The sun., 1896-10-09
100000 roR KEEPING sonrn
Young Croeker Avoided Intoxlcntion oo-
Five Years ana Claims the Fortune.

Tive henrs ana Claims the Fortune.
Fromthe san francisco Caronfci,
The Superior Court was asked yes. .erdoy IN
determine whether George Crockcr has bee, a..
sober man during the ras; five years. Cron
the determination of this question DEFENDS the
itgai right Of Crocker to n fortune OF moro than
100000.
George Crocker is a son of the late Charlie,
Crocker. Because Of his dssipatcd habits II.
was excluded from receiving his hare of l,,
fathers estate under his fathers will A,
now develops, provision was made for him in n
different way.
The question as to Crockers sobriety or ,orK
OF sobriety Is submitted for judicial dcrtcrmiun.
tion in n suit filed yesterday. The plaintiff,
in the action are Charles +. Crocker aud Wi.
liam II. Crocker as trustees Of n trust created
by their father on April 81, 1887. The defend.
ants are George Crocker. the beneficiary OF ihs
trust, and the minor children OF Charles r.
and William II. Croker. and Harriet V. Alex.
The complaint shows that the plaintiffs hoa
In trust 400 $1,000 bonds of the southern Pa.
ciho Branch hallway Company. They received
the bonds under an agreement which has been
in force ever since the death of Charles Crocker,
which occurred on Aug. II, 1883. Under the
the property free from any order of court. and
to receive and invest the income as they deemed
best. The complaint continues:
And said written agreement further provid.
ed and provides that IL at any time within
fifteen years after the death OF said Charles
Crocker the said trustees or their survivors or
sue ,essors shall be satisfied that his son. tho
said George Croker. shall, at any time
after the said 22d day OF April. 1887. for the
space OF 1--WE years continuously abstain from
the use of spiritOus, vinous, and malt liquors
to the extent that he shall not during such
period have been intoxicated, then at surh
time tho whole Of said trust property with tho
interest thereon and the income thereof shall
vest in and become the property OF the said
SeOrge Crocker, and that the said trustees and
their survivors and successors shall thereupon
assign. transfer. and deliver the same TO said
George Crocker."
1t was further provided that should George
Crecker die without fulfilling the condition OF
the trust. or fail, for any reason, to observe
such condition. the trust property was 10 10 In
equal shares TO the children of Char les F. and
Although Charles CTocker died in 1888 Geo.
Crocker for several years made no effort TO
meetthe condition imposed by his father. His
start on a career of sobrety was made on Sept.
%, 1891. The five years we're up last Tues
day: George now declares, that he was sober
during the entire time and has male n demand
upon his brothers 10 be placed in poe session OF
the property which they hold in trust.
The plaintiffs say in their complaint that
they are willing and ready TO deliver the prop.
erty. They have been advised. however, that
the defendants have right to question George s
declaration of his sobriety. For that reason they
are, unable 10 make delivery except at n great
personal risk. which they do not care 10 as
sumo. and hence their application To the court.
The plaintiffs ask for a judicial finding that
George is entitled TO his property; II such a
finding is had. they ask for judicial decree
thorizinE immediate delivery and conveyance
OF the property 10 the beneficiary of the trust,
Reference is made in the complaint TO the
will Of Crocker, dated May =. 1857. BY this
will the residue OF the estate was bequeathed
to his widow. Mary A. Cocker, and his sons.
Charles +. and William H. Crocker. An
the residue the property which had previously
been conveyed in trust for George Crocker.