National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-19
WANTS HIS DEAD wIFE's BONDS



There Is likely TO bo stubborn contest to
establish the ownership of the bonds found
with the personally of the late Vim. d. Aiken,
and the ground for 1t has already been chosen
Messrs. Crlttcnden and Mackey, rs the attor-
ueys of Matthew Aiken, yesterday filed bill
In equity against Wm. II. Barlow, guardian of
Matthew Aiken, jr., and W. i. HELEN, ad.
minlstrator of VIM. ID. Aiken, deceased, and
Hiram j. Ramsdell, register of wills for this
district, which promises TO bring out all claim
ants for the bonds. The bill states that on
oct. II, 1852. Matthew Aiken was married
to Mary w, Aiken, who, died intes-
Eliza Aiken, who died in 1875 VIM D. Aiken,
who died July ., 1881, and Matthew Aiken,
now 10 years ofngc. At the time OF her death
sho was III possession OF y, 300 or more In
coupon bonds of the United States, Of
recently he was ignorant OF the existence.
US for long time prior to her
death he and his wife lived apart, but he
claims that the bonds are now his property.
on Aug. - 1882, he says that he presented TO
the presiding judge In the orphans court II
petition stating that he was the father Of Will
lam D. Aiken, who died intestate and single;
that he was sole heir at law, and that on Sept.
II, 1850 william H. Barstow had been ap-
pointed guardian oil William and Matthew
Aiken; He further stated that about the time
of Williams death there, came into Barstow's
possession, as guardian for William Aiken as-
sets consisting Of q, 800 In United States bonds,
for which Burstow rendered no account, nor
included them in any inventory OF the person
atty of william Aiken. In September lss?,
BarstOw filed an answer to the petition, adj
mitted that the bonds were In his possession.
aud said they were probably the remnant OF
1000 which had been left In trust with the
mother, and which on her death bed had
fallen into the possession Of the son William.
Burstow stated that he had used due diligence
In endeavOring to discover the parties en-
titled TO the bonds but had miled. He
regarded the bonds In tho light OF lost prop
erty accidentally coming into his possession,
and he could not believe that they had been
held by Mrs. Aiken In any capacity except as
trustee. He denied that they belonged to the
estate OF William Aiken In any event, because
they were given and delivered By william In
his life time IN view of approaching death 10
Matthew, and all interest he might nave had
In them was therefore transferred to the latter
Upon the hearing of tho petition and answer
the Judge of the orphans court directed that
the bonds be brought into court by Barstow, and
, delivered to the register of wills, and by him
deposited into the National Safe Deposit COM
pany until the further order of the court. Sub.
sequently william r. HELEN was appointed
administrator of the estate OF william ID.
| Aiken, and on April 20, 1883, prayed that the
| bonds be delivered 70 him on the hearing
the judge decreed that the bonds should be
redeliyered TO Barstow as guardian. HELEN
! appealed from the decree to the general term,
| where II was heard on June 2, 1888, the de-
cree reversed, and an order made that the
| where they now arc,
Mr.. Aiken says that owing to the unhappy
| relations with his wife he was entirely igno'
rant that she had the bonds, and pronounces
the affidavit Of Ann r. smith, in which she
| states that the bonds were left with Mrs. Aiken
! by n Mrs. Davidson as absolutely false. lie
claims that the bonds were part Of the pro-
Ceeds Of the earnings Of his wife, and In part
| the proceeds Of tho rental Of real estate In this
! city and Alexandria, Va, and moneys derived
| from other sources Of Income. lie also says
that after their separation she purchased real
| estate 70 the amount Of $500. He claims that
| the order of the general term makes Register
| RGlnsdell mere receiver OF the fund subject
10 the rights of the lawful owner when so de-
| clAred by the court. Since that last decree
was passed, however tho United States,
| through the district attorney has filed peti.
| tiOn averring that the bonds were escheated
! 10 the United States, and praying an order
| directing that they be paid over Mr.. Aiken Is
willing that the United States may intervene
| IN the equity court by petition or otherwise, in
! order that all the claimants TO the bonds may
| be heard and their rights adjudcated Hli
| prayer Is that Mr., Ramsdell be directed TO de
| liver the bonds TO him rs the lawful owner OF
| them and that he be given such other relief as
the nature of the case may require.