The evening world., 1894-06-22
WANT TRUSTEES REMOVED.
Heirs Say Hermit Richardson's
Estate Is Mismanaged
Mr.. Washburn Accused Of Appropri-
ating Funds for His Own Uso.

An application was made to Surrogate
Arnold to-day for the removal OF WILL
lam T. washburn, Mary X. Washburn
and Emma II. Richardson, trustees and
executors OF the estate OF the late Ben
jamin Richardson. the eccentric Harlem
real estate owner and millionaire.
The motion was made by Charles II.
Beckett, counsel for the heirs at law,
and he openly charged the trustees
with fraud and dishonesty in the con-
duct OF the affairs of the estate, and
he submitted afiidavits in support of his
charges.
Richardson died In 1889. leaving an es-
tate estimated to be worth 10000 900
which consisted largely of real estate in
Harlem. lie also owned large amount
OF real estate in several Western cities
Under the will all the relatives received
bequests
Mrs. Louisa Burrill was left 5000 and
she brought an action to break the Will
claiming to be Richardson's common
law wife. The action was settled out OF
court and II was generally Understood
that the executors had paid Mrs. Burrell
S5O 900 to COMPROMISE the matter.
Much to the surprise OF the heirs. the
Mutual .ife Insurance Company have
recently begun thirty-one separate fore
'ibNuIt SulNS against lIlt lOl lllpi
Eaves on the property held by the Com
pany.
The interested parties at once began
an accounting proceeding. and although
the accounting is not yet completed the
removal of the executors and trustees
was to-day asked foT
Lawyer Beckett stated that he would
executors had drawn s5o.oOo from the
funds OF the estate and converted the
money. to their own use. He further
alleged that the estate had been loaned
$50, 900. but for what purpose he said
was not clear.
He said that the check books showed
that 5000 had been used by William T.
Washburn to pay the accounts OF his
ther charged that. from the time Mr..
Washburn took charge OF the estate up
to June. 1893, when an accounting be-
counts had been kept in very slipshod
and unbusinesslike manner.
Under the provisions Of the will the
executors are directed to sell the real
tling the various bequests, This has
not been done, and Mr.. Beckett charges
that the evidence on the accounting
shows that 100000 OF money belonging
to carry on a litigation on a patent
right. In which one OF the legatees
holds an interest.
Lawyer Beckett said:
"In manv cases the course pursued by
Executor Washburn, II i was not such
a serious matter to those interested,
would be really laughable:
This course is nothing less than
robbery. and I say here TO the faces of
these executors that they have de-
frauded these legatees out OF their lega-
cies. have sGuandered the money and
| so involved the estate that to-day but
mere pittance of the vast estate is
left"
It was further alleged that when set
Ting with Mrs. Burrill. the executors
| failed to secure a release from her OF
| her dover right in the estate. and thai
| this oversight threatens to involve tht
estate In endless litigation, and tina
already Mrs. Burrill has begun twenty
seven different suits against persons Il
whom Mr.. Richardson gave warrante'
deeds of property during his life.
Various other charges OF m!smanage
ment were made. among them beinl
that the taxes on the estate had no
been paid for four years.
FIX Surrogate Daniel G. Rollins. coun
sci for the executors. entered a genera
denial OF all the charges and said h
would submit affidavils to prove then
false. He was very semphatic in hi
statements that the charges against hi
clients were untrue.