The Portland daily press., 1888-01-24
GOVERNOR coBuRN's WEALTH.
Many People with Claims for Vary
Ing Portions of 1t.
Thousands Of Dollars involved In the
Litigation
over Doctot's Bill, and Several
Accounts for Personal Services.
Especial to the Press.l

SKowHEGAN, Jan. 23.-The determined
and continued attempts of the heirs Of the
late ex-Gov. Abner Coburn to break his will,
and their i'll success, is well known, and al
most any day decision is expected from the
Supreme Court closing the litigation in their
case. But this is not, by any means. all the
legal action with which the estate has to
contend, for there are many minor suits
which have been brought to recover for al
legged services, etc., which, in the aggregate,
will amount to no insignificant sum. Nearly
everybody who had near relations with the
ex-governor during the latter years of his
lifetime seems to have bill against the es-
tate, and it remains for the courts to settle
them. The time during which suits could be
brought directly against the estate expired
last September, and the cases will all be
tried at the March or September sessions of
the court in Somerset county.
Mr.. Calvin Cleveland, who was a book
keeper for Mr.. Coburn, sues TO recover some
$4,000 as remuneration for services during
long term of years. He claims to have at
tended to the ex-governor's clerical work
during the day, and at night waited ON his
employer while ILL., In payment for his de-
votion, he received but a small amount-but
little cash, it is said. His counsel are Baker
q Cornish of Augusta.
Miss Irene Stanley was the housekeeper
for a dozen years or more. and after the
death of Mary, Abner's sister, had entire
charge of the house, and was devoted in her
care and attention to him during his sick
ness, for which she was but partially recon-
pensed, so it is claimed, receiving only pres
ent occasionally. She asks for $4,000. Her
counsel is d. d. Stewart, Esq, of Waldo
boro.
DR.. G. A. Wilbur, of Skowhegan, was the
ex-governor's physician for many years, and
his original claim amounted to $4,000, in
part for visits and in part for detention
fees" so called, he being kept at home by
Mr. Coburn, so as to be in readiness to ans
wer call. He never received a cent other
than $500, of which the patient made him a
present, so it is stated DR.. 81 III. Hill of
Augusta made out Or. Wilbur's bill, esti-
mating it at $4,000 Since the action was
brought it has been scaled down to $1,000 or
$4,000. Dr. Wilbur's claims extend over a
period of eleven years and nine months His
counsel is also ID. d. Stewart, Esq.
Another action is brought by the widow
and son of the late Moses Bailey of Water
vile, for division of Attean township, the
plaintiffs claiming portion of it by deed
from Samuel Taylor given to Moses Bailey.
Their counsel are Walton & Walton of Skow-
hegan. This case will go to the Law Court
by agreement of counsel About $4,000 is
involved. The Coburn estates claim is
through tax deed from the State.
A. M. Perkins sues to recover $1,000 on
note which he claims to have held against
Ex-Governor Coburn. At the time of the
last sickness of Mr.. Coburn he started with
the note in his p0cketbook to get it cashed,
but on the way lost the book, note and all.
Walton q Walton will also appear as his
counsel.
E. b. Hill, whose counsel are Walton &
Walton, was formerly one of Coburn's clerks
and has suits prevailing in which some $18,-
600 are involved, Hill having been engaged
in logging operations with the Ex-Governor,
and they owned land in common.
The Keene Bros. the well known shoe
manufacturers. have brought bill in equity
against the estate to obtain deed of land
in "Keeneville," so called, in Skowhegan, on
which are located forty or fifty, houses, be-
valaed at some $4,000. The plaintiffs
claim to have written agreement from
Governor Coburn by which they were to
receive the land in consideration of $1,000,
which they paid. The same parties claim
that there was a further agreement, not
written, to sell them 25 acres of land near
the other lot, valued at about $4,000. The
counsel for the plaintiff in this case is B. n.
johnson, Esq, of Boston, and Walton q
Walton.
And there is still another action brought
through Walton 81 Walton, the plaintiff in
this case being William f. Knowles, of Bos-
ton. Mr.. Coburn. 1t seems, was interested
in the Nantasket Company, which was en-
gagged in steamboating, and he and others
gave note for $4,000. The estate is asked
to pay this, and the question is, so counsel
other gentlemen connected pay their pro-
portionate part.
Webb s. Webb, of Waterville, appear for
the executors in most of the cases, and Mer-
rill and Coffin, of Skowhegan, have been
retained in several.