Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1920 — Magic of Law Puts Millions in 9 Pockets [ARTICLE]

Magic of Law Puts Millions in 9 Pockets

forflotten Poor Cousins Share in Estate of Wealthy Oil Man. MILLIONAIRE LEFT NO WILL Wealth Cornea to Aged People Whose Lives Have Been Largely Filled With Hardships—Hunt for Heirs le Difficult. Wheaton, 111. — Satisfied smiles apread over nine faces in the corridors of the red courthouse here recently, for nine persons, whose lives had been largely filled with hardships, knew that within a few weeks they would be rich. Rich is the only applicable word—wealth to these people had been nothing but a dream. Judge S. L. Rathje of the DuPage county court had just Indicated that Jive of the nine were legal heirs to the 53,000.000 estate of William P. Cowan, former president of the Standard Oil company of Indiana, who died at his Wheaton country home In the summer of 1918. The other four were husbands and wives of the heirs. Nina to Share $2,500,000. With the establishment of heirship by the five relatives of the wealthy oil man the total number of heirs who will receive a share of the estate Is nine. After expenses have been deducted. according to attorneys, the estate will total more than $2,500,000. Each of the nine heirs will receive something like $200,000 when the Inheritance taxes are paid. Three of the heirs are more than seventy years of age. one Is ninety, the youngest is forty-four years old. None of them remember personally the man whose death brought them this benefaction. But two ever saw him. They look upon their Inheritance as some vague dream of paradise.' The heirs who established their claims are:

William Saxton, seventy-two years old. Eagle, Mich. Walter Saxton, seventy-two years old, Wancausta, Mich. Charles Saxton, sixty-eight years old, Elsie. Mich. Mrs. Caroline Saxton Hart flftyelght years old. Grand Ledge, Mich. Mrs. R. B. Colby, forty-four years old. Cadillac, Mich. William and Walter Saxton are twins. William la married and his wife was in Wheaton with him. Mrs. Colby and Mrs. Hart had their husbands along, too. Other Cowan Heirs. The other heirs who have established sufficient evidence of relationship to Mr. Cowan to win an Indication of equity from Judge Rathje are: Judson Phelps, ninety years old, Detroit Mich. Henry B. Stillwell, seventy years old, Gloversville, N. T. William G. Stillwell, seventy-two years old, Springfield, Mass. Heirs at law of Mrs. Helen Shadboit Plymouth, N. Y„ who was ninetyfive years old when she died a few weeks ago. All of the heirs are cousins—first, second, or third. No nearer kin could be found by Alfred C. Hoy, public administrator of DuPage county. The day’s hearing before Judge Rathje did not close the case. A few more depositions must be taken, a few more weeks must elapse before the Jurist can enter a decree. But the Saxton boys are happy. When In 1918 It was learned that Mr. Cowan, a successful business man and one of the rich residents of the Chicago Golf dub colony at Wheaton, had died -nd left no will, Wheaton wondered. Then lt was announced that there were no heirs In this state. Mrs. Cowan's death had preceded her husband's, and there were no children and no. brothers or sisters. Public Administrator Hoy took Immediate charge .of the estate and appointed Charlte W. Hadley and George Thom? his attorneys. Mr. Hadley is State's attorney of DuPsge county ' and has a weakness for flaring ties.

Nine attorneys presented him with a new one In court. For more than a year the only relatives Mr. Hoy could locate were the Stillwell boys, Judson Phelps, and Mrs. Shadboldt. A few months ago one of the Saxton boys, Walter, read a newspaper article which referred to Mr. Cowan’s death and his estate. A few days later the Saxton claim was entered. The Saxtons claimed to be the children of two daughters of Ppter Cowan, Cayuga county. N. Y„ the grandfather of William P. Cowan. Their claim was established by a marriage license, census reports, old tintypes, and testimony. One of the twins saw Mr. Cowan when he was three years old. Another Saxton said he was born in the Cowan home. But further than that they had no personal recollection of their wealthy relative. Views on Liquor. Walter and William Saxton are Interested In airplanes, but they don’t

believe they will spend much of their fortune on the aircraft. “You can get a drink of red eye or an airplane ride for $25,'” Said Walter. “I believe the airplane ride would be the best You can get the same results from either one. They’ll both kill you.” . — Walter and Mr. Hart have been sextons in different cemeteries ever since they can remember. “We beA huryln’ ’em" fast as they’d die,” said Mr. Hart “But I reckon we’ll retire now. .Maybe not though.” Mrs. Colby Isn’t sure what she’ll do with her money. Neither Is Mrs. Charles Saxton sure what she will do -with her husband’s, but Elsie, Mich., Is going to have some thrills, she said. “I guess we could all go In the moving picture business,” said Mrs. Caroline Mart. (She doesn’t like to be called Carrie.) "But maybe we’ll all retire now.” “Pretty hard to quit work,” said William Saxton, “we’ve been working so long. Gee, I’m klnda glad we heard about It, though. No, I ain’t got no daughters for any one to marry.” Mrs. Charles Saxton said she had two daughters, but thought they could take care of themselves. Meantime 11 lawyers, who have been in the litigation, were conferring in the judge’s chambers on a tombstone to be erected over Mr. Cowan’s grave. "I hope them lawyers leaves us some of the money,” said Walter.