The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-01
HOW AN ESTATE SHRUNk.
Sensational Averments in the
Probate Case of E. Ken
nedy'S Estate.
DECEASED WAS QUITE WEALTHY
The Only. Surviving Direct Heir
Sues for an Accounting After
Many Years.

The filing of petitions for distribution in
the estates of Edward Kennedy Amelia
Marie Kennedy and Edward T. Kennedy
yesterday constituted the initial move in
the investigation of an estate in probate,
which in essential detail suggests Dick
ems famous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce.
Ever since 1873 the Kennedy estate and
estates have been in probate. There has
never been even partial distribution.
According to the record of the Probate
Court the estate of Edward Kennedy at the
time of his death in 1873 was worth $3.50, 600.
According to the facts and figures gathered
by the attorneys now seeking final dis
tribution-W. I. Baggett and w. Linforth
and corroborated by the only surviving
direct heir. Frederick Eugene Kennedy,
the property to-day is not worth over
$25, 600, and Frederick Eugene Kennedy is
also responsible for the statement that the
heirs have received virtually nothing from
the estate of Kennedy pere during the last
twenty-five years and that during that
time real estate values have been enhanced
from 25 to 50 per cent.
Edward Kennedy was a pioneer. For
many years he was in business with T. R.
Hopkins. They owned and operated the
Genesee dourmills and had valuable prop
erty in Monterey Kennedy had hobby.
Most of his surplus capital was invested in
corner lots in this City. He would buy
nothing but corner lots if possible. That
was his mania. The property adjoining
corner might be just as valuable, but the
corner he must have. In consequence his
investments were all of character that
| fulfilled the promise of rich returns.
| On his death he left will bequeathing
| half his property to his widow, Amelia
Marie Kennedy, and the other half to
Theron r. Hopkins and l.. L. Blood. as
| trustees, to hold in trust until the youngest
of his three children came of age.
That youngest child is the sole surviv-
ing direct heir, Frederick Eugene Ken
nedy, now in his twenty eighth year. The
other children were Edward T. and Anne
| liza Victoria Kennedy. The former died,
| leaving wife and, child, and the death of
| the girl occurred before she attained her
ma jority.
| The elder Kennedy, SO the record shows,
left the following described property: A
| lot at the corner of Sansome and Gold
streets, 57:6x119, valued at $4,000; an
other piece of property at the corner of
| Front and Pacific streets, 1877 :6x147, val
ued at $34, 700 sold soon after the appraise-
ment to Senator Fair for 100000; a lot at
| the corner of Sansome and Pacific, 22:11x
6S %, where the old st. Helena Hotel used
to stand, valued at $4,000; a 50-vara lot at
the corner of Bay and Hyde, valued at
| S45, 600, and a 50-vara lot at the corner of
| Van Ness avenue and Chestnut street. val
ued at $4,000.
| Besides this property enumerated on the
| records, Frederick Eugene Kennedy claims
| that balf-interest in the Genesee -four
lie he Nnrfxy of No, oxyn
never been accounted for to the court or to
the heirs.
Before decree of distribution had been
made in the estate OF Kennedy Sr. the
widow, Amelia Marie Kennedy, died, and
A. Chaigneau, her brother, was appointed
administrator of the estate. The estate of
the father was closed in 1877, but no decree
of distribution was ever made in the other
half of the estate left to Hopkins and Blood
as trustees of the three minor children.
Afterward Hopkins resigned, and Blood
continued as trustee alone until his death,
when Prosper Hueron, of Panama canal
fame, was appointed. He continued to act
until his death, which occurred two years
ago. He was succeeded by ]. J. O'Farrell,
who is still the trustee.
When the widow of the original Ken
nedy died two wears after her husbands de-
mise in 1875, she left will bequeathing to
her mother $4,000, to distant relative
$4,000, and the residue of her half of the
main estate to her three children-Fred-
erick Eugene, Amelia Victoria and Ed
ward T. Kennedy. In October, 1884, Anne
will her share of the property reverted
to her two brothers, Edward T. and Fred
erick Eugene Kennedy.
Edward I. Kennedy. the eldest son, was
married in 1889. He died, leaving one
child. He died without a will, and the
property which constituted his interest in
the estate of his mother and father went
to his widow and child, the latter being
named Edna V. Kennedy.
In the petition for final distribution 1t is
set forth that the widow of Edward Ken
nedy Sr. received no benefit from the es-
tate during the two years she survived her
husband, and that the property comprising
her half was not diminished in value. The
daughter, Amelia Victoria, being minor
at the time of her death, had not touched
the principal, and it is set forth that she
also received no benefits from the estate,
leaving her share of the property intact at
the time of her death. Edward T. Ken
nedy, the married son, is likewise repre-
sented as having received no benefit from
the estate before his death. He and his
wife and child as well as Frederick Eugene
Kennedy, the only surviving direct heir. it
is set forth, never received more than $40
month, whereas the original allowance
was between two and three hundred dol
lars month.
Attorney Linforth in discussing the re-
markable evolution of the estate yesterday
afternoon, in connection with the facts
and figures set forth in the papers of rec
ord, said:
In 1873 the estate was estimated to be worth
a quarter of a million dollars Now it is doubt
fuf if the heirs could place their hands on
$15 900 worth of property. 1t is remarkable,
to say the least, and the denouement will be
awaited with excited expectancy.
AS the records show, Mrs. Chaigneau
was appointed guardian of the estate and
of ILL., H. IL