Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-21
KNAUER'S WILL CONTEST,
RELATIVES ALICE THAT YOUNG
WIFE or FORMER LAS VEG.
As MAN is NOTED Ap-
VENTURES
Strange Stories Told Of the Woman
to Whom knauer Left His Fortune.
6ROCERS.
BUTCHERS and BAKERS.

The following tale from the Lol
Angeles Times rotating 10 The life an,
death of Ferdinand Knauer, who 1--we,
IN Las Vegas In the old days, will b,
Of especial interest 70 those who re
member the old gentleman:
In two suits filed yesterday for iii,
revocation OF the probate OF the las
viii and testament Of Ferdinand
knauer, who died ON January 18th o
the present year, at the age Of seven
ty-three years. leaving m estate D
over 100000 to his bride Of less thar
two months, charges of the most sen
sational character are made agains
Marie Knauer. the widow ami admin
istratrix under the viii, but formcrl,
his nurse.
II Is asserted IN the petitions fiat
ly that Maria Knauer is an adven
turess with d record upon two con
tinents. and that she induced knanel
to marry her and leave iicr his prop
erty, "a the exclusion Of his relatives
by working upon bis ~sympathies and
fears, while he was In weak physical
condition and Of unsonnd mind, dur,
Ing her residence with him as nurse
Tho Will, drawn December 5, 1902,
and q codlcil, drawn December 20.
1902. were presented for probate Jan,
nary IA, 1908, three days after Knau,
er's death. They were admitted to
probate. and letters tcstamentary
were granted to Marie Knauer on
January 27th.
Knauer engaged Marie Taube as a
nurse in July. 1902, having noted a
few days before her advertisement
In a newspaper offering her services
as " a nurse and massage artist"
In August. according 10 tho petitions
filed yesterday, he. at her suggestion,
rented a fiat at 1869 Page street. and
both took up their residynce theirs,
she as a nurse. On November eth
following they we're married.
The will was drawn fourteen lays
after their marriage and the codicil
twenty-one days later. Both are en-.
tirely In the handwriting OF Knauer.
but there Is a marked difference IN
the character OF the chirography VI
the two. The will Is written In a
frm. round hand. unusual In Que &C
the advanced age OF the writer. II
reads as follows:
This Is my last will and tesla
ment. and ! hereby revoke all prev.
ious wills | have made. ] hereby ap
point by beloved wife. Marie knauer.
the ~executrix of this will. to net III
all matters without bond--and she Is
authorized and empowered 10 make
sales and conversions Of any or all OF
my property. both real and personal.
without notice and without a previous
application to or order for such sale
or conversion from the court. ] de-
sire that my estate be distributed TO
my heirs In accordance with the laws
Of this state.
Dated at San Francisco. i,occm
her 5. 1902. FERDINAND KNAuER.
The foregoing is my last will and
| have written. dated aud signed the
same with my own hand.
San Francisco, December s. 1902,
FERDINAND KNAUER.
Handwriting IL changed.
The handwriting Of the codicil gives
evidence Of decidedly weaker physical
condition. Thsrc is much less firm
ness and regularity In the writing.
although. considering the age Of the
author. the fact would not be regard
ed rs at all remarkable except for the
unusual character Of the handwriting
OF the will. dated twenty-one days
The text Of the codicil Is as
follows:
SAN FRANCISCO. December ~,
1902. This is a eodicil to the forego.
Ing viii tmado December s. 1902 +:
now revoke and annul that part OF
win which provides for a Ills.
tribution Of my property in accord.
ance with the laws Of this state. IN
place Of this provision I now give
fDd bequeath to my beloved wife.
Marie T. Knauer, aiI my property Of
whatsoever kind or nature, and wher.
fser situate and being. which she
AhalI have and bold forever, TO the
exclusion Of any and ali persons.