The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-22
HALF A DOZEN MILLIONS
One Set Of Figures Carries The Davis
Estate That High.
Possessions Piled Up In Great
Chunks for Which a Lot OF
Greedy Outsiders Are
Grabbing.
BY the Standards Special Wire

the value Oh tle ebtate VI tuS tatS AN
drew ]. Davis. Early In the morning sew
eral witnesses were examined relative to
the competency OF John A. Davis To serve
as administrator. That petitioner was
then returned to the standard questioned
further by those opposing his claim. He
was questioned as to the business he had
lone for his brother and said he had been
intrusted with the building of the First
National bank of Butte, with the matter
of settling up business in Iowa, and with
sci Getting a residence for the judge In Vic
toria. Mr.. Davis was asked whether he
had ever served O n a jury In this county
and said he had not. He had been sub
pRnaed. but had been excused because
not a citizen. That was however, three
years Ago.. Mr.. Davis said he had no
property ut the present time.
Mr.. Corem, director OF the Butte and
Boston Mining company, was then ques-
toned as to h wealth OF the deceased.
He had been well acquainted with the late
with him regarding the property.
In describing the personal property of the
deceased, Mr.. Corem said hat he owned
"A per cent of the stock of the First Ma
tional bank of Helena. The. capital
stock was $4,000 and the surplus $780,
600. The present value OF the estates
share of that stock he thought to he $50
600. He held $1,000 shares Of the mining
stock of the Butte & Boston company, the
value of which by Saturdays quotations
is S15 a share, amounting to Sl,3JO,OOO.
There is also about $4,000 due the estate
The deceased owned ID per cent OF the
capital stock of the Lexington mine.
The capital stock was - 100000, and the
Judges share about 100000. He had told
the witness that he had been offered that
for it. He owned nearly all the took of
the First National bank OF Butte, there
only being enough stockholders to make
n board of directors. The capital stock
of the bank is 100000 and the undivided
surplus between $4,000 and 100000,
making the value of the bank between
100000 and 100000. There is due the
from Davis 4 Co. $4,000. The deceased
was accustomed to arr a surplus i'm the
bank of between $4,000 and
$4,000. There was due him from
S. +. Hauser and Others in Helena,
$4,000; and there was due him S3OO,UO
tie, most of this loan being TO Granville
Stewart. He was h posscssor OF United
States government bonds which had been
estimated at 100000. In addition, Mr..
| Davis was h possessor OF very many
mining claims, most OF them undevel-
oped as vet, and some undergoing devel-
opment. One of these claims was leased
and was bringing i'm n rental of from
$1,000 to S11,OOO per month. The total
amount of property mentioned by Mr..
Corem figures up to about S6,UOO.UUo, and
much real estate owned by Mr.. Davis has
not been included.
ON cross-examination Mr.. Corem said
that he had been told by Mr.. Davis again
and again that he intended giving the
great majority of his Butte bank stock TO
Andrew j. Davis, jr. This was objected
to, but attorney Forbes said he wished TO
-. 49,. a.. la..E Z1..,.I mot ta
in the value of the estate, as il would be
claimed by the m to whom II was to be
given and litigation over IL would likely
arise.
Mrs. Ellen S. Cornue, of Croton Falls,
n. ", niece of Judge Davis was next pn,
the Judge since 1862 and 1863,
when she spent the summer with
him i'm Iowa. The witness was asked To
state the substance of conversations with
John A. Davis on their way from Butte to
the east in company with the judges re-
bis. Attorney Gideon Wells, of Massa.
chusetts, said il was desired TO show tina,
John A. Davis had endeavored to connivs
with Erwin Davis for the purpose. OF de
priving the four older sisters OF their in
terest in the estate, n to show by a chain
of circumstances and facts that a con
spiracy had been formed. He claimed
also that the petitioner was improvident.
Mr.. Forbis replied thai Andrew j
Davis was considered a most providen'
man, and yet no greater act OF improvi
dence had ever been committed than wa,
committed by him when he neglected e
dispose of his great wealth. Yet he coult
not be called improvident. A man can
not be called a drunkard because he Ina,
been drunk once or twice. MIR. Meters OF
the other hand claimed lack OF integrit.
as the chief ground Of Mr.. Davis disquali
fcation. Warren Toole then spoke a
length i'm the matter.
Al the conclusion OF the argument !
was decided that Mrs. Cornue could ties
tify. The court adjourned until . o'clocl
this evening. Al that time Mrs. Cornu'
, testified as follows: 81 said TO my uncl'
and aunts In the East when they find 81
: much money to he theirs He said, 'un
less some of the nephews and neices wer
foolish enough to tell them, the,
would be satisfied with yer
little little how ne ,e ma had before sp9 'he, ,im Si TIL II
i time he said to me that he could go dow
/ into Iowa and prove almost anything
This interview took place in the after
/ noon at my cousins house in Butte. ]
was about n week before A. j. Davis
death. | said to Mr.. Davis one day tina
! he autographed for me. He complaine
: of his head. In this conversation wit
Uncle John. he said that Diana, who live
4 i'm Somers, Conn.,, would he satisfied wit
q a deed to the house she occupie
i'm Somers. She was supported 10y Andre
and Erwin. During the trip from Butt
To Chicago, Uncle John told me nothin
J as TO his applying for letters Of admin
|. tration. After the funeral we were a
. invited to dinner at the Massasoit hous'
!. Springfield, 10y Uncle Erwin. After dir
! ner Uncle Erwin said il would now I
|. proper TO talk over Andrews affairs. n
= said IL was to he hoped there wa
= a will. IL there was the e
= tate could be settled in five year
y IN there was no will. he said. il would tai
y 10 years to settle up and then there woul
:" probably be not a dollar left for any /,
us. He said there was n report of a
migitimate child and IL this was tru
none of us would have anything. =
asked John IL il was true as TO the leng
"a of time required TO settle up an estate
u Montana and John said. yes il TAX
ID from gx. IN ton wears Erwin sa