Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1916 — SAYS HE IS SON OF B.J. GIFFORD [ARTICLE]

SAYS HE IS SON OF B.J. GIFFORD

William H. Wells Seeks to Set Aside Will, Claiming He Was So Recognized. William H. Wells, formerly of DeMotte, but now of Hammond an adopted son of Dr. S. H. Wells, for years a practicing physician of DeMotte, has filed an action in the Jasper circuit court seeking to set aside the will of the late Benjamin J. Gifford. The .complaint was filed Wednesday, the. attorneys being Guy Ballard, of Chicago; H. E. Granger, of Hammond, and John A. Dunlap, of Rensselaer.

Wells alleges that he is the son of Gifford, born out of wedlock, but acknowledged as Gifford’s son by Gifford during the latter’s life time. All of the persons named as beneficiaries under the will are named as defendants. Wells claims that he is entitled to all of the Gifford estate as the only child and heir at law of the decedent. He charges that the last will of Gifford was made when he was of unsound mind and that undue influence was exercised to get him to make it. Mr. Gifford died March 30th, 1913, just three years ago today, and accqrding to law a suit to set aside a jajlU must be brought within three years after the death of the decedent. It was filed just one day before the time limit had expired. Mr. Wells, the plaintiff, was here Tuesday of this week, consulting his attorney, John A. Dunlap. Guy Ballard, the Chicago attorney, filed the complaint Wednesday. This is the second effort made to set aside the Gifford will. The first Was the action of Regina Burris, who also claimed to be the child of Gifford. Her case was settled by compromise for $3,500. The executor of the will of B. J. Gifford is George H. Gifford,'of Tipton, who maintains an office in this city and who has been getting the complicated affairs of the estate into condition to carry out the provisions of the will.