The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06
MILLIONS FOR NEXT OF KIN.
THE CELEBRA TED JUMEL WILL CASE
UP AGAIN Nv ANOTHER FORM.
French Heirs Suing American Citizens for n
Vast Propcrty-The Answer Filed Yester-
day-Was there Indeed my JumeI Wiis

h1tcr lnnumerHDle pOStpOnementS, an an
swer was filed yesterday in tho United States
Circuit Court for the Southern District Of New
York TO n claim renewed early in tho present
year for an estate valued at several millions Of
dollars. Tho companants to this suit are citi-
zcns of France. whiio the defendants are all
residents Of this city or country The points
made by the plaintiffs are these:
In 1898 Stephen Jumel a native OF France.
journeyed to this country from San Domingo.
aud started into business in this city. He mot
young woman from Providence named Eliza
beth Bowen. whom he married. Nine. Jumel
at once sent for her sister. Polly. also OF that
city. and soon married her to n man named
William Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had four
children but the Jumcls had none. To MI tho
void. Mmc. Jumc with the consent ot her hus-
band adopted n child who she said was the IL
legitimate daughter Of her sister. Polly. and
was named Mary Bownes but who 1t was sub
sequently proved was hcr own child. This girl
went TO France with the Jumcls In 1906. aud
was sent to a seminary near Paris In 1906 Mr..
and Mrs. Jumel and her alleged niece returned
to New York. and Mr.. Jumel bought tho old
mansion house. yet standing. near High
Bridge. together with several acres Of lnnd nd-
joining. This is still known MS the homestead.
and IS in possession the defendants. He also
purchased many other acres of land several
lots IN Broadway. and some other real estate.
In 1915 or thereahout. Stephen, his wife. md
their adopted child went back TO France 10 edu-
cate the girl. and TO prosecute his claims for
the spoliation Of hs San Domingo property by
the uprising OF the blacks under the famous
negro leader Toussaint EOuverture. While in
France stephen Jumcl conceived the idea of
selling out his property in America. and with
the proceeds purchasing chateau near Paris
and settle down in his native land, Nine:
Jumel acquiesced in this scheme. and offered
to 20 to America and dispose OF his property
for him. Mr.. Jumel then gaveh wife power
Of attorney authorizing hor TO sell Tor his use
and account All his real estate. excepting GER
tain parts which be had conveyed TO her in
trust for her benefit in her natural life, Nine.
legged niece, and Immediately on their arrival
in this country they began TO carry out n
scheme whereby she secured possession Of al
made certain so-called conveyances to ner
adopted child and TO other persons by whom
the property was at once reconveyed back 10
her again, In the mem time she wrote several
times to her husband. telling him she would
not sell the property because real cstate had de-
In 1928 Mr.. Jumel returned TO This country.
but all these years he had been kept IN ignQ-
rance of the false and fraudulent use MS wife
WIS making OF the power of attorney. He did
not understand the English language. conse-
uuently II was easy for her to deceive him.
adopted daug hter went into the country and did
not return until late in November. They then
vent South but before leaving New York Nine.
Jumel secretly. and unknown to her husband.
executed and prepared a decd OF appointment
wherein she made over 10 this Mary Jumel
Bownes all OF the property she had possessed
herself OF in the manner indicated. Mr. Jumel
was left at home. 60 be cared for by stable boy
and n maid servant. They remained South
until In May. 1929. when they went into the in
terror Of this State TO find cool weather. They
spent most, OF the time until 1881 in Otsego
called Worcester. Mary Jume Bownes met Nell
son Chase. Mary was about 81 years Of age.
SaS wH ySse Si 2 than
settled down in the Jumel mansion.
After that things we're made quite uncom-
Portable for stephen Jumel. Early in 1882 be
hoard for the first time Of the frauds when had
been perpetrated. and he declared his intention
OF taking legal steps To- Rnnul the whole of the
transactions in question. But in May Of that
year he fell from a load of hay. his leg was
broken. and he died in a few hours. At least.
this was the story made public nt the time; hut
none ~ his friends or acquaintances were per-
mitted 10 see or speak to him previous to his
death. lie was then - years Of nge.
=. Certain relatives OF Siephcn Jumel living in
France then wrote to Nine. Jrmel for partcu-
lars of his death and also as TO the property.
Nine. Jumel answered several months later
that she had been unable 10 write sooner be-
cause Of her great grief rs To the property
there was none and stephen had died leaving
debts of great amount unpaid. But before shs
had written this letter Nine, Jumel had con
soled herself s es iar as possible, posi- by marrying
sonage only short time. She then turned him
out Of doors. ablured tho namc Of Burr. and
1865. when she died in her 93d year. A few
days before her death she called In an Episco-
pal clergyman and employed him to draw a will.
which she signed. bequeathing her vast prop
crty to benevolent objects. with some trifng
exceptions in favor Of Nelson Chase and the
cSasss Rnd died isi leaving er%eHr swe eRdrtn mrs
Soon after the death of Nine, Jume the chill
dren Of William and Polly Jones sold all their
right existed. TO Nelson Chase. and he Instituted
suit 10 break the will on the ground OF insanity.
ried again and hurried Off to Europe on a we'd
ding tour. But he had hardly reached Paris be-
fore he was compelled to return to the United
States to defend his property against the suit OF
George W. Bowen, an illegitmate son OF Nine.
Jumel before her first marriage. With the prog
ress and result Of this suit it is not now neces-
sary to deal Before the case was finally set
tied. however. in the United States Supreme
Court another suit was instituted by persons
anxious TO secure what they claim as their
rights in the premises.
In $40 suit was brought in the United States
Circuit Court IN the name Of Francois Henry
PIant6. Mario II. NJ. Jumel De Seroka. Jiles
Vincent De scroka, Madeline I. Texoerer Mar
rasi, Victor Arnaud Marrast.. Jean Albert Tan
zedc. Jean Anedee Tanzede. Aliz VI. V. Tan
zede Sonbiran. and Gustave Is. VI. q. Sonbirnn
against Nelson Chase. and others. for their
ants were represented by such distinguished
counsel as Matt. II. Carpenter, Col. Joseph b.
Stewart. John A. Stoutenburgh. Esq. and the
Marquis De Ghambrun. solicitor to the French
branches Of the Jumel family that is they
Jumel and Madeline Lagardere. the brother
and sister Of Stephen Jumcl. At the tme
this bill was brought II was supposed
that stephen Jumel was ALWAYS an alien
hut one day the Marquis De Chanbrun
discovered at Washington that for several
years prior 10 June l. 1914 he was q natural
ICED citizen Of the United States and remained
so until his death. huch OF the first bill heing
taken up in showing that aliens had the right
under the law "a hold real estate n new bin was
rendered necessary, and early in tho present
year this amended bill OF complaint was pro-
sented in the United States Circuit Court Tor tho
Southern District Of New York. II was in
answer 10 this bill that the answer alrendy mon-
toned was filed yesterday by the defendants in
the case,
Tho French heirs, as companants in the
case after acknowledging that they are citizens
Of the Republic OF France. say that as there was
no issue born OF the marriage between Stephen
and Eliza Jumel therefore the ancestors OF the
complainnnts became on Stephens death his
heirs ut law. being of the next and nearest
blood Of kin of him according to the laws both
of France and OF the state Of New York. Thoy
say that Stephen nt all times bore a warm and
aifcciionnte regard for his brothers and sister
and their families. and he often told thom that
alter ifo estate in himself md his wife. he
was resolved to divide his vast property be-
tween the two branches Of his family then
living in France. In fact they claim that
stephen made will. wherein, after recognz-
ing and reserying the life estate in his wife,
Eliza. and a life estate in. himself, should he