Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1907 — SUIT BEGUN TO SET ASIDE DEED [ARTICLE]

SUIT BEGUN TO SET ASIDE DEED

As predicted by The Democrat a few weeks ago in its mention of the transfer to a Chicago training school of all of Miss C. P. Monnett’s real estate in Resselaer and west of town, consisting of 1,003 acres of land worth approximately 1100,000, the matter is to have an inning in the courts. Fletcher Mon nett, a brother of of Cordelia P. Monnett who owned the land, filed suit in the circuit court Monday against his sister and the training school, alleging that the defendant is of unsound mind and is incapable of transacting business and looking after her estate. Stripped of legal verbiage, the complaint charges that the co-de-fendant, the Chicago training school, learned in some way of defendant’s physical condition and sent a nurse here to care for her, the said nurse being an agent or emissary 'of said school, who poisoned the weak mind of defendant against her relatives, divorcing the friendly relations that had heretofore existed between them, and influenced her to shut her house to them and not allow them to care for or advise her. Dr. Meyer who is connected with said school, is alleged to have fre quentiy visited defendant, staying at her home and taking his meals there, and that he coaxed and induced her to transfer her property to said school, taking her to Chicago last July where she was out of reach of relatives and freinds and where said deed was executed transferring all said property without any reservations whatever to said school, and that the relatives knew nothing at all of what was going on until the deed was recorded here a few weeks ago, as stated in this paper. It might not be out of place to add that defendant was taken away to Chicago, to be kept permanently it is reported, about the time the deed was filed for record, so that if any of the relatives protested against her action she could not be found, it would seem. It is also proper to state that her legal advisors here who had looked after her business affairs for several years and whom bhe had heretofore consulted on all matters of business, knew nothing whatever of the transaction until the deed was filed for record. The entire transaction to those here, who know what Miss Monnett's condition has been for some

time, has a mighty bad look to say the least. A couple Of nurses from the Chicago training school have been here in charge of the property since Miss Monnett wm taken away, and it is alleged that the bulk of the lands are to be sold, the proceeds to be converted into a training school for girls. An article apBsars elsewhere in this issue from r. Meyer personally regarding the alleged plans which in view of the notoriety the matter has assumed, will be read with interest by people here.