FARMER SUBDENLY BECOMES WEALTHY SUPREME COURT MAKES CHANGE Man Worth a Few Hundred Dollars One Day la Worth Fifty Thousand Dollars The Next Day. Evan Willis, who lives about four miles southeast of Clinton, was worth only a few hundred dollars a week ago today. Next day his wealth was estimated at not less than $50,000 and he was being congratulated by his friends. The story, briefly, is as follows: About forty years ago he moved on the farm he now occupies, and began work for Jacob Zorger, who owned the farm. He remained there through all the years since then and developed the land, clearing much of it.
A slave was never more faithful, to his master than he was to Mr. Zorger. He toiled by day and far into the night, and, as the story goes, received little for his labor, except the promise from Mr. Zorger that he would sometime make him owner of the land he had so industriously labored on. He worked when the sun shone and the rain descended: when I the sun was bright and at night when them oon shone or didn't shine he ed and toiled.
For a long time the promise of the farm to him was a secret to himself and the owner of it. But, after many years, Mr. Zorger told others of his intention to make Mr. Willis owner of the farm, but he failed to put this in writing, perhaps intending to make that a part of his will. But life was more uncertain than he reckoned, and there.
was no. will. About two years ago as he was driving to this same farm in a buggy, an auto driven by C. S. Lafferty met him near the McCuddy farm.
The horse scared and ran away. Mr. Zorger was thrown from the buggy and dangerously injured. He was taken to the home of his brother, C. K.
Zorger on North Center street. where he died two or three days later. C. K. Zorger was appointed administrator of his brother's estate, which consisted of about 1400 acres of land and other property.
Mr. Willis claimed the farm should be his. There was no will. It was the administrator's plain duty to legally resist the suit began by Herrick Herrick, Mr. Willis' attorneys to secure possession of the land.
The administrator engaged Ingham Ingham and John Fuller as his attorneys. Heirs engaged Wm. Monson, Fred Ball. Stone Gray to represent them and the battle was on. Perhaps no case was ever fought more closely in the circuit court of De Witt county.
The trial lasted a week, and the verdict left Evan Willis where he began. The decision was against him, and in his declining years the result fell heavily upon him and left him almost without hope for success in the supreme court where his attorneys decided to make a final battle. It was fought in the same industrious and skillful way as in the lower court. A few weeks ago the decision was handed down. Again was the hope of Evan Willis turned into doubt.
He had an increased feeling that victory would never come to him in the contest for what he felt should be his. Again his attorneys took courage, borrowed hope from the future and prepared for the final effort. A re hearing was granted by the supreme court and the brief was filed the last week in February. Then began nother season of hoping, almost a- rainst hope for success. To bring success for the faithful and aged farmer, the supreme court must reverse its own decision of a few weeks before, something It seldom does.
Would It do so this time? The doubt disturbed the thoughts of Evan WilHe during the day and his rest at. night. The minds of his attorneys were not free from the daubt that hung upon the uneven places of hope. The room for doubt was broader than the field for hope, except for the feelof justice in the cause. and there were anxious moments for Mr.
Willis his attorneys. Saturday forenoon news of declcame, and the cloud of doubt disappeared. The supreme court versed Its own decision; the legal batwas over, and Evan Willis north fifty thousand dollars Instead a few hundred dollars. With this decision of the highest it in the state came Increased rep tation for Herrick- Herrick wyers of ability. They had made determined right and It thought that the ab will save little assurance It Is of set 485 acres that to valued at $100 an acre.
The report that Mr. Zorser was brother-in-law of Mr. Willis not true. He was his uncle, fathers being half-brothers. Mr.
Willis is 67 years old, being born in Pennsylvania in 1846. His father was here in 1869, and on his return home Mr. Zorger wrote for Mr. Willis, who was then 24. years old to come to Clinton.
He came and for six years worked for Mr. Zorger by the month. He was married to Miss Tillie McIntosh and then took charge of the farm he now occupies. He has two brothers living, one in Pennsylvania and one in the state of Washington. His family consists of his wife and two sons, John and William.
SICK ONLY FEW DAYS Henry Owens died at his home on North Elizabeth street Monday night about 2 o'clock, aged 32 years, except one month. He had been employed at the shops and worked until a- bout two weeks before his death, being confined to his bed since April 13. The cause of death was given as heart, kidney and stomach trouble. Henry Owens was a son of Mr. and Mrs.
Byington Owens, was born near Clinton May 22, 1881, and had always lived in this county. He was married in 1891 to Miss Marguerite Fitzgerald, who with three children, the eldest being 10 years old, survive. He is also survived by his parents, who live in Clinton; also by the following brothers and sisters: Albert, Benjamin and Hugh, of Aiden, Mrs. Elmer Andrews, Pittsburg, Bert of LaMars, Mrs. Lizzie Mauzy, of Grand Junction, Col.
and Mrs. L. R. Agee of Harp township. Two brothers, Jacob and Charles are deceased, the latter dying on his way home from the Philippines, where he went as a soldier.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at 4 o'clock in the Baptist church; conducted by Rev. J. E. Hart, a former pastor. Burial in Woodlawn cemetery.
GOT THE MACHINE The case of F. M. Samuels vs. Arthur Bowers, replevin, was tried in justice court Tuesday and a verdict given in favor of plaintiff. Samuels had loaned the engine to Bowers, who refused to give it up when requested.
Replevin and a trial of the rights of property followed, with the above result. AN OLD SPRING POEM Almost every man and woman who went to the little red school house forty or fifty years ago will remember the following beautiful stanzas: Who taught you to sing my sweet pretty bird, Who tuned your beautiful throat; You make all the woods and the valleys to ring, You bring the first news of earliest spring With your loud and silvery note. It was God, said the lark, as he rose from the earth; He gives us the good we enjoy; He painted our wings, he gave uS our voice, He finds us our food, he bids us re: joice- Good morning, my beautiful boy. HAD LARGE COLLECTIONS The M. E.
church was crowded Sunday morning, the big auditorium not being large enough to accommodate the crowd, many taking seats in the gallery. Rev. E. K. Towle delivered a powerful sermon, and the chorus choir of about forty voices, led by Mr.
Cottrell, rendered excellent music. A piano, five violins and a tuba furnished the instrumental- accompaniment. At the close of the service 8 collection was taken to pay the singing evangelist, as well as for general expenses. The offering was a most liberal one. All expenses were met, and there was a surplus which will go toward liquidating the paving tax.
The collection in the evening was also a very satisfactory one. KENNEY BOY WILL GRADUATE Mettlin E. Craig, son of Dr. Win. Craig, of Kenney, will graduate from the military school at Delafield, Wis next month.
This school is under supervision of the West Point Militars School and ranks fifth of such schools in the United States. Mr. Craig has made a very creditable record, and has the honor of be ing member of the military band and sergeant. Alter his graduation he can enter the West Point academy. if he destres.
Dr. and Mrs. Craig, and Miss Stela sister of the former of Maros, will tend graduation exercises at Deladeld ALL DAY. CONFERENCE Next Wednesday, April 30, the district, Conferee M. this city.
GRIVER DIED ALL ALONE Found Dead In His. Bed At 7:30 Mon day Morning. At his home on South- Center i at 7:30 Monday morning Seymour Sriver was found dead in his bed, no one having been present when the grim reaper made his appearance. Deceased had lived alone since the death of his brother Wesley 2 years ago, but for the past month A. Ferguson had been living with him.
Mr. Sriver had not been well for the past year and last fall spent two weeks in the Warner hospital. Deceased was born at Shellsburg, April 1, 1849, and at the time of his death was aged 65 years. At the age of nine years he moved with his parents to Newton, coming to Clinton three years later where he had since made his home the greater part of his life. He learned the trade of carpentering when a young man and had followed this occupation the greater part of the time during his residence in Clinton.
In earlier years Mr. Sriver was great traveler, and it is said that he had visited almost every country On the Deceased was never married. He leaves surviving 1 the following relatives: Three sisters, Mrs. M. L.
Rathburn, Mrs. Martha Adams and Mrs. Harriet E. Smith, all of this city. and a brother.
A. L. Sriver of Ulrich, Mo. Coroner Moore summoned a jury and the verdict was "death from the excessive use of alcoholic liquors, which caused heart failure, resulting in death." Funeral services were held from the home of Mrs. Smith, a sister of deceased, on East Main street, at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon.
Interment in MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS At the regular meeting of the city commissioners Monday night, all members were present except Dickerson. Outside of allowing regular bills and hearing reports, little business of importance was transacted. The subject of paying for concrete walks in the east part of the city a- gain came up, and on ballot resulted in a tie. It is claimed by some of the members that the walks were not properly laid, the required amount of gravel not having been used. A letter from a Nebraska town was called attention to by the mayor.
The letter stated that two hundred workmen at Ralston, had been left in bad condition by the recent flood. No action was taken. George Barnett was present and asked for a transfer of dram shop license from Charles Cackley to his own name. On a vote a tie was the result. Barnett purchased the saloon last Saturday.
Notice was given that some teamsters were making a dumping ground of the streets at the west end of the city. It this practice continues, arrests and fines will follow. JOHN FARRAN DEAD John Farran, son of Wm. H. Farran, who formerly lived near Maroa died at Topeka, and was brought to Maroa for burial.
John Farran was born and reared on a farm three miles northeast of Maroa, but went west a number of years ago, first to Oklahoma, then to Missouri and finally to Kansas. He was 32 years old and leaves a wife and two children, besides his father, who lives at Topeka; one brother. William, of Elm Creek. Manitoba: and two sisters, Mrs. Charles Long, of Fowler, and Mrs.
Frank Mas sey of Kansas. NO STREET CARNIVAL The proposed street carnival, which the degree team of the M. W. A. of the Clinton camp proposed to bring here has been given up.
The boys had secured more, than one hundred names, without soliciting the saloon men, but it developed that a majority of the citizens in general were oppos ed to the show and an the Woodmen did not wish to oppose the majority. the proposed street fair has been bandoned. After being confined to the city garage for a year or more was able to be on the streets Tues day; and judging from the amount of dust she up" she is as lively as ever. For the information of our readers who are not posted on city matters of Clinton, it may be well to tell that "Maud" is the street sweep er, that no one was willing to the "honor" of buying and for Jong time was not paid for la full. FOUND MAN DEAD- DRUNK Last Saturday parties near the fair the city that man who Early Ohio Potatoes 75c A BUSHEL AS LONG AS THEY LAST All Kinds of Garden and Flower Seeds; Onion Sets, red and white C.
N. HAMMOND SON 504 W. Side Square Phone 68 20c a Gallon For A Durable Black Paint IT CAN BE USED ON WOOD WORK, METAL OR MASONRY CONSTRUCTION. TAKE ORDINARY COAL TAR, THIN IT WITH KEROSENE, AND LITTLE PORTLAND CEMENT TO MAKE A BODY AND AN EXCELLENT PAINT IS THE RESULT. SLIGHTLY HEATED TAR IS AN EXCELLENT COATING FOR TAR PAPER ROOFS.
APPLY ONCE A YEAR AND SECURE DOUBLE LIFE OF THE ROOF. Tar 10c per Gallon AT CLINTON GAS WORKS W. H. ELY GROCERY CO. IN NEW QUARTERS 605 N.
W. Cor. Sq. Phone 302 Seed Potatoes- -Buy Now Apples, Full Gallon Can, 25c Peck of Apples used for each can Daniel Webster and Climax Flour Decatur Cream Meal We want Your Produce--Butter, Eggs, Chickens--at Best Prices For Travel Satisfaction Take the Illinois Traction Travel over the McKinley line is Comfortable. The care are heavy, fast and easy riding.
Your trip is clean. There is no dirt, dust, smoke or cinders. It is safe. Automatic Block Signals Protect. The Traction is convenient.
Hourly service is a time saver. Plan your trips between Danville, Urbana, Champaign, Decatur, Clinton, Bloomington, Peoria, Springfeld, Lincoln and St. Louis over THE GREATEST ELECTRIC RAILROAD IN THE WORLD. THE Illinois Traction System Road of Good Service" DR. H.
E. PRICE PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON attention given to diseas es of women and children. General practice and consultant. Offices, rooms 3. 4.
and 5, Murphy building. Phone 569. Office hours: 7 till 9 a. 2 till 4 p. 7 till 9 p.
m. Call W. T. HUNT Painter and Paper Hanger Dealer in Wall Papers, Paints, Floor Fibre and Linoleum Phone 725 CORN MEAL AND FEED We are prepared to grind corn the Tunbridge Mill at Pastime Park. Will grind Saturdays or any other day that we have five bushels or more Lumber sawed at any time.
JOHN MORRISON A MATTER OF INTEREST Every family is interested in owning a home. Many families do not realize how easy it is to buy and pay for a home. The Central Illinois Building, Loan and Homestead Association can solve the problem. This association loaned during 1912, 600.00 on Clinton homes. This association loaned during that period, more than three times as much as all other associations combined The 39th series opens March 1, 1913.
The 40th series opens June 1, 1913. Investors should try some of our famous paid up stock, 6 per cent guaranteed. Borrowers should speak for loans in advance. Office 116 Warner Court. JOHN KILLOUGH, Pres.
E. B. MITCHELL, Sec. Frank E. Harrold Royal C.
Taylor HARROLD-TAYLOR ABSTRACT CO Correct and complete abstract of title to all lots and lands in De Witt County furnished promptly. Basem*nt under Nation al Bank. C. G. Oakman Furniture and Un Undertaking New steel grey funeral car and ambulance- -most up-to-date equipment in Central Illinois.
Always a large stock to select from Store Phone 119 C. G. OAKMAN. PHONE Plumbing Steam and Hot Water Heating THOMAS KRAFT PHONE 507 E. Wash.
St. Chintott OFFICERS Geo. B. Marvel, President. J.
M. Wilcox, loe-President. Geo. G. Argo, Cashier.
STATE BANK OF CLINTON to DIREOTORS: Geo..
