Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-10-10
Miss Martha's
Will and the
Court Battle
By GEORGE MUNSON
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MAYHEM jim Maine went aIter ahy-
w thing he went after 1t tooth and
nall. That was the spirit in which he
went after Miss Martha Groves prop
erty.
Martha Grove had had the reputa-
ton of a miser. In addition to the cot
tage in which she and Miss Annie, her
niece by marriage, dwelled, she had
nine thousand dollars in the bank. And
the will that old Maine produced gave
him everything except the cottage.
1t was Annles engagement to Tom
Clafiin that provoked the old womans
rage. When the misery old woman
heard Of it she declared:
"Not one penny Of my money will
you get, you ungrateful child, If you
leave me in my old age"
But, aunt, we want you to make
your home with u.s. protested the girl
That only famed the old woman's
wrath. She sent for Maine. He was
her only friend. He was an elder in
some primitive tabernacle, and Miss
Martha belonged to it.
You'd best stay with your aunt and
give that Claflin fellow the shake"
leered old Jim, the richest man in the
village.
The girl had hoped to escape int a
larger world with her marriage o
Tom.
The week following, her aunt died
suddenly In the midst Of one of those
scoldlng fits that made the girls life
gall and NORWOOD. And then Tom
came and put his arms around Annie
and told her that she was his.
But Tom was as poor as church
mouse, and marriage would have been
out Of the question but for the money.
Before Tom Claflln had decided Jim
Maine produced n will written by the
old woman month before she died,
and signed by witnesses. 1t left all
Miss Martha's money to him, stating
that, on account Of her ingratitude,
Annie was to get only the cottage.
That was worth two or three thousand
but 1t was only small share In the
comfortable estate
Tom came to Annie. "That will is
forgery, my dear" he said. "rhose
witnesses are men who owe Maine
money. We shall fight 1t tooth and
nail"
The case came up before the surro-
gates court. Maine had defled and
threatened Tom, but the young lawyer
saw that the man was In frenzy Of
fear. Still, he could not keep his fin.
gers off the nine thousand dollars.
On the day before the trial the
young lawyer received visit from a
fellow lawyer In the next town.
II heard about your case, Claflln,"
he said. ~ think this puts a new light
IN the transaction, doesn't TT" And
he threw n document upon the table
Tom picked 1t up. 1t was another will
of Miss Martha's.
"She made that about month ago."
said the visitor. "Came over to Sta.
pleton to do 1t, l guess, so that nobody
in this town should know. OF course,
1t antedates the will you are fighting
over, but"
Claflln sat long In thought that eve
ming.
''Tom, won't you withdraw at the
last momentT pleaded Annie In court
the next morning Dear, we have the
cottage--and, after all, that will may
he genuine"
Tom said nothing but clasped her
hand In his. And Annie resigned her
self to her lovers will in the matter.
When the case was called, however,
he amazed the court and spectators by
saying:
1--WE do not accept this will rs genu
Inc. Your Honor, but, in Difference to
the wishes Of my client we are willing
to accept the sworn statement of Mr..
Maine and his witness to the effect
that the will is genuine, and to with
draw
And the will was admitted to pro
bate
Maine was flushed with triumph.
He was not the man to let well enough
alone The revulslon from his fears
Of prison proved too strong for his
good sense. He approached Tom In
the courtroom, after the court had ad-
journed.
"Wall," he sneered, II guess you did
the wise thing in Withdrawing, young
man. You'd have lost your case, and
I'd have had you driven out Of town,
too. It takes n big man to cross my
WILL"
81 hope you'll enjoy your property"
said Tom. But why didn't you take
the cottage too, while you we're about
It? You threw away two or three
thousand dollars there. And you
might just as well have had 1t II you
had had the nerve"
"What do you meanY beloved
Maine truculently.
81 mean" said Tom, thrustlng his
face forward and looking the other
squarely in the eye. that If you hadn't
been thief and o rogue you would
have got everything. Here is Miss
Groves will, and 1t leaves you every
thing, cottage included"
He thrust the document under Jim
Names face.
ut does, does ltW roared Maine.
"Then I'll have It,"
"No you won't" answered Claflln.
This will was executed three days
before the forged one that has been
admitted to probate"