St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-25

Stafm w OckeU up Dy y. b. brfSUiu
and T. @. Jewett Which Has
No Legal Foundation-Hear
to Perpetuate Testimony De-
velops the Character of the
Attempt to Mulct the Estate.
A suit to perpetuate testimony in the
claim made by j. b. Brisbin and L. c.
Jewett. has been heard this week in
Judge Willis chambers and much SEN
sational and misleading matter has ap-
peared in the papers concerning the
case.
The public would suppose from read
ing the reports that the heirs of woman
claiming to have once been the wife of
the late Norman w. Kittson were lay
ing claim to the dover right Of one
third of the estate. This is wholly
untrue.
1t appears that j. B. Brisbin, of ST.
Paul, and T. G. Jewett. of Litchfield,
represented to Mrs. Sophia Crevier that
she had claim to one third interest
in Mr.. Kittson's estate though they were
never married, and in return for their
prosecution of the claim she assigned
them one-half interest in whatever
might be scared. She has since died,
and her children not only make no claim
to any interest in the KlttSon estate,
but directly deny that she was ever the
wife of Mr.. Klttson. Messrs. Brisbin
and Jewett, however, are pushing their
demands for half interest in Mrs.
Crevier's alleged claim to one-third or
one-siXth of the estate.
Charles E. Perry, the brother of Mrs.
Crevier, is seventy -eight years of age,
and Father Ravoux some eighty years,
and as they are important witnesses to
show that the claim of a marriage has
no foundation in fact,a suit was brought
to perpetuate their testimony while they
we're still alive to make it matter of
record.
To show the purely speculative char
acter of the present claimants it is
hardly necessary to say more than to
produce the affidavit of Mrs. Crevler,
which was given only week after her
assignment Of a half interest in her
pretended claim to the spectators. 1t
cannot be claimed that her mental fac
ulties, though she W" advanced in
years, were not as goo> when the repu-
dating affidavit was given as when the
assignment was made, as only one week
of time bad elapsed. 1t is simply
shown that all uneducated woman, who
could not write her name, had
been imposed npon, and when the siGu-
alton was explained to her in French,
language she understood. by her own
son. she cheerfully did what lay in her
power by repudiating the claim she
had been induced to make by specu-
lators who sought to impose on her age
and credulity. Her affidavit is as fol-
lows:
State of Minnesota, County OF Ram
sey, S.: Sophia A. CreVier, being first
duly sworn, says that for a number of
years prior to the year 1S47 she lived
with Norman w. KIttson, deceased. but
was never married to him and never had
at any time been married to him. That
in or about the year 1917 she and said
Norman W. Kittson, deceased, mutually
separated, and that she married one
Peter Creyier and lived with said Crevier
as his wife from the time of her mar
riage to him in the year 1S47 to and
until his death, which occurred OH
April %, 1886, and that three children
are the fruit of such marriage with said
Crevier.
Deponent further says that said Nor
man w. Kittson in the year 1S47 was
also married to lady whose maiden
name was b. Marion, and deponent
further says that she does not nor has
she claimed RIGHT fitip
est, claim or lien in or to the estate of
said Norman w. Kittson, deceased, and
hereby releases the same from any such
claim, right, title, interest or lien, if
any she ever had.
The above release and disclaimer Is
hereby given for good and valuable
consideration.
That that certain alleged agreement
between myself and one T. G. Jewett
and one j. B. Brisbin, dated July 8.
1888, was not by me fully understood,
nor did [ understand the contents there
of, nor its true intent, nor would have
signed the same had the facts therein
been fully stated or understood by me.
SOPHIA A. CREVIER, her x mark.
Signed. sealed ana delivered in pres
ence of Daniel Murphy, Peter Crevler
Sworn to and subscribed before Dam
iel Murphy, notary public, July 10. 1883.
Father RavouX testifies to having
performed the marriage ceremony be-
tween her and Mr.. Crevier, understand
ing that she had never been married
and was entirely free to become wife.
Charles E. Perry. the brother of Mrs.
Crevier, denied that his sister was ever
married to Mr.. Kittson, or that they
ever lived together as man and wife, or
that any such claim had ever existed.
Peter Crevier, the son of the deceased
woman, fatty repudiates any claim to
any interest in the Kittson estate on his
mothers behalf. In fact the testimony
is overwhelming in denial of the claim,
and the fact that the spectators max
ing it, who evidently relied on the lapse
of years and the death of the principals
to secure their swag, have made over
lures for settlement" shows they
recognize the yulnerability Of their
position.
1t is SO manifestly an effort to pluck
an estate by wounding and harassing.
the living and rightfuIly legal heirs of
a great property that it was not entitled
to the publicity which has been given it.
Fhe newspapers have been made, un-
Willingly, aids in the attempt by ghoul-
ish spectators to perpetrate a great
wrong and defame the memory of a
former citizen, that they may put
money in their purse.
SIGNED BY ONE DEMOCRAT.