
this impression. Now, after more than
forty years of concealment, the secret of
his life has been revealed. He was de-
serter from the British army, and feared
death If apprehended.
Thomas Mcclellan, who claims to be a
brother of John Mcclellan, and Is now
here as one of the claimants Of his es-
tate, told of this incident in the life of
the deceased, and his statement has been
corroborated by the testimony of a dis
interested witness. The legal battle now
In progress before County Judge Wilkes
for possession of the estate of John Nc
Clellan has never been surpassed in in
terest in the history of South Dakota, and
can be compared with the fight for the
Davis millions in Montana. The hearing
before the county judge has been in
progress over a week, and will probably
not be concluded until the end of this
week or the beginning of next.
Contrary to general expectations, the
American and Canadian claimants, among
whom Mrs. Margaret Bulkley, of Chi
cago are making very strong showing.
Mrs. Buckley claims to be a sister of the
deceased. She, with Mrs. Mary Vine, of
Grand Rapids Mich, her sister, and
Thomas Mcclellan, of Calgary, British
Northwest territory, a brother, have con-
solidated their interests. The three for
mer are present in person, and are rep
resented at the hearing by competent at
torneys.
Their competitors for possession of the
large estate left by John Mcclellan are
Mary Mcclellan and Margaret Hammill,
of County Armagh, Ireland, who claim
to be nieces of the deceased. Since the
hearing commenced here, another claim
ant, in the person of Joseph Mcclellan,
of Belfast, Ireland, who alleges that he
is nephew of the late John Mcclellan,
has put in a claim to a portion Of the
estate, and Is represented at the hear
ing by John H. Owen, county judge Of
Grant county, South Dakota, who is arm
ed with a power of attorney from the
latest claimant. The two other Ireland
claimants are represented by an attorney
from Belfast and local attorneys.
1t has always been believed that McCleI-
IL. IL
wards of eighty years of age, and when
the Canadian and American claimants Of
fered testimony that he lacked a few
months of being siXty-eight years of age
when he met his death, 1t was generally
thought that they had materially weak
ened their case. Now. however. they
have produced evidence bearing upon this
point which, at least momentarily, stag
gers the opposing claimants
The evidence referred to is an applica-
ton for membership in st. Johns Masonic
Lodge No. 1, of Yankton. This lodge was
formerly known as No. 166, and was I'M
der the jurisdiction Of Iowa. Edwin T.
White, United States commissioner at
Yankton, a member of st. Johns lodge,
Of which he is at present master, pro-
duced the application, having discovered
it among the papers belonging to the
lodge The application is dated Sept. 8,
1867, and in it Mcclellan gave his age as
thirty-five years.
Another exhibit consists of his applica-
ton by demit to become a member of
the Sioux Falls Masonic lodge. The demit
is dated Jan. %, 1874, and in it Mcclellan
states his age to be forty-two years.
These two documents, taken in conjunc-
ton with the family record in the Bible,
show that deceased was siXty-seven years
old at the time of his death, thus twice
corroborating the Bible record and the
statements of the American and Canadian
claimants.
Another strong point scored by these
claimants was the testimony of John Nc
Kee, an old and intimate friend of de-
ceased, who stated that John Mcclellan
had told him his fathers Christian name
was Abraham. This corroborated the
testimony of Mrs. Vine, Mrs. Buckley
and Thomas Mcclellan, who all testified
that their fathers name was Abraham.
Several witnesses who knew John Nc
Clellan we'll have testified as to the fam
lily resemblance between the American
and Canadian claimants and deceased
The testimony of Thomas Mcclellan in
reference to John Mcclellan being a de-
serter from the British army has been
corroborated by Col. Thomas H. Brown,
we'll known Sioux Falls citizen, who
testified that he was well acquainted with
deceased, and that on one occasion in
early days, while riding together In
stage coach from Yankton to Sioux Falls.
Mcclellan told him of having deserted
from the army and asked that nothing
be said about it.