"Shoeless" Joe Jackson, one of baseball's enduring icons, both a great player and a tragic figure following his ban from baseball as one of the Chicago "Black Sox," was known to be only marginally literate. His will and testament was the subject of litigation in 1995 when two charities who were beneficiaries of his wife's estate sued to gain possesion of the original, one of the few authentic examples of Jackson's signature for its value as a collectible.
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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF GREENVILLE
WILL
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN:
I, Joe Jackson, of the County and state aforesaid, being of sound
and disposeing mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this
as and for my last will and testament, hereby revokeing all letters or
instruments of a testamentary character by me heretofore executed.
ITEM ONE: It is my will that as soon after my death as possable my
Executor, hereinafter named, shall pay all my just debts and expences
of burial.
ITEM TWO: I give, devise and bequeath all of my property of which
I die possessed, both real and personal, wheresoever it may be, unto
my beloved wife, Katie Jackson, for her to have and to use as she
may see fit for her best interest.
ITEM THREE: I hereby nominate, constitute and apoint my wife
Katie Jackson as Executor of this my last will and testament,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
this 23rd day of March 1951 A.D.
/s/ Joe Jackson
Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for his last will and
testament, by Joe Jackson in the presence of us, present at the same
time, who, at his request, in his presence and in the presence and in
the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as
witnesses the day and year last above set forth.
/s/ W.A. Turner ADDRESS 411 Ansel St.
/s/ W. Eugene Ertes [sic] ADDRESS 148 Pleasant Ridge Ave.
/s/ Mrs. Gene A. Sine ADDRESS 216 Frank St.
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