Ireland Old News

Chicago Tribune, 14 July 1901

Widow Loses Contents of Old Safe
John Fenton, who died Sept. 26, 1899, at 502 West One Hundred and Sixty-first street, was supposed to be in moderate circumstances, but he left a safe in his home whose contents surprised persons interested in the estate. Whether in giving his second wife, Ellen, his home and its contents he meant to include what was in the safe, was the point raised in a suit before the Supreme Court for construction of his will and two codicils. In the safe were bank books showing thirty accounts in his name, aggregating $80,000, and another bank account of $10,000. The safe and its contents were claimed by the widow, Ellen M. Fenton, under the provision of a codicil which gave her his home, "furniture and contents." After making a number of bequests the will provided that the residue of his estate should be held in trust during the lives of his niece, Julia Ahearn, and his nephew, Michael Ahearn, and that meanwhile the income was to be paid to the testator's sister-in-law, Betsy Fenton, of Ireland, and his sister, Mrs. Terence Ahearn, of Lismore, Ireland. Judge Chester held that the contents of the house did not include the money, and that the trust provision was valid.

Widow Loses Contents of Old Safe

John Fenton, who died Sept. 26, 1899, at 502 West One Hundred and Sixty-first street, was supposed to be in moderate circumstances, but he left a safe in his home whose contents surprised persons interested in the estate. Whether in giving his second wife, Ellen, his home and its contents he meant to include what was in the safe, was the point raised in a suit before the Supreme Court for construction of his will and two codicils.

In the safe were bank books showing thirty accounts in his name, aggregating $80,000, and another bank account of $10,000. The safe and its contents were claimed by the widow, Ellen M. Fenton, under the provision of a codicil which gave her his home, "furniture and contents."

After making a number of bequests the will provided that the residue of his estate should be held in trust during the lives of his niece, Julia Ahearn, and his nephew, Michael Ahearn, and that meanwhile the income was to be paid to the testator's sister-in-law, Betsy Fenton, of Ireland, and his sister, Mrs. Terence Ahearn, of Lismore, Ireland. Judge Chester held that the contents of the house did not include the money, and that the trust provision was valid.

Submitted by dja

Kansas City Star, 19 July 1901

HID $113,000 IN HIS SAFE. Then Left His Home and Its "Contents" to His Wife.
From the New York Sun John Fenton, who died on September 26, 1899, was supposed to be in moderate circumstances, but he left a little old safe in his home whose contents surprised persons interested in the estate. Whether in giving his second wife, Ellen, his home and its contents he meant to include what was in the safe, was the important point raised in a suit before Justice Chester of the supreme court for construction of his will and two codicils. The will had been made before the second marriage of the testator, but he executed two codicils within a few days of his death. None of the testamentary papers gave any idea of his wealth. In the little safe were savings bank account books showing thirty accounts in his name aggregating $80,000 and another bank account of $10,000. Within the safe were also $2,7034 in cash, mortgages for $?0,000 and a $1,000 government bond. All of these moneys and mortgages were claimed by the widow, Ellen M. Fenton, under the provision of a codicil which gave her his home, "furniture and contents." After making a number of bequests the will provided that the residue of his estate should be held in trust during the lives of his niece, Julia Ahern, and his nephew, Michael Ahern, and that meanwhile the income was to be paid to the testator's sister-in-law, Betsey Fenton of Tenniscart, County Waterford, Ireland and his sister, Mrs. Terence Ahern, of Lismore, in the same county. The remainder was to go to his nephew, Patrick Ahern. The will was executed in 1897. He remarried in 1898. Mrs. Fenton urged that her husband had purposely accumulated his money and evidence of ownership of other funds in the safe knowing that under his will she was to get the "contents" of the house.

HID $113,000 IN HIS SAFE.
Then Left His Home and Its "Contents" to His Wife.

From the New York Sun
   John Fenton, who died on September 26, 1899, was supposed to be in moderate circumstances, but he left a little old safe in his home whose contents surprised persons interested in the estate. Whether in giving his second wife, Ellen, his home and its contents he meant to include what was in the safe, was the important point raised in a suit before Justice Chester of the supreme court for construction of his will and two codicils.
   The will had been made before the second marriage of the testator, but he executed two codicils within a few days of his death. None of the testamentary papers gave any idea of his wealth.
   In the little safe were savings bank account books showing thirty accounts in his name aggregating $80,000 and another bank account of $10,000. Within the safe were also $2,7034 in cash, mortgages for $?0,000 and a $1,000 government bond. All of these moneys and mortgages were claimed by the widow, Ellen M. Fenton, under the provision of a codicil which gave her his home, "furniture and contents."
   After making a number of bequests the will provided that the residue of his estate should be held in trust during the lives of his niece, Julia Ahern, and his nephew, Michael Ahern, and that meanwhile the income was to be paid to the testator's sister-in-law, Betsey Fenton of Tenniscart, County Waterford, Ireland and his sister, Mrs. Terence Ahern, of Lismore, in the same county. The remainder was to go to his nephew, Patrick Ahern. The will was executed in 1897. He remarried in 1898.
   Mrs. Fenton urged that her husband had purposely accumulated his money and evidence of ownership of other funds in the safe knowing that under his will she was to get the "contents" of the house.

Submitted by dja

Ireland Home Page
Other Newspapers with News of Ireland

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All rights to the pages found within this site are retained by the original submitter of the information. Pages may be printed or copied for personal use only. They may NOT be reproduced in any form in whole or in part by any individual or organization for profit.