Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-24

St Louis, Mo, Oct 24.-AlleRinR
among other things that James Camp
bell, late multi-millionaire broker and
traction magnate of St Louis. died
without leaving "a Child or children"
his nephews and nieces, children of
the late John P. Campbell OF West Vir-
ginia. have filed suit to break his will.
An important question that must be
decided by the court is whether Lois
Ann Campbell, introduced by the mil
lionaire as his daughter at her debut
in st. Louis and New York a year ago,
Is his daughter in fact. He referred to
her in his will as his daughter. and
bequeathed to her and his wife equal
shares of his estate. Miss Campbell
became the wife of Ely G.. Burkham
a st. Louis civil engineer, on Sept. Is
II Is also alleged that Campbell's
will as filed is not legally his last will
and testament because he made
changes in the text after the witnesses
had signed it. and that these changes
in the text were not made in the pres
ence of the witnesses.
IL is alleged that under the law
Campbell died intestate. and that when
he signed his .'purported will he was
in feeble health, and by reason OF in
cidents in his business and social life
and his fear of death and future pun
ishment" he was easily imposed upon
and Influenced TO leave his $4,000. 900
estate in trust for St Louis university,
to be turned over to that institution az
ter the death of his wife, Florence a.
Campbell, and the defendant, Lois
Ann Campbell"
1t is alleged that when Campbell
signed the will il was fncon, plete, and
that afterward, not in the presence of
the witnesses he inserted provisions
making St. Louis university, a Jesuit
Institution, the ultimate legatee.
The university, ii is alleged, has no
right, under its charter, to accept such
a bequest. Therefore, II is set forth
the provisions of the Will as affecting
St. Louis university are null an void.
It is charged that because Of Camp |
bells fear of future punishment he
was easily imposed upon by officers, !
employees and clergymen connected !
with St Louis university. who pre- !
vailed upon him to prepare his will
and took advantage of his mental con- |
dition to induce him to make the uni |
yersity his legatee.
Knowing his fear of future punish |
ment, the petition alleges these Off |
GERS, employees and clergymen con-
WINGED Campbell that the salvation of
his soul depended on his dedication Of
his fortune to religious and charita-
BILE uses.
The petition asks that the will be
declared void and the estate distribu-
ted as though Campbell died intestate.
After the suit was filed the follow
ing statement was given out on behalf
of the Mercantile Trust Company, ex-
ecutors of the will:
LAS to the charge that Lois was not
the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Camp
bell. in addition TO the overwhelming
oral proof that this statement is abb !.
false, we have secured not
only certified copies Of the birth rec
ord showing her birth in New York on
March II, 1893, but certified copy OF
the baptism by Archbishop Corrigan
al St Patrick's cathedral, in New
York, March "a. 1893.
The third charge is that on Deem
Der 19. 1913. the date on which Mr.
Campbell executed the will. he was of
feeble mind and was Influenced by his
tear of death by Jesuit priests and in
iuced and overwhelmed TO make the
VII and to devise the property finally
70 that institution.
ITO the citizens OF St Louis. who
knew Mr. Campbell this allegation is
ridiculous. In December, 1913. he was
n excellent health; he died after
short illness of some weeks due to
,arbuncle and blood poisoning. After
he execution of the will Mr.. Campbell
put through in New York two OF the
most gigantic financial deals and
OF his active financial
ife"