The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-22
THE EXECUTORS ANSWER.
William "A. Chessman Replies TO the
Charges Made by J. c.
Kicker.
He Gives an Account Of His Ad-
ministration OF tho Els
tate.
Says He Never specnlated with the Fund
or Made Any Profit Out Of
Them.

A short TIM ago j. q. Kicker, of his
city, by Martha r. Kicker, petitioned the
district court for an accounting of the es-
tate Of j. G.. Kicker, deceased. The petit
ton made allegations that the estate was
not properly handled. To, this Mr.. w. A.
Chessman, the executor, has filed an an
swer. Mr.. Chessman says he was appointed
executor of the last will and testament of
j. O. Kicker on July 6, 1876, and employed
Chumaaero d Chadwick, attorneys, who nd
vised him that he had full power under the
will to convert the property of the estate
into money for the benefit of the legatees
mentioned in the will. Nc says that in the
discharge of his trust, for more than six
teen years. he has by every honorable en-
1 deavor and the utmost care attempted to
augment and increase the estate and its
value for the benefit of the legatees. Fol-
the first four years Of his administration
he employed Charles =. Duer without
any expense to the estate and paid him $500
to keep the accounts of the estate to the
end that the legatees might see and under
stand how the executor had ministered his
trust. The inventory and oappraisement on
file and IL lot on Dearborn street in Helena
and a farm in Kansas constitute the entire
estate that ever came to the knowledge of
the executor. He denies that he has at any
time withheld any knowledge or informa-
tion concerning the affairs of the estate
from the widow or legatees, but on the con-
trary has at all times been ready and anx
ious that they should know and understand
every transaction.
The statements contained in the petition
of j. G. Kicker, Mr.. Chessman says. that
his accounts are false and fraudulent, is
either a wicked and malicious falsehood, or
of utter ignorance Of the manner in
which the executor has managed
the estate; for the executor says that
and true in each and every claim. The ex-
ecutor denies that he has not presented
vouchers for all the moneys received by
him for and On account of the estate. He
further denies that he has used large or any
sums of money of the estate in his own
business. BY the terms of the will the ex-
ecutor says he was required to invest the
funds of the estate in United States gov
eminent securities; that at the time it be-
came necessary to invest the funds availa-
BILE, government securities were at a pre-
MUM of from II to 20 per cent. and bore
in such securities would have required from
three and a half to four years
interest to have paid the pre-:
MUM, which by reference to the
executors report, would have caused
q loss to the estate in three and a half years
of about $4,000 before any interest could
have been received from the bonds; and
with the funds of the estate 80 invested, in
order to have carried out the other provis-
ions of the will as to yearly payments for
the support of the widow and children OF
the testator. would have required the use OF
the principal and would have used up the
whole OF the estate long before the children
became of age.
Bv order of court the funds were then in
vested in Helena banks at the rate of II pei
cent per mum, which has increased the
value of the estate about $4,000. The in
ventory and appraisemept, the executor
says, shows that the estate was worth S34,
467. 55. and that he has increased the value
to $56. 369.9S BY the terms of the will {
final accounting cannot be made until the
youngest child becomes of age ant
that the petition shows that the petitione
has not ar ived ut that age. Thu othe'
children, he says. have been paid thei
shares as they becameo of age. In conclusion
Mr.. Chessman says he has bestowed upol
the affairs of the estate his utmost caro-
that he has never speculated with the funds
or made any profit out of them.