The diamond drill., 1919-05-17
JURY FOUND FOR
CONTESTANTS
DECLARED THE LOTT WILL TO BE
A PURE FORGERY
WAS OUT FOR EIGHT HOURS
Effect is to Give Property to the
New York Heirs Instead of
Those Named in Will

tuVSc VdIIieu III Will
The McDermott will case, mention
ed in last weeks Drill. continued un-
til about l0:SO Saturday night when
the jury returned a verdict in favor
of the contestants.
The verdict was very unpopular in
the county as the sympathy as well
as as the conviction was that the
Iron county legatees named in the
will were righfully entitled TO the
property of McDermott.
However, the great weight Of the
jury numbers were against the will
if reports circulated since the jury
made its return are correct. 1t Is
state that upon the first ballot the
count stood . for contestants and
for Lott. On the next ballot the
count stood 10 to and it remained
that way from that time until final
agreement was made
Review of the Case.
Clarence McDermott, an eccentric
citizen of Iron River, died in 1915.
After his death it became known
that his true name was not McDer-
mott, but Clarence Colwell"; that
he had deserted his family in New
York state in the early days and
fed to Iron River where he engaged
in logging, and acquired a home
stead, under the name of McDermott.
The children whom he had left in
New York state had grown up, mar
ried, had issue and died, leaving some
grandchildren who claimed the prop
erty and were recognized by the pro-
bate court as the rightful heirs.
The late Il. r. Lott always main
tanned that McDermott had left a |
Will. Lott had been friend TO Me |
Dermott for many years and the lat
ter came and went freely from the |
Lott home which was in charge OF
NJ and Mrs. +. p. Lott, Jr Mrs.
Lott was very kind to McDermott.
who, several years ago, was injur-
ed in a railroad wreck near Menom
inee and as a result his health was
much impaired. She attended him
during much OF his Illness and was
SO kind that he decided TO her dur
ing his lifetime an interest in the
first mine found upon his property
Notwithstanding that Lott, sr., was
sure McDermott left will, no vii
could be found, and about year af.
ter McDermotts death. Lott died.
About . year ago Mrs. Lott, while
cleaning up room in her home
which had been called "McDermotts
room because he always occupied
u when at their home, discover
ed an envelope in an old vest pocket
the vest having been the property o,
McDermott in his lifetime.
She opened the envelope and founc
therein a Will which purported
have been drawn and signed Il
Houston. Texas on March 3. 1915. d
time when MeDermott went Il
Texas because of poor health.
The witnesses to the VIII we're on
Munsou and Celia Bailey OF Honst9f
Texas Mr, Lott went 70 Texas al,
succeeded Ia finding Celia Bailey. bu
vas unable 70 locate the man Man
son. Miss Bailey came TO Crysta
Falls last June and testified that sht
saw McDermott sign the will tha
she saw Munson lay down the pen
after he had signed as a witness and
that she then signed H.
The probate court held the will
valid and awarded the property to
the several persons mentioned H.
the document, among them being
Father Lenhart OF Iron River, I. w
Byers also OF Iron River. Mrs. JAG
obs. a niece, of Minneapolis. and
Mrs Lott and her son Clarence Lott.
The New York heirs appealed &c
the circuit court. Miss Bailey didnr
como to testify, although the attor- /,
neys for the Lott Interests claim they /
=. a