The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-09-05
WILL SENT BY MAIL
MAY CAUSE LAWSUIT
Big Estate Left by Widow of Cali
fornia Banker is at Stake.

Santa Rosa, Cal . Aug. 31.-The
receipt by mail, by the county clerk
of what purports to be the last will
OF Mrs Rebekah ". Lowry, a
wealthy and prominent woman who
died here laSt February, promises to
result in one OF the most sensational
probate contest in the history OF the
| state
At the time of Mrs. Lowrv's death
no will could be found, and as a re-
suit one-third OF her estate of S75,-
| 900 went to her husband, Doctor J
W. Lowry, who came here from Mis-
souri,, and the remainder to her
children by her first marriage. who
had i'll every way opposed her union
with DR.. Lowry.
The will just received by the county
clerk, came through the mail and
was accompanied by a note. unsign-
ed. In this note DR.. Lowry is accus-
ed OF causing the custodian of the
VIII, VINO, says Sue. Vi He. WIS du
intimate friend of Mrs Lowry. to
suppress the document. Doctor
Lowry pointed out, the writer
alleges, that both of the witnesses to
the signature of the will were dead
and it is further charged that he
promised to make it "all right with
the holder of the will if I he documents
were destroyed.
The alleged will bequeaths only
SO to Doctor Lowry, and it is
directed that the remainder be dis
tribute1 among the four children OF
Mrs. Lowry by her first marriage.
The affair has caused excitement
here, and no doubt there will be long
and bitter litigation
Mrs. Lowry, the deceased, was for
merly Mrs f. r. Farmer wife of Eli
jah Farmer. president and founder
OF the Santa Rosa bank and one of
SOnOma cOunty's wealthiest citizens.
A7'tbC vi ttlI dAo III Il1el
died, and his wife inherited half of
his estate. A year or two afterward
the widow married Doctor j. ".
Lowry, an old schoolmate. Be
tween the two. it is said. there had
been before the first marriage a warm
attachment. The match was warmly
opposed by Mrs Farmers children,
but to no purpose.
On February %, last, Mrs Lowry
died. and diligent search failed to
reveal a will. 1t was assumed that
she had died intestate, and after con
siderable squabbling between the
heirs on one side and Dr. Lowry on
the other, the latter was appointed
administrator of the estate. Under
the law he was entitled to One-third
OF the property, and Mrs. Farmer
children two-thirds.
The will brought to light cuts Dr.
Lowry off with SO and directs that
the residue of the estate be divided
equally between her four children
Sarah Angie Fox of San Francisco.
Lillian Belle Webb. of Palo Alto.
Fannie NJ Griffit tn and Charles K.
Farmer, of this city. The document
bears date of April 10, 1897, and
bears the signatures of Robert Crane
and Doctor r. Press Smith as wit
nesses.
While both the subscribing Wit
nesses have died since the date the
will is alleged to have been drawn,
both were alive at the time and both
were friends Of Mrs. Lowry. The will
is drawn up on yellow paper in a
handwriting apparently the same as
that in the letter. although the will
is in ink and the letter pencil.
DR.. Lowry is said to have some
property in his own name in Mis-
souri,. He is an active temperance
advocate. The alleged will substi-
tutes Charles r. Farmer in his stead
as administrator.
Editorial Comment.
DR. j. W. Lowry was formerly a
practicing physician and prominent |
citizen of Butler. He was enthusi- |
astic in temperance and church works
and had the esteem and confidence /
of our people, who will be slow to
believe he did anything wrong. He
has two daughters in Butler. Mrs.
". G.. Shafer and Mrs. t. ". Arnold. /
1t looks to us like the doctor was