I certainly wonder that this reporter was smoking when he/she wrote this one !! I was under the impression that the coinage of the realm did not include shillings at that period of time. And I'll bet she was fending off suitors left and right. Good golly, Miss Molly... Had my laugh of the day from this one. In a message dated 1/3/2009 1:28:59 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, JohnOBrien@kc.rr.com writes: "The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Wednesday, November 24, 1897 ATTACKS HIS AUNT'S WILL. In the effort that William WOOD is making to break the will left by his aunt, Miss Betsy GOSLIN, many of that estimable lady's eccentricities are being brought out, to the great amusement of the throng of spectators who have been making themselves comfortable in Judge HENRY's court room for a day or two. It seems that when Miss Betsy passed away she left, among other tangible things, four houses on Cherry street, near Seventeenth. And as she had shown much regard for her nephew, William WOOD, having educated him and shown him many other favors, he naturally expected that he would fall heir to her earthly estate. But with the perverseness which seems to be common to maiden ladies of mature years, Miss GOSLIN, at the last moment, concluded to remember some of her other nephews, also her nieces, and when the will was read, William WOOD first learned the sad truth, that he had been cut off with eight shillings. Then William brought suit, alleging that his aunt was mentally unhinged when she made her will, and declaring further that the other relatives had exerted undue influence when inducing her to leave her property to them. He also averred that she had later repudiated the will, intending to make another and that, therefore, the relatives to be benefited hid the will, telling her that it had been destroyed. Miss Betsy had acquired her property by working for it and hanging on to what she got. Eighteen years ago she came to Kansas City and invested in real estate. When she died at 60, having successfully evaded the clutches of gentlemen matrimonially inclined, she had acquired numerous peculiarities, which are now being aired in Judge HENRY's court. Among other things brought forth to prove her lack of mental equilibrium, one witness testified that she was in the habit of donning all her winter clothes on the hottest days in summer, and then she would declare it was chilly. Occasionally she would retire for the night without taking the trouble to disrobe, even neglecting to remove her shoes. These and other oddities of manner and dress to which Miss Betsy was addicted let the children to dub her Mother Goose, much to her displeasure. ====================================================== (I have no connection with this family but I'd appreciate knowing if you found this posting helpful.) johnobrien@kc.rr.com ====================================================== ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to KANSASCITY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)