Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Penned Will on Ladder

69-year-old Hermann Strathmann, of Los Angeles, passed away on January 11, 1934. About five weeks prior to his death, Hermann told his close friend Mrs. Ellen Gotts to take special care of a step ladder that was in his house. 

After his passing, no will could be located.  Then Mrs. Gotts remembered the strange advice Strathman had given her.  She found the ladder, to it out to the backyard, and scrawled on the bottom rung were the following words: “I love her. I give my all to Mrs. Gotts. She my good spirit.”

Not long after that, a man named Henry Montinola showed up with a second will, which stated that he was the beneficiary of Strathmann’s $10,000 estate. It was soon proven to be a forgery and Montinola was sentenced to 1 to 14 years in San Quentin, after which he was to be deported to his native Philippines.

Then, Mrs. Gotts found another will that had been written on the back fly-leaf of a Bible.  Once again, it named her as the sole beneficiary. Relatives of Strathmann questioned the authenticity of the writing on both the ladder and the Bible. 

While this was all being argued in court, Mrs. Gotts found a third will that had been written on a window shade. The two more wills were found written on dollar bills, followed by three more that were on scraps of paper.

Ultimately, the court ruled that the last will – will number 9 – was the legitimate will and awarded the entire estate to Mrs. Gotts.

A Los Angeles deputy court clerk making an official transcription of the late Hermann H. Strathmann's will, which was written on the rung of a step ladder.
A Los Angeles deputy court clerk making an official transcription of the late Hermann H. Strathmann’s will, which was written on the rung of a step ladder. Image appeared on page 3 of the February 6, 1934 publication of the Paducah Sun-Democrat.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You may also enjoy these stories:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x