Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1901 — Attacking the Perkins Will. [ARTICLE]

Attacking the Perkins Will.

Iffitfhawaka Cor. liulianapolw News. Palmer C. Perkins, founder and patentee of the noted Perkins aerometer, and a leading Prohibitionist, died ia February, 1896, leaving au estate roughlj estimated at $2,000,000. He owned the big Perkins factory plant here, besides much valuable real estate, and he also possessed numerous raoches in the West. After his death his will was found to contain many bequests, and among those interest* ed are Amelia Canfield, of Grand Rapids; Helen Decker, of Summer, Mich; Ancel Perkins, of Texas; the American Baptist Missionary College, of Boston. Mass.; the Baptist Missionary Conference, of New York City; the Baptist Publication Society of Philadelphia; Franklin College, of Franklin, this state, and Eliza Conklin, of Las Vegas, N. M.

Examination develops thatthe wealth of Mr. Perkins was greatly overstimated, and that there is insufficient money with which to meet the bequests, and ten relatives in this vicinity have joined in a suit against the defendants named, to overthrow the will. The late Mr. Perkins was noted for his philanthrophy, and previous to his death he gave very largely of his means to various benevolent purposes, besides which it is alleged his affairs became complicated through mental weakness. The widow has now renounced the will, and has laid claim to h«r third under the law, and a brother, 75 years old, who was only given SSO per year for life, has asked the court to compute the amount due him and pay it off at once. The delay in instituting litigation has been through a desire to compromise differences.