The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-05-09


In his apartment his loving daughters and grandchildren
driven away from his bedsde The father happy at TINS
visit from those who were nearest and dearest to him and
begging them to againbut never again were they
able to break through the Thomas womans barrcades
sbonts died wondering why they never came back.
And il was then and there and under those conditions
Of mystery that the "ast will produced on that
July day. In their protest against this strange document
Mrs. Shonss lawyers have not minced words Ihey say
g. That on said goth day of July rsrs the said de-
eedent Theodore p Shonts, not OF sound MIND or
memory or mentally capable of making a will
ga That said paperwrting was not freely or voiun-
tsriy made or executed by the said Theodore Shonts
as his will and testament but was obtained and the
subscription publication thereto were procured by
fraud undue influence praeteed upon the
one Amanda Thomas the resduary egatee mentioned in
said alleged WILL by other person or persons act
ing in privity with her. whose name or names
are at present unknown to this contestant.
g. That the paper propounded for probate herein Is
invalid as the last will and and is illegal and
void in that alleged if he in fact did execute
such alleged WILL aboring at such time under the mis-
taken and belief that he had in previous doeu
ent provided for this contestant when, in fact the pro-
visions of such alleged document terminated upon the
death of said deceased and therefore did not make any
provision Whatever for this contestant"
These are very serious charges.
Shonts never made this Wilt
II he did sign it he was tricked into signing it by
Amanda Thomasf
What would Amanda Thomas profit by fraudulently
trickng the sick into signing this wilt The Will
makes It very plain what Amanda would gain. Mrs.
shonts is cut off and settled very quickly with bequest
OF $1,000 and painted portrait of herself and an &C.
kpowledgment Of his Indebtedness her for the
wedding present she turned him thrtytwo years
sro and which, at compound interest would amount
to nearly $5O0000
few trivial requests follow, then trust fund for the
two daughters similar trust fund for Shonss sister
and two neces, AND THEN;
TENTH All the rest, residue and remainder of my
estate real personal and mixed of whatsoever kind,
tre or description and wheresoever situated located
and including each and every of the sums herein
above given and bequeathed In trust executors
rive devise and bequeath to my friend AMANDA 6.
THOMAS, her heirs and assigns forever"
That was the big end of the thing-tha rest residue
and remainder" which goes to Amanda Thomas Nobody
knows what that remainder Of the estate is worth.
But there is a queer thing about that will. 1t Is SO
oueer that il cannot be explained awayso queer that 1t
Is fatal II says in the second paragraph after giving
Mrs Shonts the $1,000 and her portraits
Having by agreement made in June, 1917, provided
for my wife, Mis D. Shonts, make further provision
for her."
And again in the eleventh paragraph the will speaks
OF provisions requests and devices and the provisions
for her contained in the agreement of June 1917 herein
before referred to- g.. .
There was an agreement Shonts made with his wife in
June l9l7-..but there dollar Of any manner
or kind OF provision, bequest devise, anything pro
ydipg Mrs Shonts with anything after Shontss death
except the repayment Of that same 100000 wedding
present