Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-28
SCRAMBLE WEALTH
IN CONTEST 70 CON-
TRoL ESTATE OF AGED AND
ECCENTRIC REcLUsE.
OLD MALVERN CHARACTER
HAD CASH AND MANY FARMS
Lived in Old Attic Reached by Ladder
and Window. M. shusart, Who
Died Suddenly, Not Known to Have
any Living Relatives-Bankers APP
pointed Administrators.

- wv
any Living NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. APP
pointed Administrators.
Special to Times-Republican.
Council Bluffs, April 2S.-Living in a
house the second story of which was
reached only thru a window and that
approached by a ladder, j. M. Shugart,
a picturesque character who had re-
sided for a quarter of a century in
southwestern Iowa, dropped dead at
Malvern while chatting with acquaint-
ances in a store. Shugart was in some
respects n of the most interesting
men Of the state altho one of the most
cordially hated and universally stunned
men known to these parts.
He vas wealthy, altho just how
much none and valuables he has is
not yet known. His history is so thor
oughly a part of the country that Shu-
CART had hardly died than a scramble
was on for the legal right to handle
his estate. This was on the part Of
bankers who, knowing that Shugart
died childless and without kin so far
as the knowledge of those who know
him best, goes, realize that there
is a neat profit going to accrue to
somebody in the years that VIII have
to ensue before the estate can possibly
be settled up.
Educated But Eccentric.
Shugart was an educated man, Inc
his eccentsicities were almost state
wide in notoriety. 1t is common gossip
that Shugart was early in life dis
appointed in love. This, however, has
never been verified and may have been
guessed at because people of his like
generally claim such an adversely as an
excuse for their queerness. But he was
never happy or even onten in the
company of either sex. He let it be
understood that he wanted to be left
alone entirely, and when business or
domestic demands required that he
seek the haunts of man his visits were
brief and decidedly nerve racking-to
those with whom he came in contact.
Shugart had numerous valuable
farms and it is mark Of his strange
life that frequently sone of these farms
would be tenantlexs for a year and the
land entirely deserted and untitled. This
arose thru GShugart's frequent misun-
derstandings with his tenants. It was
generally said Of him that no one Of
other than morbid mind could get along
an entire rear with him and that be-
cause of his harshness and singular de-
mands only strangers in the
ity were ever inveigled into signing a
lease with EShugart. Some say hat
he was too exacting in financial mat
ters and others say that he was the
soul of honor, demanding every PEN
ny that was his due but carefully sat
isfying every obligation to the last
cent. But he appeared to see only the
suspicious of everyone. His philosophy
of life was perverted for he lived a
miser.
One of his p~eculiarities is shown in
the products of his farms that are the
accumulation Of years. For example
he has thousands Of bushels com crib
bed on one farm-the one where he
crop of several years back.
Tina he could keep this corn in the
face of the high prices Of the past win
ter, when his love Of money is so well
known, is n of the things which
Shugart's neighbors eve would I'M
dertake to explain or understand.
Besides large sums on deposit in the
Shenandoah and Imogene banks Shu-
CART is believed to have had much cash
and valuable bonds in his attic 'home."
While his home place was near NAL
vern Shugart was on bad terms with
the bankers there and some years ago
withdrew his patronage.
Race for Property.
Five hours after Shugart's death adj
illustrators were appointed for his
estate. If this is not the record for
Iowa and possibly some other states it
must be a near-record. In view OF the
added fact that a fast ride by an auto
thru one Of the most severe storms
of the season, ove roads that are
mostly hills, for a distance of thirty
miles, adds to the dramatic character
of the race to get control Of the old
property.
Abou 8 o'clock at night a car dashed
into Glenwood, the county seat of
pants leaped from the car and began
found. an order was presented is
sued by District Court Judge A. b.
Thornell, of Sidney, directing that L. s..
McCracken, cashier of the Imogene
and Gilbert A. Read, a Shenan-
doah banker, be appointed administra-
tors Of the estate forthwith. The or
der was complied with and the bankers
proceeded TO take charge of Shugart's'
affairs. Meanwhile other bankers who
claim equal right in the matter, were
busy and it is limited that an effort
is to be made to secure a modified
order OF the our granting one or two
right to act as administrator
also.
"A report is current that a brother
Of Shugart resides somewhere in the
but general belief is that
Shugart had no living relative. He
never received any communications by
mail and was neve visited by any than
his enant and they never remained
than was necessary to trans
act their business with their principal.
The estate viii undoubtedly revert to
he state.
SdETEr.n.rss;ss,,.'';; 70,
ScElEeRNE1:[0thos who suf-