Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-10

in bill TO- $1,000 Il year. which, with
interest, would give her an amount tC
produce an income on which she might
live comfortably The claim WIS filed
but SO great was the howl set ur
by the heirs against the claimant that
the poor girl withdrew it.
Meriwether. having espouSed her
cause. became further interested and
declared that she should get her dues
He went 70 the lawyer who had had
charge of Joseph BurbanK's legal at
fairs and had a long interview with
him. Meriwether asked TO see a copy
of the will that had been drawn up
and ready to sign. The attorney show.
ed it to him. and when Meriwether
proposed to call together the heirs-at.
law. show them what the intention of
Joseph Burbank had been and en-.
deavor TO induce them TO make com.
promise with each other and Rosa
Blair, the lawyer consented and wrote
an opinion that without compromise
the estate would likely be eaten up
by litigation.
Armed with these two documents
Meriwether called the meeting He
had no sooner risen to address those
assembled than man called out:
What interest have you in this
business anyway"
81 have become interested in behalf
OF Miss Blair"
Reckon" called out a woman, you
want to marry her and git it all for
yourself"
Without noticing this last remark
Meriwether read the unsigned will.
1t left the estate for ten years in the
hands of trustees for the benefit OF
Rosa Blair. If within that time his
son should return and claim TO inherit
the estate should be divided between
him and Miss Blair If at the expira-
ton of ten years he had not returned
the property was to be given to her.
Meriwether then stated that he was
authorized by Miss Blair to withdraw
her claim on being paid the sum OF
$4,000
A dozen persons claimed the floor.
each intending to speak against max
ing any such compromise. After all
had spoken and only one other person
had arisen to speak in behalf OF a COM
promise Meriwether announced that.
as Miss BIair's representative. he with
drew the proposition and would make
another. Miss Blair would not settle
for less than $4,000.
This caused hubbub. Cries of
Bluff" "Extortion" We must have
an attorney flight it out" were
heard all over the room. When iuIl
came Meriweather made another an
nouncement. Miss Blair's figures had
gone up TO $4,000!
Amid still greater confusion a man
arose and proposed that the meeting
organize as heirs at law Of the Joseph
Burbank estate and appoint commit
toe to procure counsel and prosecute
! their claims till they had received
every cent OF their just inheritance
He was followed by another. who ask
ed for subscriptions with which to pay
| legal expenses This threw a damper
| on the meeting. only few subscrip-
| tons Of n few dollars each being offer
/ ed When il was evident that snaG
/ had been struck. Meriwether arose and
said:
MY friends it is time this meeting
adjourned. ain the Macdonald Meri-
wether Burbank mentioned in this un-
signed will and the only child Of the
testntor My mother. whose maiden
name was Meriwether. being dead. 1
am the sole heir Mt law of the estate
l will not trouble you to make COM
promise with Miss Blair. will make
one myself"
This stunned the assembly TO silence
till womnn's shrill voice cried out:
81 suppose you'll compromise by mar
rying herr
That's exactly what | intend to do
am happy 10 announce that we are
already engaged"
The meeting broke up sullenly, sorna
having n hope that the man could no,
prove his identity. but most OF thoS"
present believed that he would not
have made such claim unless hc
could Substantive 1t.
When Burbank heard Of his IN
theirs death be concluded to go home
incOgnitO and learn or the situation
1t was soon made plain to him. and be
fore claiming his estate nc proposed e
derive some amusemcnt from the MI
merous heirs who We're bent on castin,
aside the claim OF the only person wh'
was really entitled to any part OF the
estate. He was so charmed with ROsi
Blair that he resolved TO pay her NOR
than literally for her services to hi
father and later asked her to he hi
wife. II was not TIL afte: she hat
consented that he saw his fathers TN
signed will. Then he showed 1T to he
and made himself known
Such is the true story of the Rurban
estate. II has been told many Il lin
and in many forms in the place wher
the scene was laid
Macdonald Burbank and his wifi
,, made good Use of the properly. whic
increased enormously. endOwing sever
al charitable Institutions.