Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-26
fELEGRAMS TO THE star.
The Family of Col. G. c. smeed to Contest
His VIII.

OMAHA, NEB-, Aug. 2s.-The death in Phila-
delphia recently Of Col C. C. sneed. chief
engineer Of the Union Pacific Railroad COM
pany, promises to lead to a highly sensational
law suit in an attempt to break the will of the
deceased, by the terms Of which the property is
to be divided equally between his daughter.
Mrs. C. g. Cross OF Emporia. Kan, and the lady
who was referred to his afhanced, Mrs
Jeanette Nicholas Of Omaha"
No papers in the case will be fled until after
Monday on which dav the funeral will be held,
but the family has already secured attorneys
and will fight the case to the bitter end. The
contestant will aliege that Col. smeed was not
in condition to make will at the time the in
strument was executed; that he was unduly In
fiuenced in the matter, and will also make
charges of q very sensational nature.
The family il very highly connected. and
from the prominence Of some of the members
much interest is taken in the case. Mr. e. :
Gross, the son-in-law of the deceased and nus
band Of the contestant. IL the president OF the
FIRST National Bank of EmpOria, Nan, and ms
father il N C. Cross late president OF the
Missouri. Kansas and Texas Railroad Company.
Mrs. Cross Is "a leader in EmPoria society aud Is
one Of the most popular and respected ladies IN
eastern Kansas. Mrs. Nicholas. the lady who
u TO figure very prominently IN the case. mas
been resident of this city Tor a number OF
wears and Is the divorced wife of A. T. Nicholas,
from whom she secured q decree in 1856 on
the ground of non-support. Although
Fifty wears Of age she is still
very handsome woman, having wealth
OF prematurelv silvered hair, and has
been an object Of much interest about the Muir
raw Hotel where she has made her home. Col.
Smeed who was ten years her senior, had ele-
giant quarters in the Withheld block The
divorce of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas was secured
BIZ mutual consent. and on the day the papers
were filed agreement was also filed In the
a. IL oil fNn
property was conveyed to Mrs. Nicholas, with
the stipulation that II should be turned over to
Mr. Nicholas at any time that he had SJO.OO0
with which he desired 10 part This payment,
however. Was never made ard some time after
ward Mr. Nicholas guit-claimed all his interest
IN the property. This property Is still IN Mrs
Nicholas name and there is on it a mortgage
for 5000 in favor Of Col. Smeed for money
advanced 10 Mrs. Nicholas. During the years
SINCE the divorce was granted MIR. and Mrs.
Nicholas have sustained very friendly business
relations Several months ago Col. Smeed left
for the east for period of rest in the hope OF
benefiting hi. health and Mrs. Nicholas went
with him. The relatives IN Kansas did not
learn Of his illness until few days ago and Mr..
and Mrs. Cross started at once for Philadelphia
They did not dream that the illness was
serious one and not until they were about TO
take train did they know of the presence of
Mrs Nicholas in the east.
They did not reach Philadelphia until
o'clock yesterday. twenty-fOur hours after Col.
Smeed's death They Will take the remains
back TO EmporIa and the afiianced wife will not
be ore of the party. Mrs. Gross IS well known
il this CITY and Il much esteemed by wide cir
Gle Of friends During her visits her devotion
TO. her father much remarked. but for the
last two or three wears she has remained away
from Omaha much more than she otherwise
would. because OF Mrs. Nicholas aGd the man
ner in which she interested herself in Col.
Smeed and his affairs. Col. Smeeds estate IL
variously estimated at from $4,000 TO S1OO.0c0
and the suit that is 10 decide where i. will go
will be Of the nature that always attracts large
court room audiences.