Zacharias Schnell's wife died. Her will specified that her relatives J. B. Nell, Wendelin Lorenz, and Donata Lorenz should each receive $200 (about $5800 in 2020).
The will was invalid. The problem was that Theresa Schnell did not own anything she could bequeath to others. The case was heard in Indiana in 1861. At that time, when a woman married, any property she owned cease to be her property and became the property of her husband.
The relatives were upset. In response, Zacharias Schnell promised to pay each of them $200.