Daily Kennebec journal., 1885-01-14
.alsE DISPATCHES.
ABNER COBURN'S MONEY.
Estate AmountstO About 80, 100000
Some Well Authenticated Stare,
ments in. Regards to the
Property.
SKOwHEGAN, Jan IL.

|
SKowHEGAS, Jan l3.
There is not the least doubt but ex.Gov
CoDurns property was estimated before his
ueath at more than double its real value.
People who thought they knew what they
were talking about, said that he was worth
not less than six or eight million dollars.
This was the general understanding. Two
million dollars comes nearer to the truth. Mr.
Geo. N. Page is cashier of the First National
Bank, of Skowhegan, of which Mr.. Cobnrn
was President. He knows as much about
Mr.. Coburns affairs-and that is not much.
as Mr. Cobnrn was very reticent. Mr.. Page
was the ex-Governors right bower and conf
dental man, so far as he had confidential
man. He often had in his possession and
carried back and forth $4,000 or 500, 900
of the Governors's funds, without bond or
receipt.
He accompanied the G ivernor on his Jour
neys and took care of him. He was with
him when attacked by his last illness at Au-
gusta, and chartered the special train to bring
him home.
There's no need of that, said the Gov
ernor.
''You must keep quiet and let me arrange
these matters" said Mr. Page.
''Have you money enough to pay the hotel
bill?' asked the Governor, always thoughtful
"If l haven't, can draw check said Mr.
Page.
"Perhaps they won't take your check,
George" said the Governor, jocosely.
Mr.. Page says the Ex-Governor never gave
him any insight into his property and did not
even tell him that he intended to make him
one of the executors of his will. But Mr..
Page says that in his judgment two million
praperty
Since the death of Phiander Coburn, with
whom the Ex-Governor was so long associated
in business, the estate of A. and p. Coburn
hiss never been fully divided. The estate of
A. and p. Coburn still has legal existence,
and one of the first things to be done in the
probate court is the appointment of some one
to act on the part of Philander's heirs
with Abner's executors in the adjustment of
his estate. Philander died eight or ten years
ago, without family and without will. He
was very much broken down for a long time
before he died. He was an altogether differ
ent kind of man than his brother.
Philander's heirs were Abner Coburn, Mrs.
| Marston and the families of Alonzo, Samuel
and Stephen, making five equal divisions OF
the property. Abner administered upon the
| estate and when he died, had made dividends
amounting to 100000 to each of these
branches of the family. When he made a
dividend of course he set aside his half and
his fitth by inheritance of what Abner left
That is, il he devided 100000, half of it was
his own property, as an equal partner IN the
firm, and one fifth of the other half was his
share as an heir. Consequently he set aside
$50 900 for himself and gave $4,000 to each
of the four branches of the family. The
value of Abner's half of the estate and the
undivided part of Philander's half is believed
to be somewhere between two and three mh-
lion dollars. In his will, the Ex-Governor has
disposed only of his own part OF the a. and
p. Coburn estate, of course. He has included
ALL his property in the will and his bequests
do not amount to two million of dollars, at a
fair appraisement.
The story that he had willed away the
property of Pbilanders heirs, and that they
nroposed to contest the will is not well found
ed.
The idea that the Ex-Governor made large
losses lust previous to his death, and that the
estate had shrunken rapidly during the past
two or three years, is entirely erroneous. he
made losses, as every man does who invests
large sums. All of his investments were no.
good. but. on the whole, his property is wei
invested. and has stood up well during the
wears of depression. Although his estate mas
not increased any for several years, he prop
ablv was worth as much on the day he died
as he ever was.
Manv petty impositions were practieeo
unon the Ex-Governor. The story told ias'
week of the man who got s. from him. anu
then changed his clothes and called second
,;ma ;s true. but all of it was not told. Ihe
;mposter called third time. on another plea
of charity, but the Ex-Governor dismissed hiu'
with the remark think l have seen you
before" Such things did not tighten MS
purse strings. He said he preferred to give
to ten undeserving people rather then refuse
one deserving person.
Gov. Coburn's western timber lands are
very valuable, but their real worth can only
he a.,imated. A tract of timber land when
he sold a year ago for 100000 is now said
to be worth sS50,0O0.
He received begging letters BY the Dozen
exarv day he lived-many of them from aoie'
; hod;sd men, and the most of them FROM
-ouen For day or two after he died