Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1912 — SEEKING TO BREAK WILL [ARTICLE]

SEEKING TO BREAK WILL

Of W r ealthy, Though Sad, Lonely and Unhappy Widow Caldwell. The big trial to break the will of the late Jennie E. Caldwell of Earl Park started last week in the Benton circuit court. Mrs. Caldwell, who was a daughter of Edward Sumner, one of Benton’6 feudal land holders, long since deceased, and the widow of James Caldwell, died last January and left property valued at about a million dollars, consisting mostly of Benton county real estate. She made a number of bequests to relatives, servants, etc., but the bulk of the estate was to found the “Jennie E. Fowler Memorial Home” for deserving women and girls, to be located at Earl Park. Mrs. Caldwell’s maiden name was Fowler, and after the -death of her father amid husband she Beemed to have lost all interest In life and despite her great wealth was a lonely and unhappy woman, and it is charged, became addicted to drugs was hardly responsible for her acts. She is said to have frequently remarked thht she had nothing to live for. She was only about 46 years of age when she died. Relatives who were not remembered in her will have instituted a suit to break that instrument, and the lawyers see fat picking. The evidence of nurses who waited on the rich widow again demonstrates that wealth seldom brings real h&ppihess, an dno doubt the servants who did her bidding found more brightness in the world than this wealthy woman.