National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-04
FIGHTING OVER A CORPSE.


Mr.. Shafrer Answers Judge Pelham and the
Latter Gives Further Details In the Belts
Estate Matter.
The settlement Of the estate Of the late Col.
Vim. II. Belts has all the appearance Of spread
ing into hot and bitter contest and stubborn
fight as to who shall administer upon 1t. DR..
VIM. 4. Shafrer has made application for such
an appointment, which IL being stoutly re-
| sisted. There have been filed answers by Drs.
Jolly and Shaffer to the aflidavits put in.
Bushrod b. Jolly says that his attention has
been called to the newspaper accounts OF the
andavits filed in the case and ns.he is referred
| to he desires to make statement IN regard to
the matter. He says that Col Bets had
| boarded and roomcd with him from May Ia,
| 1881, up to the time Of his death, having some
furniture and other effects with him, which
| still remain In his house. During this period
| Col. Belts spent much of his time ut the drug
store of DR., Sholier, who was warm personal
| friend Of his. DR.. Jolly says he knows that II
was frequent habit of DIR. Shaiier to lend Col
Belts money and pay out small sums for him.
About the 10Th of June the afiinnt says that
he received information that Col. Belts was
verv III at the rooms of We'll, and he, in com
pany with DR., Shafter, went to see him rs soon
as he could. He found him exceedingly Ill,
and upon consultation with DIR: Shnner and
Mr.. Pelham, who claimed to be interested in
him, II was decided to have him removed TO
Proyldence hoYpitalr and the afiont and pr.
Shoflcr wbnt there and made the arrange
m me Dr. shsher1 becoming responsible , Tor
removed to the hospital, where he remained
about five weeks, and he knows that DR..
shafier paid out SO toward defraying, the ex-
Belts was there br. shairer visited him daily,
and did all that he could for his personal com
fort, while during that period Mr.; Pelham did
not visit him but once: AZ one time when II
was thought that Col Belts could not survive,
Mr.. Pelham claimed that he himself had o
claim upon his furniture for n consid-
cradle sum advanced by him; THE
ailiant aftcrward mentioned this to Col. Belts,
who in the most Indignant terms denicd that
there was the least foundation for such
claim, saying, that on the contrary, Mr.. Pelham
was indebted to him for $50. After recovering
turned to his house and made the store of DR..
Shaiier place of constant resort, speaking Of
him as his intimate friend and saying that he
had been badly treated by Mr.. Pelham, The
negligence on his part or that of DR.: Shaher
without foundation. He believes that DIR.
Shaiier is creditor of the estate to the amount
claimed by him md that he has acted through
out with entirely proper motives
DIR. Vim. t. Schaiier In a second affidavit,
which Is In answer to the one filed by Mr..
Pelham says TINT he Is advised that such u
paper has no proper legal bearing upon the
question of his appointment as administrator,
and that he will not be required TO answer
them in detail. He does not desire contro-
versy Of the character which seems to be
sought by Mr.. Pelham and his associates. He
deems 1t incumbent upon him only to deny
that he has been negligent of his duty toward
Col. Belts us n friend, and that he has acted
before and after his death. He has no knowl-
edge of any estate of the deceased In his pos
session, except that already stated and knows
nothing ofthc gold certificates referred to. He
had heard Col. Bets mention certain claims of
considerable amount as belonging to him.
which the afliant believed had not been re-
duced to possession at the time of his death
In answer t., Dr. Jolly,s statement as to how
Paham says that on his return from the con-
yention in Chicago he spent some time IN
kentucky and did not get back here until
june IA. lie was told, Immediately on his ar
rival That Col. Belts was In ail awful condi-
ton; that he was very destitute, &c. He went
mt once to DR.. Wells room and found Col
Belts in the condition described In Wells
affidavit, when 1t was agreed TO send him to
the hospital. DR.. Shaffer said that Gen. Spen-
Ger had Betts's money, but that he could not
find him. Mr.. Pelham snys that he then gave
DR.. Shafier S., and asked him to add 50 more
and that he would see Gen. Spencer the next
day and get what was needed. Shaiier and
Jolly then went OFF TO get Col. Belts admitted
to the hospital, and MIR. Pelham took him in
found Gen. Spencer, told him Of Col. Bei;s's
condition, and they went together to the hos
pital, where Spencer paid the sister In charge
So He agreed with her on the
lie told Spencer what DR.. Shaiier had said In
regard to his loaning Belts money. Spencer
said that he had had some of Betts's money,
but that he had given Shaiier $500 or $500 to
give to Belts, MS he needed 1t. In speaking. of
this matter afterward Shaiicr exhibited the
receipt which he had given Spencer for Belts,
and said he had paid It to Belts and taken up
his receipt for something ov6rsi00. 49, :. :.
The matter came up In the orphans court
last Saturday, Judge w. Willoughby appearing
for the applicant, and Mr.. Ga $. Moore nor
those resisting the petition. Motion was made
for the issuing of an order OF publication,
which, after brief discussion, was granted,
up on its merits at the expiration of that time
and ON the question Of granting the letters Of
nd mi pistrntfnn