The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-17
THE A. J. FORD ESTATE.
THE CONTROL or THE vfLTdBLE
PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS.
The Children Prov ided fora Long Litiga-
ton Attended by Acerbity and Family
Friction-About $50 900 for Counsel.

The clefk of the Chancery Court has
been busy since the adjournment OF that
court, on Friday, entering on the records
the decree signed by Judge Lamb that
day In the suits relating to the Ford
trust estate. and 1t viii take until the as
sembling OF the court to morrow morning
to complete the work. The suits prac-
ticaly terminated by this decree consist
ed Of three separate cases, which have
been pending for about five years. The
litigation has not only been 4 long one,
but as the dispositions show, has been
surrounded by acerbity and family fric-
ton uncommonly disagreeable in its
nature.
CLAIMING THEIR RIGHTS.
1t was thi' case Of the children of A.
j. Ford, asserting their rights and inter-
ests in an estate of the value OF some
$4,000, which they claimed had been
accumulated from the use OF the trust
iunus originally invested FOR their Deneht,
subject only TO the life estate OF their
mother they claimed that a. j. Ford,
acting as trustee. had violated his duties
and exceeded his powers, and had sought
not only a diversion of the trust FUNDS
from their original purpose, bur had I'M
dertaken TO absolutely destroy tne
rights Of the children 10 the tee-simpie
estate, which would belong 20 them upon
the death of their mother and that he had
attempted not only TO enlarge MS own
powers and interests, but TO create ana
entail the estate so that II would no.
be subject to partition until tWenty-ohe
years after the death of the last survivor
OF his children.
INCAPABLE OF COMPROMISE.
This part OF the controversy was in
capable OF compromise, and but Tor tn ls
situation of affairs the litigation mishs
have been ended long ago: II involVel
the question OF rights OF infantS now
living, and such grandchildren OF a. D.
Ford as might be born to his children,
The question as to the power or the
trustee under the original deed, ana Ihe
effect Of subsequent transactions unuvI
and by virtue of the new trusts sought 10
be created. were passed upon by the court,
and as declared I'm the degree were lyl1
TO be unlawful nun anu 'o' to
and decreed all the properly ~
The children: and IN order
10 right the title TO the many "a 81
GELS of real estate embraced IN lhe so li,,
uia of the trust assets the court appolill-
90 Mr. Edgar Allan n special c0ihiiiis
sionor TO convey each and every piece oi
property named I'm the schedule 10 Messrsi,
Edmund Waddill, Jr., Is. H. Muilo l,d' CT nf
Preston Cooke. as trustees in the place OF
A l. Ford. resigned. TO be held by lhen'
under and subject 20 the powers trus,s;
conditions. and limitations OF the origiila,
deed of trust executed Dy w imam
Fonfaine. on the I'D of March. 1862
RETAINS THE HOTEL"
Those questions of legh right deter
mined compromisos creditable TO the par
lies woe entered into looking 10 an
ample provision. first, for Mrs. A. >,
| Ford who was entitled to support LOT
NE. secondly. By consent on the part OF
the children 10 allow their fatner' \. >.
| Ford. 10 remain i'm possession OF the
| Ford's Hotel for his life at yearly rem
tn which substantially allowed MIN "
da, a wear for his life by reducing the rent
| thar amount below the actual rental Ndiue
| ON the property. IL further appeared that
| \. J. Ford. trustee. had forfeited ms
! LEGAL commissions by reason OF MS failure
| 10 make an annual settlement OF his ac-
| counts. but the children consented 70 al
| low him the sum of $1,000 as compensa-
| ton for his services I'm the management
of the trust property
ABOUT $4,000 FOR COUNSEL.
Mr.. Edgar Allan and Judge Edmund
| WaddU Jr. represented the Ford chill
| dren. Ncssrs. Meredith x Cooke and the
| late Leigh r. Page were counsel for Mrs
| Ford. while Messrs. Staples and Munford
| defendant 4. }. Ford as trustee through
| out the entire litigation.
| About $4,000 was decreed to be paid
! out 20 the various counsel In the case not
! including Messrs. Allan and Waddill. who
| are understood 10 have a special contract
with the children represented by them
| for their compensation on the successful
| issue of the suits.