The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-03
MAN | RODE WITH
Queer Request of H. III. Day,
Franklin County Pioneer.
Leaves Rslk of Property in Care
of Topeka Man.
HE GOT NAME WRONG
Children's Home Society Will
Get the Benefit.
Amounts to About Ten Thous-
and Dollars.

1.-THE man I rode with" is named as
the legatee in the will of H. H. Day,
"a Franklin county pioneer, and as a
result the Kansas Childrens Home So
ciety. will receive a bequest of $4,000.
Two years ago w. E. Mcdowell, a
district superintendent of the society
was working in the interests of the
society in Rantoul. a small town in
the western part of Franklin county.
At that time he was thrown in con-
tact with H. H. Day, who showed a
little interest in the work of the So
ciety, and who took Mr.. Mcdowell
around the city in his buggy, spending
at this time, and the incident soon
passed from memory.
Mr.. Day died May Is. less than a
month ago. He left no blood heirs,
his wife having died many years ago,
leaving him without an heir. A broth
er-in-law, T. J. Watkins of Rantoul,
was named in the will as executor. The
VIII was probated Monday and it was
| found that he had bequeathed small
amounts to his different friends, which
amounted to about $4,5 500 or $1,000. The
entire estate was valued at $4,000, and
| consisted of considerable farm pro-
perty in Franklin county, large farm
| in Labette county and a little city pro-
perty in Topeka.
| In the will the Children's Home So
ciety is named as follows: 1.-The re-
mainder of what 1 may have, I be-
queath to the Children's Home society,
whose agent I rode with on the 10th OF
July, 1907. Mr.. Mcdonald was his
name"
There is slight difference in the
name of Mr. Mcdowell and the man
named in the will. but this is pro-
badly owing to the similarity of the
names.
The attention of the society was first
called to the bequest Tuesday morning
when Rev. o. S. Morrow. the secre-
tary of the society received clipping
from an Ottawa paper. He immediate
| ly took the matter up with Mr.. Nc
| Dowen who was on the road in the
interests of the society at the. time
Mr.. Mcdowell was surprised and it was
only after considerable thinking that
he was able to remember the incident
cited in the will.
| Mr.. Mcdowell, however, left for OF
ltawa Immediately and after a confer
ence with the probate judge wired Mr.
Morrow that the society would receive
about two-thirds of the estate, which
was valued at SIS, 900. The probate
judge gave his opinion that there could
be no doubt as to the identity of Mr.
| Mcdowell, and that there would likely
| be no contest in courts. as Mr. Day
left no legal heirs and that he had ia
ken care of his friends in good shape
Rev. Mr.. Morrow and the other Off
Gals of the Kansas Chiidren's Home
society are elated over the good for
tune. Mr.. Morrow in speaking of the
bequest this morning, said: Yes, il
| is true that we have been named ir
| the will, and there is but little doubt
that we will receive about 100000 We
are congratulating ourselves on Oul
good fortune. In carrying on work OF
charity such as we are now doing, we
meet all sorts of difficulties. and nat:
lurally a bequest of such proportions
makes life seem a whole lot more pleas
ant for u.s.
! This bequest will fit nicely into 6
little fund which the society has beer
raising for the purpose of erecting q
building for the society. The society
has been working for some time on a
plan to erect a building to cost $780,
| 600 on Kansas avenue. a portion OF
which would be used by the society
and the remainder of which would be
rented as offices. This would bring
the society a steady income of $1,000
which would insure goodly
portion of the funds necessary
to carry on the large work of the So
ciety OF this amount, $20,400 has beer
raised The amount received from the
lestate of Mr.. Day will be turned te
good account in the completion of this
fund. A committee is now looking fol
a. suitable Kansas avenue site, between
Fifth and Tenth. After this is secured
the work on the new building will be
Cd