The Washington times., 1907-08-18
Angered by Szurs
On Father, Warner
Accused His WdoqU
Pension Commissioner
Alleged Taint OF
Negro Blood.
Stepmother Refused All
of His Offers of
Compromise.

One OF the strangest accusations ever
made in a will contest has just been
passed upon by Judge Cochran, In the
Dewitt county court, says Charles l..
Leichliter, in the Chicago Record
Hehald, writing from clinton, Ill 1t is
in the celebrated case Of Mrs. Isabella
Robinson Warner against United States
Commissioner Of Pensions Vespasian
Warner 1t involves the disposal OF
half a million dollars in cash and prop
erty.
Col Vespaslan Warner. who has been
prominent in the public life or Illinois
for more than a decade. and who now
occupies one of the most important ap-
pomtive offices under the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. has accused his stepmoth-
er Of having negro blood in her veins.
II has never been stated previously
that in taking the action he did. he was
carrying out the expressed wish OF his
father and. TO a certain extent, was
actuated by desire TO vindicate the
memory Of his parent. which had been
assailed and impugned by the second
wife OF the father of the Commissioners
Of Pensions. and also by the two daugh-
ters, as much the children Of the de-
ceased man as is Colonel Warner
himself
Father a Pioneer in Illinois
DR.. John Warner. the father Of the
commissioner, was a pioneer in Illinois
He located at Farmer City, In Dewitt
county. in 1S4L Commissioner Warner
was born in Farmer City. then typical
Struggling frontier hamlet, in 1S42. From
tv,a 70
nois from Virginia. where he was born
and grew to young manhood, he pros
pered financially.
When ne arrived in Farmer City his
earthly possessions were a wife, a horse,
and buggy, and two or three medical
books that he had accumulated while
studying medicine.
When he died in December, 1905, he
left to his heirs an estate appraised by
the master in chancery at s1,650Oo0-
vespasian Warmers Career.
Col. Vespasian Warner has had. per-
sonally, an unusual career. He has
lived in Washington and away from his
home town for upward Of thirteen years.
He represented his district in Congress
for ten years. from 1898 to 1908. Then
Ican nomination for governor of the
State Of Illinois in the memorable cam
paign which resulted, after one Of the
most remarkable deadIOcks ever wit
messed in a political convention. in the
nomination OF the present governor
Charles S. Deneen. For the past three
years he has been Commissioner of Pen
sions
Mrs. Isabella Warner. the woman
against whom the charge Of birth Il
brought. came to Clinton from her OhIC
home as the bride OF Dr. John Warner
IN the early part Of June, 1874 She hai
lived here continuously ever since. He
two daughters were born and reared II
Clinton. Their home has been for three
decades the social center Of the littl
city. Mrs. Warner herself, a large. dig
nifed. and handsome woman, has per
formed many acts of friendliness an,
gentle and unostentatious charity tina
have endeared her to the people of thI
entire section of country.
John Warmers Romance.
The events leading up to the marriag
Of John Warner and Isabella Ro5insoi
were as romantic as are 10 be found 4
the earlier history OF Illinois John War
ner. whose family name in Virginia wa
Vorner. he being Of German descent, 60
the Western fever when he was barel
of age. He had been a medical studen
in the office OF a Virginia physician
Having accumulated a blackboard and
horse he set out for the untamed West
with the idea in mind Of tanning hi
share OF Il. He got as far as Henr
county, Indiana, when his funds CAV
out ard he found IL necessary to sto
awhile and accumulate more capital
He obtained a position as a clerk in
country store, and incidentally. in hi
spare moments, continued the study O
medicine in the office of an indians
physician. He remained there about min
months. and during that time becam
acquainted with and married a Mis-
Gardiner. the daughter of a farmer.
Shortly after his marriage, having nc
Culnulatcd a few dollars, he and hi
bride set out upon a honeymoon thH
was in those early days not unusua
Taking their earthly possessions wit
them. they started with the horse an
buggy With the comparatively uneS
plOred Southwest as their destinatio
They pursued their journey with Mtt
to vary the monotony Of unbroke
prairie until they came to Farmer Cit
Besought Doctor to Stay.
There they happened upon a woma
who was very III. With his knowledr
OF medicine, Dr. Warner undertook.
the absence Of a graduate physician.
prescribe for her ailment. The woman
whose life bad been despaired OF, T,
gained her health and. the communit
being without physician. DIR. Warn,
was prevailed upon by the settlers
remain there temporarily. So he hun
out his primitive shingle, and in Il
course OF time. being successful In Il
practice OF his profession and boz
money-maker. he accumulated a cor
mOdious log house and some propert
Dr. Warner practised medicine
Farme- CITY for n few ,-aars the