I. J. SHANER WILL BROKEN

The Will of I. J. Shaner, by verdict of the jury, was broken on last Friday.

I. J. Shaner was known throughout this and surrounding counties; he was only 36 inches tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. Yet he, through the years, managed to accumulate about $15,000.

On the 28th day of February, 1919, I. J. Shaner was taken ill with a deep cold, influenza soon developed, and from this pneumonia resulted within a few days. His attending physician told his nurse and his brother, George Fisher Shaner, that the little fellow would not likely recover. Upon receiving this information, Fisher Shaner asked one of the nurses to suggest to the sick man that he should make a will; this the patient decided to do. Between eleven and twelve o'clock on Sunday, March 9, 1919, the attending physician told the nurse and Fisher Shaner that I. J. Shaner was in a dying condition, that he would not live over twelve hours, in his opinion, and that death might occur at any time. While all others were out to dinner, Fisher Shaner procured a tablet and wrote down the disposition of his property, making George Fisher Shaner executor of the will, without bond, and gave him more than one-half of the property. He then sent for L. W. Garret, cashier of the Citizens Bank of Desloge, who took this memoranda and embodied it into the legal form for a will. I. J. Shaner died at 4:57 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 1919.

The jury "broke the will" on the ground of undue influence exercised by George Fisher Shaner, chief beneficiary and executor of the will.

The case was stubbornly contested for two days, and created considerable local interest.

The contestants were represented by Benj. H. Marbruy of Farmington, O. L. Munger of Piedmont, and E. C. Edgar of DeSoto; the contestees were represented by James C. Shaner of St. Louis and B. H. Boyer of Farmington.

The contestees have filed their motion for a new trial, and will appeal their case to the Supreme Court.

Published by the BONNE TERRE STAR and THE NEWS-REGISTER, Bonne Terre, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri., December 19, 1919.