A singular will was that of Miss Cora Johnson, who resided in an apartment at No. 819 Beacon Street, Boston, and who died in September, 1910, at a hospital in that city. The value of her entire possessions, when inventoried, was found not to exceed $100, and she was buried by friends; yet, by her will, she created bequests and legacies amounting to $700,000; she claimed that she was entitled to a large fortune from the estate of an unnamed person living in New York.
Miss Johnson, it is claimed, never revealed the name of this person, and even her attorney, who drew her will, was not acquainted with it; all she disclosed was that she expected a large estate from a wealthy, elderly woman, who made her will in her favor and became insane, and was in a sanitarium in New York, and this will could not be changed by reason of the insanity of the testator. Evidently, she had a firm conviction that the estate must reach her, in any event.
That part of the will referring to the promised millions reads:
“Whereas it is possible that at the time of my decease I shall not be the owner of property sufficient in amount to pay the foregoing bequests, and
“Whereas I have been credibly informed and believe that there is in existence a certain will made by a person now an inhabitant of the city and state of New York by which will certain property is devised and bequeathed to me, and
“Whereas I have been credibly informed and believe that in said will it is provided, that in case I shall die before the maker of said will, the property therein bequeathed and devised to me, shall pass to and be paid over and delivered to the persons, corporations and objects which I shall in my last will name, select and appoint:
“Now, therefore, I do hereby exercise any and all powers of appointment contained in and given to me by any such will by any person if any such will there be, desiring and intending that whether or not I survive the maker of said will, the persons, corporations and institutions hereinbefore named shall be benefited in accordance with and to the extent of the terms of this instrument, either as legatees hereunder in case of my survival of the maker of said will, or as my appointees thereunder in case of my predecease.”
His Earthly Happiness
An old bachelor, on dying, left the whole of his property to three ladies to whom he had proposed marriage, and who had refused him. The reason for this bequest, he stated, was that by their refusal, “to them I owe all my earthly happiness.”
Must pay for her Drinks