She had failed to leave a will, or no will was found, to her $17 million estate: a mystery left unsolved. She had expertly handled her financial affairs since the death of her husband in 1895 and, therefore, she must have realized that, without a will, her fortune would become involved in many legal battles.
Although Mrs. Garrett had, at the time of her death, only one known living relative, a second cousin, and less than a dozen friends, attempts to prove relationship to her and to claim a part or all of her estate have since been made by more than 26,000 persons from 47 states and 29 foreign countries, represented by more than 3,000 lawyers.
In their frantic efforts, these alleged relatives have committed perjury, faked family records, changed their own names, altered data in church Bibles, and concocted absurd tales of illegitimacy. As a result, twelve were fined, ten received jail sentences, two committed suicide, and three were murdered. The estate has, in the meantime, increased to $30 million.
All of this bedlam came from discontented people -- people who are not happy with what they have. God knew that lack of contentment would be a major problem for people. So, that's where his tenth instruction for happy living originated.
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