Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-14
MRS. FLEMING ACCUSES BROTH
ER-iN-LAw OF SEARCHING
DESK OF DEAD HUSBAND.
TOOK INSURANCE POLICIES
AND MARRIAGE c CERTIFICATE
Collected Money and Failed to Turn it
/ over to Her, Alleges Widow in Suit
TO- Obtain Her. Dover Interest in
Fleming Estate-shows There Was
lapse ineFamiIy Financial Pact

n Des Moines, Dec. 1.-Two days after
the death of Charles Fleming, Des
Moines financier, surviving brothers
visited the house of mourning, secured
the dead mans keys from his widow
and removed all valuable papers from
the desk and safe.
SUCH was the. testimony Oh MIS-.
Charles Fleming, who took the stano
for re- direct examination In her legai
fight to obtain her husbands share OF
the Fleming Brothers estate.
Among the effects which were car
ried away, were insurance policies OF
the deceased, valued at $50, 4S222. This
sum was collected from the Mutual In
sarance Company Of New York by sur
yiving brothers and the money turned
into the family fund, according to evil
dence.
Marriage Certificate.
Even the marriage certificate was
seized, according to Mrs. Fleming. At
torney Miller for the defendants pro-
duced 1T in, court today and presented
1t to the widow. ut was dated Jan. 2,
1881. The cefemony was performed at
Wilmar, Mich.
Mrs. Fleming again related the de-
tails Of the alleged "third degree SEES.
sion in which she says she was COM
PEELED unknowingly to deed away her
rights to her husbands share OF the
estate.
"Did you know you were releasing
your claims or ratifying any contracts
relinquishing your rights when you
signed those papers," asked Attorney
Mills.
'tNo, Sir, + did not" was the response,
Mrs. Fleming took the stand at 10
o'clock and testified for an hour ana
half.
Attorneys stated that no matter
what the outcome Of the present case
might be, it would probably be carried
to the supreme court. Attorney Mills
will demand an accounting of the es-
tate should Mrs. Fleming win the Its
cation. ~ tf IF
Lapse In Pact.
That there was a lapse of several
years in-the Fleming family compact.
which defendants claim has been con-
tinuously in effect for the past forty
years, was testified to by Mrs. Fleming.
The widow said when the brothers
failed, they separated. secured separate
employment and paid their bills midi
vidually. She said the compact was
not renewed and that bills, were not
paid by the family until the insurance
venture was launched at Dubuque.
Insurance policies Of the late Charles
Fleming played a prominent part in
the morning court session. Photo
graphic facsiIniles were offered in evil
dence as exhibits because the company
1 did not want to release the originals,
(Ehteh ere, In the court room. how
Ut All No erothe !, /,
Mrs. Fleming testified that shortly
after her hu Islands death. Robert and
John Fleming visited her home.
"At that time I asked them what
Charles had left" she related. "They
told me he had left everything to the
boys and nothing to me. They told
me the insurance policies were not in
dividual but were paid for by Fleming
Brothers"
How will live then?1 the widow
inquired.
eve will take care of YOU was the
assurance, according to plaintiffs tes-
timony.