Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-10-08
WANTS HIS CASH
Millionaire Webb's Will
To Be Contested.
His Housekeeper Claims
All the Money.
Sne Says That the Dead Man
Adopted Her.
Belle Rankin Tells Why She Should
Inherit All of Eckford
Wabb's Property.

will OF Eekford Webb, the millionaire
shipbuilder, who died at his home, No.
IS Rush street, Williamsburg, on
Wednesday last, will probably be con-
tested. Just what its provisions are is
unknown, but it is apparent that the
clai nan.s will not agree.
Mr.. Webb was widower, his wife
having died fifteen years ago. They
separated five years previous to her
death. For the last six years Mr.. Webb
lived in handsome three story brown
stone fiat house. Although it was ar
ranged for three families, Webb lived
there alone with housekeeper, and
had each fiat furnished.
Mr.. Webb met Miss Belle Rankin at
Newport year and half ago, and
took her to his fiat house to take the
place of Miss May Seymour, who had
shared the luxuries of the fiat house
with him for two years previous.
Miss Rankin is thirty years old, and
she took her brother, who is a few
years younger than she, to live in the
house. The neighbors complained of
the lively times that were continued
until long after midnight.
Miss Rankin frequently drove to
Coney Island with Mr.. Webb, and she
and her brother adopted his name and
told many persons that Mr.. Webb had
adopted them, while Mr.. Webb him
self announced that they were his
nephew aud niece.
When Mr.. Webb died on Wednesday,
Miss Rankin sat on his bed and held
his hand. 1 called at the house that
evening and Mr.. James, a nephew of
Mr.. Webb knew me, and in answer to
my question as to whether Mr.. Webb
left any children, replied, Don't say
anything about that"
Miss Rankin followed me to the stoop
and said: .a.
''Please state in the obituary notice
that Mr.. Webb had two adopted chill
dren. I am his adopted daughter"
Miss Rankin went to the First Ma
tional bank, Williamsburg, next day
and wanted to open Mr.. Webb's drawer
in the safe deposit vault. She had a
key. but was referred to John G. Jenk-
ins, the president of the bank. She
told him she wanted to get some of her
own private papers.
Mr.. Jenkins said that he could not
let her open the drawer, as the will OF
Mr.. Webb's might be in 1t, and he
considered that he should see that the
will went before the surrogate's Office.
Miss Rankin last night denied that
she had been to the First National bank
since Mr.. Webb's death. and she
seemed surprised that there should be
any doubt that she should inherit the
bulk of Mr.. Webb's fortune. Presi.
dent Jenkins told me last night that
Miss Rankin had been at the bank and
wanted to open Mr. Webb's drawer
and also that Mr.. William Webb, an
elder brother, arrived and asked thai
the drawer remain closed until all in.
terested in the estate should be present
Mr.. Webb's gayety was often a sub.
ject OF discussion among the officers o.
financial institutions OF which he was 6
director, and he was frequently criti,
cised. For many years he was direc
tor OF the First National bank, the
Williamsburg Fire Insurance company
and Broadway Railroad company, O.
Williamsburg, and the Farragut ant
Standard Fire Insurance companies, o
this city.