The Portland daily press., 1885-10-05
THE coRURN WILL.
What Lawyer Stewart of st. Alban S
Has to Say About 1t.
An Almost Endless List of Claimants
Against the Estate.

(Rambler in Lewiston Journal)
A day or two ago, l had talk with Hon. d. d.
Stewart of st. Albans the lawyer who is contes
ting Ex-Governor Coburns will in behalf of one
Of the Ex-Governor's nephews and who Is also en-
ployed by several other plaintiffs who are about
to bring suits against the Ex-Governor's estate.
even if the will is not broken, said Mr.. Stew
art, 'there will be an almost endless amount Of
litigation over the Ex-Governor's property. Peo-
pie keep coming to me with claims against his es-
tate and have been retained by number of
them Some of these claims are of a remarkable
nature. There is the woman who was his house
keeper. She began to keep house for him in 1874
did all his marketing and superintended all his
domestic affairs. When Christmas came around,
he used to make her present of fifty dollars and
that is all the pay he ever gave her. She claims
wages of six dollars week for all this time. Then
there is DR.. Wilbur who attended him constantly
during his last days. He paid the doctor little or
nothing and he has claim of en- or twelve thou
sand dollars for professional services. gentle
man who used to act as a sort of clerk and valet
to the Governor, too, has claim of several thou
sand dollars. great many per sons have brought
forward miscellaneous bills. l have no doubt
that many of them are trumped up IL will be
hard work to Sift them.
~, "Phlander's heirs are not going to keep quiet
property and propose to bring actions against the
estate, If the viii is not broken, to recover their
dues. You see the Ex-Governor hated to part
with Philander's money and kept a large part of
it in mis- hands till he died. To say nothing Of
losses by foolish investments, the heirs of Philan
der (whO died in 1869, l think claim that they
would be half million better Off today, II his es-
tate had been divided promptly and they had re-
eeived its increase. Then, in the last two years
of his life the Ex-Governor sunk a million and
half dollars in bad investments. Now, Philander's
heirs, or some of them 1 should say claim that
part of the money lost in these speculations was
nd in hot f1rr 10 lNa
quests, the Ex-Governor treated Philanders es-
tate as if it were his own, which he had no right
to do.
He liked too well, to keep the money in his
own hands, and the result is that his and his
brothers estates are so mixed up that large
amount OF litigation must result. The claims of
Philanders heirs must be adjusted by the courts.
This reluctance to let Philanders money slip
pique the old gentleman took against his Cali,
fornia nephew, AlonZo Mnrston, who contests the
will. Alonzo came here and attempted to get an
other dividend on Philanders property from the
Ex-Governor He is man who cannot keep
money himself, lind his importunate demands
had previously regarded him. Accordingly, when
he made his will, he left this nephew out in the
cold. Now, he is not axious to break the will or
share of the property If the specific legatees will
contribute from their shares Sufhcient sum to
make n him an equal sharer, no attempt will be
prosecute the case to the end. Alonzo Marston
estimates his share of the property at forty to fifty
thousand dollars, and unless the sum Is made up
to him, we will make short work of breaking the
will. We have the best possible grounds for it.
The will cannot stand minute after we get into
court"
The attitude of the executors in regard to this
matter is uncOmprOmising and it is improbable
that they will consent to give this dissatisfied
nephew a dollar to withdraw his suit. One of the
executors remarked the other day, II would
sooner spend this property in the courts, than
hand any part of it over to AlonZo MarstOn to
squander.5 Both sides talk beligerently
One thing is certain, and that is the Coburn
estate will prove the fattest pasture for his law
yers that ever was opened to them in Maine.