The San Francisco call., 1896-11-09
AN ACTION TO
BREAK A WILL
The Estate of Carlton c.
Coleman Now in the
Courts.
Charges That He Was OF I'm
sound Mind and Unduly
Influenced.
MUCH PROPERTY INVOLVED.
Grave Complications That Affect the
Interests of a Boy Now
Twelve Years Old.

A case of unusual interest is soon to be
heard in the Probate Court. The interest
lies not only in the fact that large and
valuable estate is in controversy, but also
in the prominence of the parties whose
names are involved in the action. 1t Is
contest of the will of the late Carton
Chinn Coleman by Mrs. Edith Banding
Coleman on behalf of her 12-year-old son,
William Tell Coleman.
Many years ago G. c. Coleman, son of
the late William 7. Coleman, led Miss
Edith Blanding to the altar, and the fruit
of that union was the boy VINO now figures
in this case. The marriage did not prove
to be what was expected and desired, for
several years ago the couple were legally
separated, the minor son being awarded 10
the mother, Who secured her part of the
community property.
Z. Z. Coleman went to reside with his
mother, Mrs. Carrie NJ. Z. Coleman, and
after long illness he died on October 49,
1895. Deceased left an estate in United
States bonds and equally good securities
valued at about $50, 5,000 after all his debts
were paid. In his will he disposed of his
property in a peculiar manner. Unoer its
provisions the Union Trust Company was
made the executor. The latter was only
TO allow the boy 500 per month until he
was q years OF age. From that time un-
til he was 30 years old the young man
could only draw the interest or revenue
from the estate.
If the lad died before he reached his
thirtieth year the entire property was to
go to his (deceas d's) mother, Mrs. Will
liam L. Coleman. Matters became badly
complicated by the death of Mrs. w. L.
Coleman on May of thisy ear, and by her
will she left most all OF present and pros
DeCtlVe estates IN her sOn Robert T. Cole
man. Her estate was appraised at about
$40O, 600. Her estate also was left in the
hands of the Union Trust Company, and
she set aside about $55, 900 for her grand
son, William L. Coleman, under precisely
the same conditions as the father-that
the lad should have an allowance, but
that in the event of his death before his
thirtieth year the entire estate should so
to Robert l.. Coleman.
Mrs. Edith B. Coleman, in her contest
that was filed yesterday, pays no attention
to the will of her boys grandmother, but
as guardian for her son she attacks the
will OF Carlton G. Coleman with vigor. In
her statement she sets forth that the
drawing of the will was irregular in
many respects; that Coleman's will was
not signed by Carlton Chinn Coleman
nor was 1t signed by his direction.
Further that it was not witnessed in his
presence and last that at the time the will
was made Carlton Z. Coleman, by reason
OF his sickness, was not OF sound mind.
The allegation 1urther sets forth that
Carlton Chinn Coleman was
Unduly Influenced by his mother. Carrie NJ
=. Coleman, who wholly controlled and ire
sistlbly Influenced the testator and who cher
ished the most bitter enmity toward the petit
TONER and his mother, Edith Banding
Coleman. The said Carrie NJ. p. Coleman was
a woman of strong will and overbearing and
domineering disposition and easily ard CON
tinuously Influenced her son.
Actuated by her unnatural and intense
ha red OF petitioner and his mother she poi
soned the mind of Carlton Chinn Coleman
against his offspring and Edith Banding Cole
man ana influenced MIN TO deprive them OF
mother OF petitioner was extravagant and
would squander the fortune if il were left to
petitioner, whose guardian she is.
An attorney who is more or less inter-
ested in the case stated that Mrs. E. b.
Coleman Is IN no way concerned III the
matter except as the guardian for her
child, whom she desires TO see put in pos
session of his fathers estate. He saia, in
substance, that the allegations of undue in
huence on the part of Mrs. w. T. Coleman
are true to the letter and are apparent to
all familiar with the facts. He said that
the same hand that drew up Mrs. Villa M
I. Coleman's will and made such peculiar
and unnatural conditions also made the
will OF Carlton Chinn Coleman.
He said: Carleton G. Colman's will is so
drawn that the boy cannot secure the
DEMENT'S Of his fathers estate. If he dies
before he Is twenty-one the estate goes to
his uncle, who is already a very wealthy
man. Suppose that after the lad reaches
his majority he should marry and have
children and then die before he reaches
his thlrtleth year why his widow ana
children would be left penniless. Under
the will they could not secure a cent of
their husband and fathers estate which
would all go to man already wealthy.
1t Is unfair and unnatural and the
document on its face shows the handi-
work of some one other than the bows
father, Carlton c. Coleman. Whose handi-
work and influence caused that will to be
drawn Is also apparent by the terms OF
Mrs. William I. Coleman's Will, which
are identical In every particular with
those OF her son. Mrs. Edith Il. Coleman
makes her claims dispassionately for her
boy"
The Union Trust Company has been
cited to appear in court on November 20
ana show cause why the will should not
be revoked. As rule trust companies do
not waste much time lighting such cases,
so 1t is expected that the active contest
Will be made by Robert Lewis Coleman,
VINO Is now one of the most interestep
parties In the case.