Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1902 — Left Legacy to a Fowl. [ARTICLE]

Left Legacy to a Fowl.

The ruthless slaughter of a rooster in a little town on the outskirts of Kansas City a few days ago settled what might have been a tedious lawsuit over a will. It seems that a wealthy widow in her declining years became possessed of the idea that the soul of her late husband had entered into a rooster named Peter and the servants were ordered to pay the fowl every respect. A special house was built for its use and Peter received attention enough to turn the head of any ordinary fowl. The widow was jealous of the hens, too, and whenever Peter entered into a flirtation poor biddy’s neck was immediately wrung by the widow’s orders. When the widow died her relatives were preparing to contest the extraordinary will when one of the heirs settled the matter by cutting off Peter’s head, whereupon the estate was divided as provided for in the will in event of the death of the rooster.