Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-09-16
Dramatic Life Story
Of Robert j. Willis
by Benjamin r. Butler

and established himself IN the
Walker Block. at The corner Of
Fort and Griswold Streets. where
he remained for seven years. I
His first ease was an assault and
battery case. the defendant being
Riley Norman. who is now living
IN Whitaker. Michigan. This case
was tried before Police Justice
Patrick Shean. For this case.
which caused him more anxiety
than all his subsequent ones. he
received the magnanimous sum Of
$500 The encouragement that he
received from winning his initial
legal battle was invaluable. His
next case which nried him 5000 90.
was tried in The Circuit C0urt be-
fore Judge Joseph ". Donovan,
who is sill living in Detroit.
In legal parlanoe the case would
be termed Woods versus Hogan.
and il had 10 do with the setting
aside OF a deed shall relate the
facts 81 the case in order that the
decision FINALS rendered may be
clearly understood
One Rober Woods. colored
man. had married white woman.
and lived with her from the date
OF marriage ciN7S uutl his death
tlS95l. Woods had sold the home
stead 10 white man named Ho-
gan. but his wife. Mary. did not
sign the lead Willis raised the
question ON writ Of ejectment
petition 10 set aside The decd on
the ground that every deed or mort
gage 90 homestead. signed by a
husband and not signed by his
wife, was absolutely void The deed
was declared void. ana ihe home
stead was reslored 10 The widow.
There We're tour banks interested
in his property. Thev had ad
vanced money % take care of liens
for buildings. sewers ana other
improvements. The propert had
gone through "a number of hands.
and willis continued that since tho
deed was void not having been
signed hy lh, wfc SHE was entitl-
cd after The death Of her husband
10 The restoration Of he property
free and clear oi an rncnmhrancc.
II WAS "A long drawn ont affairs.
The different banks. Building com
panies. Mortgage Companies. had
their respective lawyers. but Rob
orl j. was successful in upholding
hts contentious so mGrh 50 that
The court declcd n favor OF Mrs.
Woods and her property loratei
al Wills Avenue near Granby and
valued az Si0.Ooo or more, was re-
turned TO her free Of an cncumb-
RANGES This victory meant more
10 Robert J than mere legal sue
. cess. 1t meant clothes for his fam
r lily; the paying OFF OF obligations
that had accumulated; the 81
chasing OF books essential 10 HIS
work; and last but not least, Il
raised his morale. giving him con-
idcncc in himself.
one day Willis was passing a
second hand book store. and ON
looking in The window he saw
faded book which. judging by lis
appearance. was hfv or sixty
years old. lie entered The store and
inquired of The proprietor The pur-
chase price. The proprietor in.
formed him that he could have
the book for fifty cents if il would
do him any good adding that it
was just one OF miscellaneous coli
lection he received through tho
purchasing of second hand articles
from unsuccessful people.
Robert J. purchased the book.
and il proved to he the report of
cases argued and determined I'm
the Supreme Court Of the state of
Michigan Vol. .. BY Samuel r
Douglass This book was printed
in lS49 by Munger and pattison
Of Detroit, Mich. II eventually
proved TO be worth a. small for
tune to Willis in his next case re
lative TO the Joseph Howard Estate
Continued on Page 81