Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1910-03-18
A TIED UP ESTATE,
BY MARY A. BOWERS.
copyright, 1909, by American Press Asoo-
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When Miss Olivia Hale died lat a6ey.
enty worth a million it was found
that she had planned for the DISPOSE
ton Of sher money far ahead. She
divided it between a nephew and q
niece on condition they should marry
within six months after her death;
otherwise it was to go to charity. The
nephew, David Hale. was at the time
devoted to Florence Merritt. whom be
expected to marry. Leona Geddes, the
niece, was engaged to be married to
Hamilton Niles. Neither cousin had
seen the other but Oh few occasions.
Soon after they came to know Of the
requests and conditions they met for
conference. Miss Geddes announced
that she would marry the man to
whom she was engaged. This render
ed it impossible for Mr. Hale to fulfill
the condition imposed upon him. He
was not bound to marry the girl he
had been attentive to and for the sake
of the bequest was disappointed at
his cousins refusal to comply with
the terms of the will. He used every
argument to persuade her to change
her mind. but the best be could do was
to induce her to unite with him in an
effort to break the win. They were
the only heirs-at-law and supposed
they would get the property any way.
But they reckoned wrong. Those
| charitable institutions to whom the
property was left in case the cousins
failed to comply with the conditions
arrayed themselves for sturdy fight.
| Hale proposed and was accepted by
the girl he had been attentive to, and
with Miss Geddes' fiance there were
four people interested in the will be-
ing broken. h
The fight was a long one. There
was II decision against the cousins,
and they appealed to higher court.
The decision was reversed. and the in
situations fighting for their rights APP
pealed By this time a good deal Of
money had been spent, most of which
came ont Of the estate. Besides, while
the case was in court the property
could not be sold, and some of 1t de-
preciated in value. David Hale was
very much worried. Indeed, his nerves
were Oh edge. and Miss Merritt found.
that his condition affected her own
health, They had many spats, ar nc
their engagement was broken and re-
newed several times. Miss Geddes
was made unhappy by the fear that.
Mr.. Niles. who when he offered his
hand had been perfectly satisfied to
take her without fortune, would In
case she was deprived of her inner.
itance leave her in the lurch. Hale
considered his cousin to blame for the
situation and conceived an antipathy
for her which she heartily returned.
So these four people were made mis-
cradle by Miss Olivia Hale,s eRorttp
manage her property after her death.
The business before the upper courts
was voluminous. and decisions were
delayed. The cousins lawyers inform
ed them that they had little hope that
the case would ultimately be won.
They also told them that If they were
disposed to fulfill the conditions Of the
will they might take advantage Of an
ambiguity in its wording to do so.
This proved the most unfortunate
turn in the whole affair. Instead of
instantly declining this proposition
they took It under consideration. Hale
and Niles both seemed to lean to the
side that this would be common
sense solution of the problem. at any
rate, they talked or acted In way
that induced the two girls to break
their engagements. Hale and Miss
Geddes. being free, resolved to take
the lawyers advice and agree to COM
ply with the terms Of the will.
This furnished new legal compli-
cation. which not only prolonged the
case In court, but added greatly to the
expense The cousins seldom met, and
when they did they quarreled. Miss
Merritt, who had spent several years
In misery while engaged to Hale, was
broken in health and went to a santa
rum. Niles married a WEAKLY girl he
cared nothing for and was divorced
within eighteen months. Miss Geddes,
who had loved him devotediy, was
broken hearted.
And still the case dragged on.
IS Finally one day decision was an
nounced twas decided, first, that the
cousins had not complied with the
terms Of the will within the specified
time and could not Inherit BY doing SO
afterward: second, The property was to
60 to the charitable institutions speci-
| fed. i53...
Then came the casting Of the ac-
counts. Lawyers fees and court fees
were set down at $500. 600; deprecia-
ton Of real estate. 500, 1000; accumu-
lated interest against the estate. S75,-.
600. and shrinkage Of stocks and bonds
during a financial crisis. $400, GOO, leav.
!, Ing $25.0 900 to 50 10 five institutions, or
/ So, 600 each.
s When Miss Olivia Hale died four