Bicksler Will Estate Case Settled

BICKSLER, POWER, BLAKE, GALER, SEERLEY, KOPP, MCCOLD, BEERY

Posted By: A.M.W. (email)
Date: 8/4/2004 at 21:42:41

Salem Weekly News – 1914

Bicksler Will Case is Settled

The all-absorbing topic in this community for the past two weeks was the Bicksler will contest case, during which time Salem was almost depopulated. But the contest was suddenly brought to a close by a compromise, by which, according to the Mt. Pleasant News, the estate is to be divided as follows:

“It was agreed that Mrs. Belle Bicksler, instead of accepting the provision of the will as affecting her rights should elect to take instead, her dower rights, which would be one/third of the estate after all debts and legacies shall have been paid. As we understand it, the entire estate is to be divided into thirds of which Mrs. Bicksler shall receive her thirds as a dower right, W. Scott Bicksler to receive another third but wholly unentailed, and that Florence shall receive the other third wholly unentailed, and as we understand it that it will net each one, when all expenses are paid, and the estate settled, about $40,000.00. It was agreed that the sum of $12,400.00 cash shall be paid to Frances Bicksler Power in full settlement of her legacy as provided in the will, and in full settlement of the contest and in full settlement of every claim of any nature whatsoever forever against the estate of John Bicksler. From this is to be deducted the sum of $1,400.00 which Mrs. Power and her husband owe the estate for money borrowed, leaving $11,000.00 net to be paid in cash. Of this $11,000 she will be paid $3,000 cash in hand and the sum of $8,000 shall be turned over to James T. Whiting, president of National State Bank, as a temporary trustee. It is understood that the terms and conditions of this trusteeship are embodied in a separate document, the contents of which are not divulged. It is understood that the costs of the trial shall be paid out of t he estate except of course, the attorneys’ fees for Frances, which will be paid by W. Scott Bicksler and Frances.”

W. E. Blake, R. S. Galer, and J. Seerley were attorneys for the estate and W. F. Kopp, J. C. McCold, and Levi Beery for the contestants.