Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-17
Final Decision Of a Noted Will Case
In the Iowa Supreme
Court.
Case involved 100000 and Has
Boon Before the Court For
Years.
Alleged 1llegitimate Heir Beaten in
Both Courts-Histor Of the
Case.

ia shson county, estimated. 20 be worth
100000. The case wasone of the most
famous will contests ever tried in tho
state and was decided against George
Niles Watson, who claimed the entire
property on the ground that he was the
son of Mott Watson. "A I
great aggregation of legal talen. Was
engaged in the case On the case of |
the alleged illegitimate son We're Wal
ter /. Hayes. Hubbard, Dawley & Hub
bard and several other firms; on the |
side of the collateral heirs the chief |
counsel were Lyman a. Ellis and Joe
r.. Lane. 1t is said that the attorneys |
for George Niles Watson would have
received one half of the estate had they
Won the case and that on the side OF |
the collateral heirs some of the largest |
fees ever paid in Iowa depended on
winning the case. Rumor has 1t that
Senator Ellis and Congressman Lane
will divide something like $4,000 as
fees for winning the case. Probably no
suit in the recent history of the state
has attracted more interest or been
more bitterly contested.
Mott Watson was bachelor who
about 100000 in good wherewithal.
and ever since his death a large family
of collateral heirs. together with
splendid galaxy of legal talent, have
been trying to seize themselves of it.
George Niles Watson, alleging himself
to be the illegitimate son of Watson,
turned up in Kansas and demanded the
entire estate, much to the grief and
5worriment of the collateral heirs.
ease WAS begun on behalf OF George
Niles Watson, who secured the services
of Matter /. Hayes, Hubbard, Dawley
e Hubbard and other equally eminent
lawyers to represent his cause. Con-
gresham Lane became the chief cpun-
sci for the other side and the case was
tried in the lower court and then sent
20 the supreme court. When van line
dragged the record upSto& the supreme
court the Impression got abroad tina e a
congressional library had been bought
and WAS To be consolidated with the
Iowa state library There We're volume
after volume of printed stimony;;
fargument by the acre; abstracts as
volumiuous as novel sby Mrs.
Humphrey Ward; attidaNits by the
cord. and accrued costs enough 20
make the treasury surplus turn pale
The supreme court surveyed the mass,
l.drew Il long breath. expectorated on Its
lshands and at thee of the year had
read the record and was ready to-
opine.
The supreme court opinion was writ
ten by Judge Iseemer, and held that
George Niles Watson had not estab-
Iinshed his case. II WAS agreed that as
| a question OF Law. in Iowa, the ii.egiti-
mate heir. ii his heirship be properly
Established. would be entitled to the
lprcperty as against the collateral heirs.
| The question vas Simply one of fact:
whether George Niles Watson had
Iproved himself what he claimed TO be.
/ His mother mac lived in Maquoketa az
1.-The time he was born, but VAS dead De-
fore the death Of Mott Watson took
lpl;ee. The boy. who now appeared TO
ciaim the estate had therefore called
himself George Niles. taking the name
1 of :lle man who had married his mother
when he was about years old. An inn
mense number of witnesses We're pre-
Isented To swear. that Mott Watson had
admitted the paternity of the boy: and
s|had known Watson for many years and
known him intimately, and that Watson
8lhad never admitted or even referred TO
lany such relationship. 1t was charged
lon behalf OF the collateral heirs that an
j immense amount of worthless testimony
Il was adduced IL, support of the case of
1.-The alleged illegitimate heir The lower
j court decided against George Niles Wat
4 son, and the supreme court opinion adj
4isveit.i in pointed terms to the cha.ac,e.
q by which it was sought TO establish his
4 case.
4 Judge Hubbard vigorously denounced
A the decision of the supreme court, and
Z filled an application for a rehearing. On
q l3this he asked for oral arguments, and
liCongressman Lane came all the way
tlfrom Washington at the January term
of court this year to argue 1t. When he
!, got here he was confronted with an ap-
plication for u postponement Of the
lhearing on the ground hatsJudge Hub
; bard could not appear: he was said II
r Ian affidavit by his partner. to be II
: Georgia. at the bedside of his sick wife
Mr.. Lane, ii happened, had seen judge
Hubbard in Washington two days be
"A fore, lobbying on the Sioux City & Pa
!. citic railroad settlement, and he prompt
!: ly made affidavit to that effect. in re
!. sistance OF the motion for continu
!. ance. The supreme court promptly de
2 lcided to submit the case without ora
h jargument. 1t was accordingly submit
s ted and the decision came yesterday
n That decision refuses rehearing, ant
ll| ends the case 80 far as the state court
are concerned 1t is generally believe,
/. that IL any ground can be found for do
ing so, the case will be taken to the gu
preme court of the United States.
Benton County Repubiicans.
Vinton. April 17.-At the republica
county convention held here Saturda
the following delegates were selected t
the state conventions: j. =. Martha, T
NJ. Mills, II. Murphy. s. n. Edmonds. s
. ,t3ac 4 . la nm 1o