Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1915 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in Distant and Nearby Cities and Towns.—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. CASK OF MUCH INTEREST Benton County Jury Found Mrs. Caldwell Eccentric but Competent. Lafayette, Ind., February 12. The Caldwell will case, involving the estate of Jennie Caldwell, which was reversed yesterday in the Indiana supreme court and sent back to Benton county for a new trial, is of great interest here. Mrs. Jennio ('aidwell died in 1912 at her home in Earl Park, Ind. Slio left several thousand acres of rich farm land and personal property. in her will she made bequests to relatives and to friends and left her washer-woman and her servants liberal gifts. She left the larger part of her estate in trust for the erection and maintenance of a home for aged women. IHier beautiful family home was to form the nucleus of an institution which she hoped to see develop into one of the finest chartible institutions in '’lndiana. She named James Barr, Lee Dinwiddle and Wm. C. Compton ,as trustees and executors. Soon after the will was probated four Earl Park sisters, cousins of Mrs. Caldwell, brought suit to set aside the will, alleging that Mrs. Caldwell was of unsound mind, was unduly Influenced and was addicted to the use of drugs and had a leaning toward spiritualism.. The trial in the Benton county circuit court before Judge Saunderson and a Jury lasted several weeks. The plaintiffs, Mrs. John L. Bond, Mrs. George Hart, Mrs. Charles Jewell and Mrs. William C. Ditton, brought many Chicago witnesses to testify as to Mrs. Caldwell’s eccentricities. The jury returned a special and a general verdict, holding in the special verdict finding for the plaintiffs. An appeal was taken. It is likely that when tho case is tried again a change of venue will bo taken.