The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-24

It Is Dragged Out by q Con-
test for Rent0n Estate.
SOME SENSATIONAL CHARGES.
Csps. Kenton's Stop Daughters Charge
Him with Defrauding Them-A
Receiver Demanded.

tests In the history of King county
was begun on Saturday. when . suit
was filed in the superior court BY
Mrs. E. W. eeckman and Mrs. n. A.
Gaffney. asking for injunctions against
the executors of tho Renton estate.
for an accounting Of his and his
wife's estate, for the annulling Of the dis
tribution OF Mira Renton's estate. and for
the appointment of receiver for the
whole Renton property. Startling charges
of fraud are made against the late Capt.
Renton and Of conspiracy against his ex-
ecutors and attorney.
The suit il brought by Elizabeth W.
eackman and Mary A. Gaffney, against
John A. Campbell, a. executor Of the sup
posed viii and testament Of the late Will.
lam Renton, purporting to have been
made on December II. 1875. Mary A.
Campbeli and John Campbell, her hus-
band, Margaret A. Campbell and William
Campbell, her husband. John J. Mckin-
non, as executor Of the last will and
Testament Of William Renton, made
August l. 1870. Renton, Holmes d Co.,
Charles s. Holmes. as surviving partner in
the late firm of Renton, Holmes d Co.,
Charles s. Holmes and Elizabeth L.
Holmes, his wife. Ham. - Ham,
John Doe and Richard Roe, heirs of Rich
ard X. Ham. deceased, Port Biakeley Mill
Company, Puget Sound 81 Gray's Harbor
Railroad and Transportation Company,
Pacific Pine Lumber Company, San Fran
cisco Lumber Company, Fresno Ice Com
pany, Gray's Harbor Mill Company.
Gray's Harbor Commercial Company, San
Pedro LUMBER Company. Santa Barbara
Lumber Company. Pacific Surety Com
pany, First National bank, of San Fran
cisco; Puget Sound Cedar and Lumber
Company. John A. Cambell, James Camp
bell. Charles S. Holmes, as administrator
OF the estate in California of Sarah NJ.
Renton. and Maurice McMicKen, as adj
ministrator de bonis non of the estate OF
Sarah NJ. Renton.
The complaint alleges that about 1910
Joseph sylvia. of Philadelphia, died in
testate on the high seas. leaving a widow,
Sarah NJ. Sylvia, and issue, Josephine
Sylvia (who has since died intestate with
out issue and. unmarried), and the de-
PENDANTS, and that they, with the widow.
were his heirs and next Of kin. Joseph
sylvia lett an estate consisting of a
schooner, or sailing vessel, with which he
had traded between Philadelphia and Ha-
vsna and other Cuban. ports, besides
money and other property. BY the laws
of Pennsylvania this estate descended,
one-third to the widow and the other two
thirds in equal shares to the plaintiffs and
Josephine sylvia, that is. two ninths to
each. In 1872 Mrs. sylvia married William
Renton. who took possession Of the estate
and sold it. realizing about 5000 on the
schooner. and bought another sailing ves-
sci with which they removed to San Fran
cisco, Capt. Renton having previously
been without means.
With this vessel and other property left
by Sylvia. Renton engaged in business of
various kinds, by which he made large
profits. sold the vessel and bought and
dealt in other vessels, and generally ac-
cumnlated large amount of money and
property, all IN his own name. All this
property and the rents, profits and ac-
cumulations Of it are claimed to be trust
fund for the benefit of the sylvia heirs,
Renton being merely q trustee, but he never
accounted to the heirs for the trust funds,
nor made any of the estate or its accumu-
lations over to them. nor was be dis
charged from his obligations up to the
time OF his death. In 1857 Josephine
sylvia died interstate at San Francisco. be-
ing OF age. and leaving Sarah NJ. Renton
and her two sisters as her sole heirs under
the laws of California, one-half of her es-
tate going 10 her mother and the other
half to be divided between her two sisters,
and the trust in her behalf continued in
favor Of her heirs.
Sarah ii. Renton died on May Il. 1890.
at Port Blakeley, leaving the plaintiffs as
her sole heirs. they being also entitled to
her half interest in Josephine Sylva's
share of Joseph Sylva's estate. as this was
her separate property. On July Is, 1891,
William Renton died. having in his pos
session all Of the trust fund and proper.
ties, being the profits and accommodations
from the money derived from joseph
Eylva's estate. On July 80, 1891, John A,
Campbell flied for probate in the superior
court of kitsap county the last will of
William Renton, dated December l., 1876,
naming himself AS executor and bequeath-
ing all the property TO Mary Campbell
and Margaret A. Campbell in case his wife
should not survive him. This will was
admitted to probate on October -, 1891.
and letters testamentary were issued to
John A. Campbell, who is now IN posses
sion and control of all the trust fund and
property named except that in California.
he and Mary Campbell and Margaret A.
Campbell claiming 1t as part OF the estate
left by William Renton in his own right
and denying the existence of any trust
and the interest of the plaintiffs In the
trus. fund and property. John Campbell
Is the husband of Mary Campbell and
William Campbell of Margaret A. Camp-
bsll
On August 5. ts9i. John }. McKlnnon
flied for probate in the superior court of
Fan Francisco what purported to be Can't.
Benton's last Will. dated August 4. 1870.
and IT was admitted TO probate on August
IL. iS9i, and Mchlnnon MAS granted let
tiers testamentary as executor named in il
He Is now IN possession and control of all
of the estate In California, and claims Il as
part OF Capt Rentoa's estate held in his
own right, ard denies any trust Ey viz.
tue Of that will he claims the right TO All.
minister on the estate in Washington snd
other states rs we'll as in California
The two Hams. Richard Roe and John
Doe are Joined as defendants IS the heirs
OF Richard X. Ham, who VA. partner
with Capt. kenton IN the sirm OF Renton
Holmes & Co., formed about July IL.
H. 10 engage in the lumber. shipping
ard milling business. Capt. Renton' =
hve-twelfths interest IS alleged 70 be sab.
jest 70 the trust named. Charles :
Holmes is Joined as party because Of his
Interest III this firm. and Elizabeth l.
Eoimes as his wife. Holmes is declared
~ be still managing the firms business as