Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-26
THERE Is But one WIFE
Law Will Not Recognize a Triple
Division of the Dubois
Estate, Ii Any
WILL CAN NOT BE FOUND
There Is Positive Proof, However,
That Such Document Has Been
Drawn up-search For II Viii Be
rhoroueh-Wealth Not As Large As
Was First Estimated.

Des Motnes. May 26-The last will
and testament of Il. L. Dubois, the Des
Moines man who left three wives TO
fight over his property, can not be
found
Somewhere among Dubois belong
ings, in this or another country where
he practiced his bigamous habits,
there is q document in which the mat
rsmonial fiend directed the distribution
az his wealth at his death.
Such q Will has been made. for had
Il not Dubois would not have been
able to gain the high standing which
he attained in Free Masonry. He had
taken the thirty second degree in this
ordere, and before passing through the
consistory. a lower degree, he made his
will, as provided by the laws of the
Institution
Mrs. Dubois No. confesses that she
doesn't know where the will is.
Mrs. Dubois No admits that she
knows nothing concerning the will.
Mrs. Dubois No 8 processes 30 have
no knowledge of the document.
Wives No. and No. 5. particularly
the latter, have searched high and low
for the scroll which might be of use at
this time, but they have not succeeded
Wife No. 3, through her attorney, has
been unable to locate the valuable
piece OF paper, but hopes to be suc-
cessful within few days. If anybody
cam throw any Light upon the subject
the trio OF wives will be glad to have
him step forward. They are ready to
give him the glad hand.
No stone will he left unturned in the
search for the will.
Whatever bearing the last Will and
testament may have upon the situa-
. zion. the fact remains that there is
only one wife. Attic Dubois in the
same spirit OF generosity manifested
by him In supplying himself with
heipmates, may have literally made
triple division Of his estate, the law
MIL not recognize any such action.
The law will take care of the lawful
wife. She must have her dover.
II Mrs. Dubois No. / can prove her
claim that she married E. L. Dubois
on June IL, 1880, and that neither he
nor she has secured a divorce. she and
her three children will receive all of
the property of her alleged husband,
and Mrs Dubois No. 2, No. 3 or any
other mesdames who may appear, will
not set a cent. Lawyers who are not
personally interested In the case make
this statement, and they are freely adj
mitted by the attorneys of the three
wives. Wife No. l has never furnished
absolute proof OF her claim.
They say that Dubois had only one
lawful wife. Any other wives that he
may have gathered around him are not
wives In the eyes of the law.
Judged by developments up to date.
Mrs. Dubois, OF Denver, was the first
wife OF Dubois, and unless 1t is shown
that she was divorced from him, law
yers believe that she and her children
are the lawful heirs to whatever prop
serty the Des Moines man left behind
Wives No 2 and 8 have intimated that
they Will be able to show that she pro-
cured divorce from him.
In the event that the Denver woman
shows in court that she is the first
wife, and that she has not been dis
vorced, other actions are liable to be
brought by the Des Molnes woman
and the one from New Orleans. who
will seek to recover various sums OF
money that were given by them to Du-
Bois for business and other uses.
Dubois wealth is not as large as 1t
was reported to be Immediately after
lids death. altho 1t is estimated TO be
not less than $4,000, part of which
IS represented in cash deposits. No
evidence has been presented to show
that he was the owner of property In
any other country than America, altho
Mrs. Dubois No. ! claims that she has
property there which neither she nor
the wives Of later years can lay
claim to.
B The work OF Strengthening out the
books OF the Arm of Dubois & Turner,
contractors, was started a number Of
days before the death of Dubois Ply
sicians realized that he was upon his
deathbed, and 1t was hoped to reach
q settlement Of the financial relations
OF the men before he should expire.
He died too soon, however.
n Mrs. Dubois No. and Mrs. Dubois
No. 3 are very much interested in the
work of the expert accountant, L. f.
Wilkinson. They are awaiting his re-
port with eagerness, ,altho they viii
not discuss the manner Mr.. Turner
has not returned from Indiana, to
which state he went Immediately after
ahe death of Dubois.
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