The Sauk Centre herald., 1903-02-12

probating the will Of the late Alex-
ander Moore is closed by the de-
cision of the supreme court maintain
ing the will offered by M. Hogan, the
executor and trustee named in the
will, the following brief history OF the
case from the Journal Press, evidently
inspired by one familiar with the
case, will serve to recall the whole
matter. and in connection with the
decision will be read with interest:
ga brief statement appeared yester-
day to the effect that the supreme
court had affirmed the lower court OF
Ssearns county in the Alexander
Moore will case. The decision holds
the Will to be good, and is the final
chapter in long serial of litigation.
The big estate will now be divided
in accordance with the terms OF the
will, the bulk of the estate going to
a daughter and granddaughter.
"Alexander Moore, who was one OF
the pioneers of Stearns county and
one of the wealthiest men of the
western part Of the county, died at
Sauk Centre in December, 1901, at
very old age. He had long been re-
garded as eccentric but was a man Of
strur- convictions and indomitaD
will For years it had been an open
secret that he was not on good terms
~ in horS nf hiS fanilV
and when he was dead and his will
was offered for probate by NJ. Hogan,
a close personal friend of the ce-
ceased, there WAS no surprise. when,
the old man was found to have
practically disinherited his son. Lind
ley B. Moore, his daughter Ca 'rie
johnson (now Vinje) and a third
daughter, Mrs Triphena Bennett.
The will we'll expressed the old mans
character, for it attempted to justify
his action when it is said that it had
only been taken "after full, calm
dispassionate deliberation on the
subject" Referring to the cuttioe
off of the son, Lindley B. Moore, now
a resident of Michigan, the will said
he had received large sums from his
father and had been undutlful and un-
grateful and by his conduct had
caused his father much trouble and
mental anguish. Moore left $40 to
the son and an oq"at amount to the
daughter, Carri 9 nor he said
in his will she lad ''ueen undutiful
and by her conduct or rather mis-
conduct had forfeited all right to
share in his estate. - Mrs. Ben
nett's bequest of $40 was explained
by saying that she was already we'll
provided for and in easy circum-
stances. The will was executed in
1891 and this may have then been
the case, but it is said that in later
years such was not the case. The
will then gave legacies of an aggre-
gate of $1,000 to four grandchildren,
three sons of Lindley B. Moore, who
had incurred his fathers dis
pleasure and was shut off with
paltry $40, the decedent gave
$1,000 each. These grandsons are
Charles Bennett Moore, William A.
Moore and Frank B. Moore. TO Il
grand daughter, Georgia M. Bennett,
the will gives $1,000. She is now the
wife of a printer on the Minneapolis
Journal and is a daughter of Triphena
Bennett, the second daughter disinher-
tied.
The estate is valued easily at sl0c.-
900 and many believe its real value is
nearer $3.50, 600; after making several
special legacies the decedent left the
entire residue to daughter, Mrs. Jes-
sic F. Robertson of Sauk Centre, and
a granddaughter, Alice A. Moore,
daughter of J.indley B. Moore, and
now Mrs. c. S. Coles Of Benson. The
estate was left in trust to M. Hogan
for. the benefit of these two heirs. I'm
mediatsly after Moore's death, Execu-
tor Hogan offered the will for probate
: in the probate court. and within the
statutory time for objections they we're
fled. Mrs. Carrie Vinie. enc Of the
disinhsrited daughters. objected to the
will on che ground of undue influence
and for the further reason than 10 was
not ths last will. The contest before
the probate osurs was simpiy to OBJ
serve Che legal fern, but in the district