Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-02
A QUEER DAMAGE SUIT
Nelson Heirs Sue 10 Recover a
Better Price for Their
Farm.
Claim Purchaser Took Advan.
tase Of Their Fathers Ill.
Health.
Suicide Charges. Of Blackmail
and Disappearance All Fig.
ure in 1t.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Eldora, Sept. Zone of the most In
teresting cases for the Hardin county
district court this term was called this
morning before Judge j. H. Richard, OF
Webster City, who is to preside over
the September term. The case IS one
wherein the heirs of Hans Nelson seek
to recover $4,000 damages from "A. N.
Drake, president of the State Bank OF
Radcliffe, claiming that the amount
they ask is what is justly due them as
the difference between what MIR. Drake
paid Nelson for certain piece of land
and what he should have paid him hau
Nelson been in his right mind and
asked what the land was worth.
IT will be remembered that Nelson
vas a Well to- do farmer and stockman
and committed suicide on Dec. ~, 1880,
in Marshalltown, by shooting hlmsel1
in the forehead with 3S-callbre re-
volver. The affair was quite sensa-
tional one and created great deal Oh
interest at the time, more especially pe-
cause of other conditions that appeared
to have bearing on the case. Nelson
was thought to have been mentally I'M
balanced as a result of certain tfouoie
that he had had with one Mrs. Jennie
Colder, who lived in Marshalltown at
that time, who afterwards moved 10
Davenport, but whose whereabouts.
since her residence there, have not been
known. Mrs. Colder had threatened TO
bring suit against Nelson and her hus-
band had even gone so far as to swear
out a warrant charging both his wife
and Nelson with adultery. This trouble.
which appeared to be impending. but
which was considered by Mr.. Nelson's
friends all the time to be attempted
blackmail. so preyed upon Nelson's
mind that it was supposed he took his
cwn life while in fit of arrangement.
The plaintiffs in the damage suit
against Mr.. Drake are William Nelson,
of Lawn Hill, Hardin county; Mrs.
Anna Nelson Smith, who lives in the
northern part of the state and Henry
and Nels Nelson. all children of the sui
eide. The big farm of Nelson, which
was located south of Radcliffe, was sold
by Nelson during October prior to
mis- Qe3tn TOT. Sot.OU per acre. II. y.
Wulfsburg, of Jewell Junction, was the
contemplating purchaser thru his
agent, Mr.. Drake. rir. Wulfsburg
afterwards backed out OF the deal, how
ever. and Mr. Drake bought the farm
himself, thinking 1t a good investment.
The heirs of Nelson contend that as
the land in question has increased in
value since their fathers death, 1t
must have been worth more than it
brought when he sold it to Drake for
$3.50. They allege that it was sold for
less than its real value and claim that
their father was not in his right mind
when the transaction was made, and
therefore not in fit condition to make
g valid sale. They aver that there is
$4,000 difference between what the land
should have brought and what was
paid for it by Mr.. Drake.
The jury in the case was empanneled
Monday evening, but the witnesses
were not called until this morning. 1t
il; likely it will take two days to hear
the case.
Buoy Case Set for Wednesday.
The case of n. A. Buoy, of Alden for
forgery, is set for Wednesday, but it
is not probable that it will be reached
before Thursday, or until the Nelson
Drake case is finished. Buoy is the man
who was arrested for the forgery OF
about thirty notes, to which he signed