The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-17
WILL TO OGDEN MILLIONS FOUND
MILLIONAIRE LEAVES FORTUNE
TO COUNTRY CHILDREN.
+. S. Earl of Houston, an Old Time
Friend of Deceased, Named as Exc
cutor-ReIative Remembered.

Houston, TeX.-That Francis A. OF
den, wealthy real estate operator o.
Houston and Madison, Wis, left will
providing that his entire estate be de
voted to the education OF country chill
dren became known Thursday wher
Judge Norman G. Kittrell stated thai
such a document had been placed in
his hands by r. S. Earl printer EN-
ployed on one of the local newspapers
Mr.. Ogden died on June 6, 1t was
known that he possessed large
amount of land in Texas, Wisconsin
and probably in other states Among
his effects were found stock and bonds
and deeds in abundance to lands. A
hasty appraisement led the investiga.
tors to announce that the estate would
be worth not less than $4,000, 900.
Later some of the securities were
found to be worthless. 1t was thought
that he left no will.
Announcement that no will was left
brought several relatives of the de-
ceased to Houston. Arrangements
were made to divide the estate among
the surviving relatives according to
the law governing inheritances.
He and Mr.. Earl worked together in
the same office in Madison. When
Ogden came to Houston he renewed
his acquaintance with Mr.. Earl, and
the two became warm friends and
close companions. In his will he left
the entire estate to Mr.. Earl, he being
bound by his honor only to carry out
the wishes of the deceased.
The fact that will existed was
kept secret for thirty days at the ex,
press command of the deceased. After
writing the will Mr.. Ogden turned it
over to Mr.. Earl with instructions not
TO make it public until thirty days
after his death. 0gdens reason for
secrecy in the matter of this was that
there was a possibility he might make
a later will. If no later will appeared
within thirty days after his death it
would indicate that none existed, and
Mr.. Earl might then have his will pro.
bated. The thirty days expired last
Monday and Mr. Earl promptly placed
it in the hands of Judge KittrelI for
probate
The will was laboriously printed
with a lead pencil and bears the
names of no witnesses. Whether it
will be subject to probate in this con-
dition has not developed. 1t is said
that the law requires that holograb ohio
wills shall be written in the hand,
writing of the deceased An issue may
be raised over the fact that the docu,
ment was printed instead of being
written.
According to Mr.. Earl, the will was
written by Ogden, who went alone to
Vick's Park for that purpose. There,
secluded under the shade trees, he
drew up the document in behalf of
the school children of the country.
During his lifetime Mr.. Ogden was
exceedingly thrifty and in Houston
was known as recluse. He lived in
Houston in a cheap room, ate at the
very cheapest restaurants and saved
and invested every penny lie realized
from former investments.
He was found dead in a closet in a
rooming house.
According to the estimate OF Mr..
Earl the estate of Ogden will reach
about $2,5O0,OOO. Of this amount ap.
oroximately one-tenth was left to the
heirs Instructions were left that
he Printers Home in Colorado
Springs be remembered, the ques-
ion of endowment being left with the
executor.