Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-31
an HEIR 70 MILLIONS
Grinnell Woman Lays Claim to
Share in Millionaire
Rice's Estate.
Relationship With the Murdered
Man Seems to Be Clearly
Established.
Attorneys Have Taken Matter Up
and Will Prosecute the
Claim.
pecial to Times.RepublIcan.

Special to Times-Republican.
Grinnel, May 31.-From the wash tub
to the affluence of millions is WIDE re-
move IN the conditions of life, but this
is likely to be accomplished by Mrs
Maria Shuler of Des MONIES and Mrs
Fannie Partlow OF Grinnell. The women
have paused long enough in pursuing
the arduous duties of the wash tub to
remember that they had a brother
named William NJ. Rice, and they claim
that this brother was the late William
NJ. Rice, the New York millionaire, who
was recently murdered by his valet,
Charles F. Jones, at the alleged instiga-
ton of Lawyer Patrick. and that they
are the heirs to his estate of $4,000
Their claim seems to be genuine one,
and their chances of claiming the estate
successfully are more than good. The
case is in the hands of j. II. Patton of
Grinnell. assisted by ex-senator Patton
of Michigan, and other prominent east
iern attorneys. The attorneys will fur
IRISH the money to fight the case and be.
jlieve that they will prove the claim of
their clients.
Both Mrs. Partlow of Grinnell and
Mrs. Shuler of Des Moines are Ignorant
| but deserving people. They are over IS
1 years of age and are widows. Nearly all
! their lives they have earned their living
4 by taking in washing, and the prospect
of attaining $40 much wealth after a lift
of penury and toll has almost dazed
them beyond the power OF comprehend-
ling the real situation.
Mrs. Shuler and Mrs. Partlow had lost
track of their brother for years. He
had left home when 81 years of age and
since then they had heard nothing of
him. Their Identification of their bro-
4 Their with the murdered millionaire
came about thru the publication of the
4 pictures of millionaire Rice in the pa
tpers. The manner in which this hap
pened is in itself strong bit of evil
dence in the case, tho of circumstan-
A tial nature neighbor of Mrs. Shuler.
4 who was entirely ignorant of Mrs. Shu-
+ ler's maiden name. was struck by the
likeness of the picture of the murdered
man to her neighbor. She took the pa
per to Mrs. Shuler without telling her
who it was and asked her If she knew
lit Mrs. Shuler, who is unable to read
ltook the paper and, after looking at 1t,
Instantly exclaimed: Why. that is a
shuler few days later visited her els
ter in Grinnell and, after comparing
. notes they became convinced beyond
: doubt that the murdered man was their
brother. Upon the advice of friends
, they placed tfle matter in the hands of
lawyers. and there is now associated in
, the case some of the foremost legal tai
lent in the country.
Mrs. Shuler in her affidavit states that
her father, Peter Rice. was French
/ Canadian and her mother was German
L girl. That she was born in Pennsylva-
, mia, where her brother William NJ. was
, also born. There were eleven children
in the family. The family moved tc
i Minnesota, where William lived until he
{ was 81 or %. He was the only one of the
family who could read. This was ovel
Ihfty years ago She describes her broth
er as then being of medium height, witt
brown eyes and dark hair. 1t is possible
that two of the accidents of CHILDHOOD
5 which happened to William NJ. Rice, ant
l which his sister vividly remembers, bay
t be the final means of Identification ane
. may result in giving the Ss.000,0O0 to thu
sisters. Mrs. Shuler says that he
, brother had scar on one finger, where
Y he was cut in tanning MILL and that HI
e also had scar on one leg, which wa!
I The result OF snake bite. This sea
was between the ankle and knee, tn,
she could not state which leg. Mrs. shu
Ter claims that the picture of Millionair
Rice bears close resemblance to her
self and to her father after he was ad
: vanced in years. This resemblance i
{ certainly very striking and is NOR
marked in life than it is shown In tn
photograph.
$ Attorney Patton. who is in charge o
S the case here. when interviewed ex
o pressed himself as being very sanguin
: of success As soon as matters ar
e ready Attorney Patton. accompanied b.
# his clients, will leave for New York t
It press the claim.