The herald., 1893-09-18
AFTER THE BIG ESTATE.
THE KENTUCKY BLYTHESl STILL
ON THE FIGHT.
Roswell M. Blythe, tho Downey Bank
President, OF to San francisco
Co Reopen the
Fight.

Downey Champion: Mr.. Boswell M.
Blythe paid the Champion Office pleas
ant call on Wednesday. having arrived
on Monday from his weeks honeymoon.
Mr.. Blythe has devoted his entire time
for several years prosecuting the claims
of the Kentucky Blythe heirs of the de-
ceased San Francisco millionaire of that
name. The estate has been in litiga-
tion for upwards of 10 years, and from
the amount OF property involved and
the number and character of the claim
ants, it is by far the most celebrated
case brought before the California courts
for settlement.
Superior Judge Coffey awarded tho
entire estate to Miss Florence Blythe.
now Mrs. Fritz W. Hinckley. who
claimed to be the Legitimate daughter
of the deceased millionaire. She was
born in England; never saw her alleged
father, nor had he seen her. Her claim
is based mainly on the testimony of her
mother, who married one Ashcroft after
her birth.
One after another the many contes-
tants, for the want of money, or more
| probably for the lack OF evidence to
prove up their claims, have dropped out
of the cage. Those who have ''stayed
with it'',and have perfected their appeal
! to the supreme court from the decision
of Judge Coffey. are the Kentucky
| Blythes and the Blythe company. On
the 7th prox. these appeals will be be-
| fore the supreme court. The recent
| decision of the supreme court reversing
the order of Judge Coffey, making q
| family allowance amounting to about
$50. 900 to Mrs. Florence Blythe Hinck-
ley, wasn't only disastrous to her fnan-
cially, but boded no good for her future
prospects, if we may Judge from the
language of the decision of the learned
bench. Her Case has been fought, of
course, for she has no means, entirely
on money borrowed on her expectations
at enormous rates of interest, and con-
Quoted by attorneys who expect large
share of her innings if successful.
These demands, amounting to several
hundred Thousand dollars, seem to be no
nearer being realized from the estate in
| the present condition of the suit than on
| the day Of it's commencement. Itseems
probable that long term of expensive
litigation is still in store for Mrs. Blythe
tablishing finally her claim, the pressing
demands for money by her hackers, and
the loss of the expected and much
needed funds awarded by Judge Coffey,
her present position must be, to say the
least, most discouraging.
The Blythe company has really no
case. The contest is now between the
Kentucky Blythes and Mrs. Hinckley.
These heirs claim to be able to trace by
an unbroken chain OF evidence their
| blood relationship to the deceased
Blythe. They have spent ten years and
large amount of money in securing an
array of documentary and other evil
dence to support their claim, which
would be hard to controvert should the
case be remanded for new trial.
Their financial ability to continue the
| fight for any length OF time is beyond
dispute. The younger heirs are pos
seesed of a large amount of means in
| their own right, while Col. James T.
Blythe, the father of Mr.. Boswell Blythe
and brothers, is very wealthy man,
who is large etockholder in six nation
al banks, and president OF the local bank
Of Downey.
Feeling confident that they are the
rightful heirs, and able to make satis-
factory proof OF the same, they have not
hesitated to spend their means freely to
further their case, and propose to con-
tinue until the matter is finally disposed
OF. As they are all young men, and
have ample means, they can afford to
bide their time. In the meantime the
big estate is rapidly accumulating.
| While the outcome OF the struggle for
'old Blythe's" millions may be far
ahead and the fight and interesting one,
we are forcibly impressed with the old
saying after all "Tis the longest pole
| that knocks the persimmon."