Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26
CHARLES CROCKER'S MILLIONS.
How They win be Divided--The Second
Son to Receive HIS Full share.


How They win be Divided--The Second
Son to Receive HIS Full share.
San Francisco Chronicle.
George Crocker, the second son of the
late Charles Croker, by remaining sober
for five years comes into the possession
not only Of 100000 worth of Southern
Pacific Railway bonds, but of one
eighth interest in his fathers estate as
well, the whole amount reaching $4,000
900.
George Croker is the second son of the
late millionaire. and was thirty-two years
old when his father died. He was his
mothers fayorite and the prodigal son OF
the family, When the will of Charles
Croker was published. in 1888, it was
generally understood that the undivided
one-eighth of his fortune which would
have passed to his son George, went to the
widow and two sons, Charles II. and Will
liam III. Croker. N4
This was what all the world supposed.
Only the members of the family, includ-
ing George himself, knew that there was
a chance for him to come into his full in
heritance. The family's friends supposed
him to be virtually disinherited, except
for his interest in the big ranch. BY his
mothers will he came into the family resi-
dence at California and Taylor streets.
The eighth of the Croker estate was left
to George Croker by secret trust with
his two brothers as the trustees. The
terms We're the same as those under which
the Southern Pacific bonds were left-con-
tinuous sobriety for five years. Judge
Daingerield's decision in the matter of
the bonds-that George Crocker had full
filled the terms of the trust-decided also
the secret trust, upon which the larger
part of the property depended.
Charles Crocker died in 1888. and for
some time his youngest son made no at
tempt to fulfill the trust conditions. On
September %, 1891 he made his start on
career of soberity and the time expired
last month. He at once made demand
to he placed in possession of the property
which his brothers held in trust and which,
both real estate and railway bonds, is in
corporated in the Crocker estate.
To settle the matter, an amicable suit
was brought and testimony very quietly
taken. Charles II. and William ii. Crock
er were the plaintiffs. and George Crock.
err. the beneficiary, the minor children OF
Charles f. and William II. Croker, and
Harriet V. Alexander, the defendants
The complaint carefully avoided all men,
ton of the important secret trust, speak.
ing only of the ye-hundred-thOusand
dollar transfer. On Tuesday last Judge
Daingeriield signed decree by which the
| bonds, with the accrued interest and
profits for eight years. and the one-eightl
| interest in the estate, with its income and
profits, were turned over to George Crock.
er, thus putting him on an equal footing
with his two brothers in their share of the
| fathers immense estate. and enrichinl
| him by very much larger sum than ht
would have received had he entered into
| his patrimony when the others did.
George Croker admitted that .Judg,
| Daingerfield's decree meant much NOR,
than was apparent on the face of it. II,
stated that he had come into possession
of his property at last.
William ii. Crocker and Charles f
Croker both declined to discuss the term.
of this secret trust, which they had hoppe
to keep away from the public. as strict
| ~ family matter. They admitted tina
they had been released from their trustee
ship.
There was rumor in 1894, whel
George Croker married Mrs. Rutherford
/ DTOIl
erty. This was not true, as his five year
of probation were not up.
The terms of the trust. according to tn
complaint in the Superior Court, We're a
follows:
And said written agreement furthe
provided and provides that if at any tim
within fifteen years after the death of sal
Charles Croker the said trustees or thei
survivors or successors shall be Statistic
that his son, the said George Crockel
shall. at any time after the said ODD da
of April, 1887, for the space of five year
continuously abstain from the use G
spirituous, vinous. and malt liquors to tn
extent that he shall not during sue
period have been intoxicated, then at sue
time the whole of said trust property wit
the interest thereon and the income there
of shall vest in and become the propert
of the said George Croker, and that tn
said trustees and their survivors and sl,
cessors shall thereupon assign, transfer
and deliver the same to said Georg
Crocker."
| 1t was further provided that shoul
J George Croker die without fulfilling I'll
condition of the trust, or fail, for any res
son, to observe such condition, the trus
property was to go in equal shares to til
children of Charles +. and William L
. Crocker and Mrs. Alexander.
Mr. and Mrs. George Croker have bee
living for the past six months at tn
Croker mansion, 100 California stree
Now that the big property interests hay
been transferred they will leave for til
, East and will pass the winter in Ne,
York.
Mrs. George Croker said: 1--WE al
! pleased that the whole thing is settle,
= Now my husband is an equal heir wit
! his brothers The one-cghth interest
! the Crocker estate. while ncminally h
, qucathcd TO the others. was, in fact. onl
. left to them under a secret agreement
trust for him."
. The property will probably he left
:, the syndicate, which includes the rairoa
stock and real estate left by Charl,
, Crocker which is regularly incorporate
! 1t was this syndicate which erected IL
! Crocker building.
|, He Did Not Know the Ropes.
7 Gen. Morgan of Illinois, who con
Il