The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-28
SEEKING TO ATTACH
Blanche CulbertsOn French'S At
tOrneys Ask for a Writ.
Union Trust Company. Custodian of the
Big Estate, Made Defendant
Juror with Jag.

Attorneys Baker & Daniels yesterday
filed in the Superior Court an affidavit in
attachment and garnishment against the
Union Trust Company. The attorneys set
out In the petition TO the court that they
believe the bulk of the money. property and
credits of Blanche Culbertson French TO be
under the control of the Union Trust Com
pany. Baker & Daniels represent, as legal
advisers, attorneys George A. Cunningham
and Thomas Garvin, of Evansville. few
days ago the firm of Cunningham e. Garvin
filed in the Circuit Court a suit for the re-
covery OF attorneys fees from Blanche
Culbertson French, alleging that the de-
PENDANT was indebted to them in the sum
of $4,000 for services rendered during the
contest of the famous Culbertson will in
the Floyd county courts a year ago. The
prominence of the litigants and the i'm
mense sum of money involved In the dispute
for possession made the cause celebrated
one at the time, and the fact that the de-
tails were replete with romance added an
interest that was almost national.
Blanche Culbertson French is the daugh-
ter of the late w. s Culbertson, of New
Albany, who died in June, 1892, leaving an
estate worth several million dollars. The
widow of the millionaire was his third
wife, and the stepmother of his daughter
Blanche. Mr.. Culbertson left will, which,
after liberal endowments to a number Of
benevolent institutions, churches and Sun
day schools, bequeathed the balance of the
property to the widow and children The
provisions of the will were satisfactory to
all members of the family except Miss Gull
bertson, who, by the provisions of codicil
attached to the document, was to be pre-
vented from marrying the man of her
choice. This instrument placed the share
of the young lady, amounting TO nearly
half million dollars. into the hands of
Ter brother, stepmother and friend of the
family in trust for ten years. 1t was cited
as a condition that if she married a. GER
tain DR.. French, to whom Ii appeared she
was then engaged. her share of the estate
should revert to the other heirs. There were
further conditions that threatened to de-
prive her of her inheritance If she married
any other person within ten years without
the approval of her stepmother and brother,
two of the trustees of her property. Miss
Culbertson. 1t appears, was spirited young
mind, and she boldly announced that she
not only proposed making Mr.. French hap
Ply. but would contest the will. few
months after her fathers death she went
to Europe and spent nearly year on the
continent. While travelling about the foreign
world ner 10 ngnt ,b Tor o ner
and correspondence passed between the
young heiress and her attorneys
In April. 1893, the initial step In the liti-
CATION was taken by Miss Culbertson. A
month or two later she returned to Amer
ica, and in June was married TO French.
The ceremony occurred in Chicago and IL
is said that at one time the engagement
was broken, but the worlds fair brought
had Al HsFr Of this city a8d
attorneys Cunningham & Garvin, Of Ev-
ansville. to conduct her case. and, after her
marriage, went into the litigation with a
determination to win. Suit was brought &c
| set aside the codicil and have the will es-
tablished without it The plaintiff averred
| that her father had been unduly Influenced
| to execute the codicil, and that ii was void
| being in restraint of marriage Half the
| benevolent societies and churches in Floyd
county, with the Culbertson family, were
defendants TO the suit. The case remained
pending until November, 1893, when a con-
| tract was entered into between all the par
| ties interested, under which Mrs French
| was to receive in cash the sum of $4,000
| and was also to have the remaining portion
of her share, amounting to about $350, 600
This latter fund, however was TO be placed
| in trust in the hands of the Union Trust
/ Company, of this city, the trust property
| estate upon the happening of certain con
| tingencies, as the death of Mrs. French
| without issue within the time limited, OF
1 the death of child she might have within
| that time. Upon the execution of this agree
| ment the case in the Floyd Circuit Cour
| was disposed of by the establishment of the
| codicil of the WILL as well as the will itself
| Mrs. French now resides with her husband
| i'm Minneapolis By the suit filed yesterday
| her attorneys expect to secure the amount:
| due them from that portion of her prop
| erty held by the Union Trust Company.