The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-01-28
ATTY. WILL ATTEMPT
TO BREAK A WILL
Half a Million Dollars Said
to Be Involved in the
Famous Case.
lin HANDS OF |. LEON GOULD
Indiana Harbor Lawyer Is Retained
By Miss Lena Bowe Of
South Bend.
lSnecial to TIE TINES

Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 27.-Attorney
I. Leon Gould yesterday received the
retainer in case which promises to
equal the famous Labadie property dis
pute in which he is employed as chief
counsel. Mr.. Gould Immediately for
got all differences with local attorneys
and FASTENED to give out the good
news. He didn't even seem to mind
the charge of provocation, which will
be pressed against him today and for
which he was arrested a few days ago.
The scene for the new cases is laid
in Michigan and the plaintiff viii be
Miss Lena Bowe, OF 32S Washington
street, South Bend, Ind.
The story is replete with unusual
angles and deals with property said
to be valued at half a million dollars.
In her letter to Mr. Gould yesterday
Miss Bowe tells the following story:
A Family History.
Henry Breese of Kalamazoo, Mich,
died about eleven years ago, and was
related to Miss Bowe as great uncle
on her fathers side of the house. It
was always understood that the Breese
money would go to his family, and Miss
Bowe believes that there is a will in
existence to that effect. Breese married
a widow with a large family, but of
their marriage there was no issue.
TT worried her all her life for fear
that he would leave his money to his
| own people," says Miss Bowe. The
wife and mother died several years ago,
and Breese went to live with one of
his stepdaughters, a Mrs. Drake, of
Kalamazoo, Mich, and from that time
on his people knew but little of his
life During the last few years of his
life he failed so in health that his
memory became dimmed and he often
made rash promises. At one time he
wanted to take the entire debt of the
Episcopal church of Kalamazoo on his
hands if they would let him
Church Gets $4,000.
Breese was SIS years of age at the
time of his death. and his Will left a
bequest of $4,000 to the Episcopal
church. The balance, with the excep-
tion of few scattering thousands to
sundry nieces and nephews, was given
to Mrs Drake and her daughters. This
fortune has been estimated as high as
100000. but only about $4,000 was
accounted for.
The codicil leaving the fortune to
Mrs. Drake was made but few months
before Mr.. Breese died. and Miss Bowe
declares that he was not of sound
mind at that time. He had two broth
ers living at that time, both of un-
sound mind, and one of them, lawyer
in Kalamazoo died in the insane asy-
lum." declares the South Bend heir
Miss Bowe declares that Mrs Drake
even went so far as to separate from
her husband that she might live with
the old man. Mrs. Drake often claimed
that the money belonged to Mrs. Breese
but the South Bend woman AYERS thai
''she was as poor as church mouse
when she met Breese."
! Attorney Gould will begin preparing
the papers in the case as soon as pos
sible after visiting Miss Bowe mex
week and will likely take a trip t
Kalamazoo in an endeavor to find con
frnation OF the South Bend woman.
! story Miss Bowe declares that sh,
has often spoken to attorneys abou
the case, but believes that they wer,
fixed" and refused to enter into
discussion of its merits. Mr. Goul,
believes that he has a good case an,
says that he will take it before tn
highest tribunals of the country