The weekly soliphone., 1915-01-01


ed I'm the estate OF the late A. w.
Shirley of Walnut Ridge, Grand Mas
ter C. w. Highfill of Paragould pro-
poses that the money shall be turned
over to Mr.. Shirey's heirs
Yesterday he advised the Shirley
heirs to file suit against the Grand
Lodge, because he believes the mon
ey was obtained through fraud.
Mr.. Shirley, wealthy resident of
Walnut Ridge, was murdered about
three years ago.
In Mr.. Shirey's will the entire es-
tate of about 100000 was left to the
I. O. O. F. lodge of Arkansas. The
heirs brought suit to break the will
soon after. Before the matter come
to trial it was compromised with the
result that the lodge received 40 per
cent, the heirs 40 per cent and the
widow 20 per cent of the estate. Since
he was inaugurated last month,
Grand Master Highfill has been in
yestigating the matter and his action
yesterday in instructing the heirs to
bring suit resulted from his investi-
cations. He was in Little Rock yes
terday and in an interview at the
Hotel Marion last night outlined his
reasons for his action.
%l,o IF tho &c
who reached the settlement with the
heirs of the estate did so with the
belief that they were in the right,
said Mr.. Highfill. MY knowledge of
the matter led me to investigate 1t
since my Inauguration as grand mas
ter, and | have come to the conclu-
sion that the property was obtained
virtually by fraud. Mr.. Shirey's will
proves that he was incompetent at
the time he drew it up. The provis-
ions for the use to which the money
was to be put by the lodge were pc
,auliar and many of them were impos-
sible to perform. / do not believe
the will would have stood in law, and
T feel that the order cannot afford to
take any part of any fund that has a
faint about it, Doubtless the broth
ers who made the settlement looked
at the matter from legal standpoint
only, but | propose to settle it in a
manner that will be right from, every
standpoint
Mr. Highfill said he did not know
the exact number of heirs, bft be-
lieves there are five or six. Ha COM
municated with one or Thorn Hester-
day over long distance telepho9e and
advised him to bring suit against the
lodge, he said. He said he hAs not
conferred with any of the trustees or
other officers of the lodge Regarding
the matter.
The part of the estate now in the
hands of the lodge has been adver-
tised for sale by the trustees OF the
Grand Lodge, l. o. o. F.. of Arkan-
sas, the date to be December 80, and
the proceeds to &C toward an indus
trial home, according to one of the
provisions of the Shirley will. The
tract advertised consists of approx
mately 5000 acres of farm and tim
Der land near Walnut Ridge, in Law
renee county 1t is probable the
first act of the heirs will be to ask
a restraining order to prohibit the
sale of the land.
Another matter which Mr. High
fill has declared his intentions of
changing is the manner of maintain
ing the Odd Fellows Home for Or
phans and Widows at Batesville.
81 visited the home last week." he
deplorable condition in many ways.
| am preparing statement to send
out to members at large in which |
shall advise that in every case where
it is possible the inmates be removed
until the conditions can be remedied.
My advice to all who have relatives
there is to take them out if possible
until the conditions right themselves
so the inmates can be properly cared
for. The home as it is now is dis !
grace to civilization and to Odd Eel
lowship | shall Immediately appeal
to members of the order to make spe-
cial contributions in order that things
may be put in better condition there.
II found the conditions unsani- !,
tary and the children improperly
clothed. The food is insufficient
and the conditions throughout the
home are in an indescribable condi-
ton. There are no decent mattresses