The record-union., 1894-10-25
TEE SCROGGS ESTATE QUARREL.
Alexander's Answer to His Brother
and Sister.
Another Chapter in the Litigation
Over an Estate Valued at
Some $4,000.

The contest between the children of
the late Alexander Scroggs as to who
shall be appointed administrator of the
latter's estate, valued at $4,000, bids fair
to occupy the attention of the Superior
Court for some time to come, and when
the matter comes up in court the contest
will wax hot.
Yesterday Alexander Scroggs, Jr., filed
petition in the Superior Court for letters
Of administration on his fathers estate.
This petition makes the fourth one al
ready filed
lie has ALSO by his attorney. Charles Z.
hlelnsorge, filed an answer to the suit
brought against him and his brother
John c. Scroggs and the latter's wife,
Mary L. Scroggs, by Frank E. Reichert,
Preston G.. Wermuth and their wives
sisters OF his) for the cancellation
and annulment of deeds OF their fathers
estate, executed by him to the defend
ants. 1t was alleged in the complaint
that the deeds from the deceased were OBJ
tanned by reason of his feebleness, and
by being threatened by the defendants
that they would become unfrlendly to
him, and refuse 10 care for him if he did
not convey his property to them.
Scroggs in his answer denies that be
in any litigation, and thereby to induce
him to make the conyeyances described.
or 10 induce him to turn over TO the de-
PENDANTS his personal property upon any
consideration whatever. He also denies
that he ever attempted to or did deceive
his father with reference TO the latter's
property. He denies that he received
any personal property under any of the
conveyances referred to other than TO re-
ceive the sum of $3.50 in money. Further
answering the complaint he says he dis
claims any intention TO claim any interest
in the property embraced in the deeds,
except that he is entitled TO receive the
sum of $4,000 out of the estate before any
division of il is made, Tor the reason that
during his fathers lifetime he volun-
tarily mingled with the property OF his
father, property valued at -, 900, derived
from the estate Of his mother. lie also
claims an undivided one-quarter interest
in the residue Of the property OF his
fathers estate.
He also states in his answer that he be-
lieves John Z. Scroggs and his wife, Mary
Il. Scroggs, unduly influenced Scroggs,
Sr., iii the matter OF the disposition OF his
property 10 the detriment of the plaintiffs
at times when he was domiciled with
them, and was suffering great bodily
pain. He also declares that his 1ather
was unduly influenced when he was i'll
and suffering both mentally and phys
ically, by representing 10 him that the
plaintiffs. Aimira j. Reichert and Sarah
/. Wermuth, We're anfrendly to him;
that they were disobedient and lack ed
affection for him, and that they threat
ened to institute proceedings at law
touching the possession and ownership of
the property.
The answer also alleges that John c.
Scroggs ana his wife unduly influenced
Seroggs, ST., In the matter of dlspoSing
OF his property, by taking an unfair ad-
vantage OF his weakness OF mind and
body, and by refusing TO permit him to
take his meals with them until he should
accede to their demands Tor control Of his
business. Ii is also alleged iii the answer
that the deeds were executed under the
belief that they were i'll the nature Of
deeds OF trust; and it was not the desire
OF the deceased to convey all of his prop
Crty 10 the grantees 10 the exclusion of
Mrs. keichert and Mrs. NermGth. 1t is
averred i'll the answer that the action of
John c. Scroggs in suggesting and in
duclng the mlngllng OF his and his
brother Alexander's interest with the
property of their father was with the
view and intent TO place himself in a po-
sition TO claim an interest in the real es-
tate, and thereby give color to his de-
mands for control of all of the real es-
tate and enable him TO overreach dece-
dent and plaintiffs, and procure title to
cheat and defraud The plaintiffs.
The court Is ask ed to restrain John {.
Scroggs and his vile from involving any
OF the real estate or dSpoSing OF the
same. and that an accounting be had.