East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-02-05

Another chapter has been started
In the story of the win Of the late
j. w. Young of Weston. Another
will, purporting to leave all of the
deceased's property to his niece, Mrs
Mabel Warner, has been found. 1t
makes the fourth will that has been
produced since the death of the old
Weston flour mill man. Whether or
not II viii stand remains TO be seen.
The last will which was presented
10 Judge GHliland yesterday after
noon for probate. and which he took
under advisement and has not yet
admitted the same, bears date OF Mo-
vember 81. 1893. II was written on
a torn ledger leaf, with indelible
pencil. and is as follows:
The Fourth VIII.
81, ]. w. Young. before God, do
make this my last will and testament
TO my daughter May Young, / give
and bequeath all my property In full
filment of a solemn and binding con-
tract made with her mother. l ap-
point /. f. Sailing my executor
James w. Young (seaD" (T'his line
and signature ends flush with the
margin OF the page, and Immediately
follows:) II acknowledge this my
viii and sign my name and set my
seal in the presence OF the following
witnesses. James w. Young (SeaD
S. V. KNOX, Weston. Or.
LOUIS RAGLE, his mark,
Weston. Oregon"
This VIII as presented yesterday to
Judge Gilliland is supposed 10 be In
James w Young's own handwriting. |
s V. Knox. an aged attorney of
Weston. swears on his oath that he /
signed the instrument on the day and |
year It bears date and that Louis Ra-
gel witnessed the same by his mark !
and that Ragers daughter, now Mrs.
Stacey of Baker City. was present at
the time the same was signed Ragel
Is now dead, but his daughter in open
court swore on her oath that she saw
her father make his mark on this
instrument.
Lavender Stumped.
In addition: David Lavender, who
was Mr.. Young's business agent, and
is we'll acquainted with his handwrit-
ing, when shown the new WILL said
that he was stumped! II was so
much like the handwriting and orth-
ography OF James W. Young that Mr..
Lavender said under any other cir
cumstances he would pronounce 1t
genuine.
Others about the court house who
are acquainted with Young's writ ,
ing hold different opinions, some say
ing It is n clever forgery, others that
II is genuine. ,
But to make the case more inter ,
esting and mysterious. in the same :
package containing this will which =,
Mabel Young Warner claims to have
received by mail on December 16, :
1908. is a written contract with Ma :,
bel Young Warmers mother. wherein
md whereby Young gives all his
property to Mabel.
History OF the Case.
James w. Young was n pioneer OF
Weston, and for many years operated :,
Touring mill there. He died in
1903 Many years prior to his death !,
le married his brothers wife, the ~
mother of Mabel Young Warner. who ''
lad secured a divorce from her hus- -
,and. Rumor Is to the effect that j.
" Young was the cause of ti.is d. u
orce, but that can be taken either
way. Eventually, Mabels mother
eparated and divorced from j. w.
young, and later died. Mabel re- CT
1ained with her uncle and stepfath- tc
r for some years. and in fact she Ell
laims that the final relation of faith X
: and daughter existed between them pc