The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-08-14
THIRD WILL FOUND
Mystery Shrouds Last Testa-
ment of Weston Man.
Y0UNGs ESTATE OF $4,000
Instrument Said to Have Been Ex-
ecuted Little More Than
Year Ago.

In the matter of the estate Of the
late J. w. Young, who died at his
home in Weston August 25, 1905,
further mystery has been added by
the discovery of third purported
will, says the Weston Leader.
This instrument is said to have
been executed a little mere than
year ago, and therefore, if valid, is
later than the two other wills now in
dispute. Nothing definite can he
learned concerning it, as the attorney
OF Mabel Young Warner, declines to
admit, even, that it Isl II his possession.
From all that can be learned, the
document was mailed tc Charles H.
Carter, attorney for Mrs. Warner, by
some unknown party at Weston who
wrote an accompanying letter in a
crampled, irregular hand. to the effect
that If Mrs. Warner would come to
Weston she would learn of something
to her advantage. This was about
two weeks ago. Mrs. Warner came,
but saw nobody and heard nothing to
enlighten her in the matter. The letter
writer, who mad signed no name, re-
mained in the background.
The names of Frank l.. Blair and b.
b. Hall were attached to the docu-
ment as witnesses. Mr.. Blair went
to Pendleton few days ago to exam
ine his name, but is unable to say
whether or not it is his true signature.
He remembers signing no will for Mr..
Young. He has a hazy recollection
of being called into Mr.. Young's office
by the old gentlemean and asked to
sign some paper or other, but was
told nothing as to its purport and le-
garded the incident as 80 trivial that
he can recall no details concerning it.
Mr.. Hall, administrator of the will
probated, declares positively that he
signed no such instrument as the one
so strangely unearthed.
There are now three wills, or alleg-
cd wills, in eviden ce. The first one,
executed September 3, 1891, is the
will now before the probate court.
The chief beneficiary is Mrs. +. ID.
Watts, wife of DR.. Watts of Occur
d'Alene, Idaho. The second one is
the document which Mrs. Warner
declares was found among her dead
uncle's effects in box at the
Farmers Bank of Weston, and which
Mr.. Hall declares was inserted in the
box by Mrs. Warner while his back
was turned. In this document Mabel
Young Warner is given substantial
bequest.
The nature OF the third and most
mysterious will cannot be learned. 1t
is said to bequeath Mrs. Warner $10,-
600, aud Il few hundred to Mrs. Picard
of Walla Walla. Beyond these two
items the Leader can hear nothing
as to its contents.
The affair is involved in a mystery.
Mr.. Blair says that he knows no more
about it than any other disinterested
person. The signature resembles his
manner of writing his name, but he
could not swear i'll court whether it is
true or forgery. d. +. Lavender
was the trusted agent of Mr.. Young
aud was we'll acquainted with his
business affairs. but il he knows any
thing about this, that or the other
will, he hasn't chosen yet to impart
his knowledge to the public.
Mr.. Young died possessed of prop
erty valued at thirty or thirty-iive
thousand dollar. He was a man of
careful business habits; that he should
leave more than ole will is regarde d
as passing strange by those who knew
him in life. Mrs. Warner was his
niece aud made her home with him
when girl. She claims to be his
daughter by adoption. Mrs. Watts
was also his niece and the wife Of his
stepson, Dr.. Watts, the son OF his last
wife, The interests of these two heirs
are chiefly in conflict, and Mrs.
Warner is active in opposing the will
executed in 1891, which leaves her a
vely nominal sum. Since leaving st.
Joseph's Academy at Pendleton, wnert
her tuition was paid ny her late uncle,
she has been an actress and singer il
vaudeville theatres until her marriage
with her second husband. MI. Warn
er, with whom she now lives at Pen
dletOn.