The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-15
DISPUTES nER MorHEn's WILL.
Mrs. HREan Says Iru. sutherland Drank Hard
Deed to Louis v. some Attacked.

MRS. HnEan Saya Tru. sutherland Drank Hard
Deed to Louis ". sone Attached.
A contest OF tho will OF Mrs. Anna Suther-
land. who It ia supposed left at loast a quarter
OF a million dollars, is pending In the Surrogate's
Court. 1t il brought by her daughter, Mrs.
Katharine c.. X. Hagan. wife OF DR.. Hugh II.
Hagan. Mrs. SutherlAnd's father. Thomas
Fleming, was a wealthy man, who left HE estate
to his wife. Frances, for life, with remainder
over to his daughter. Mrs. sutherland. Frances
is now the wife of u MIR. Skinner. She is about
rs years old.
Mrs. Sutherland had two brothers, ono Of
whom, Francis c. Fleming. diod rich and child
less in 1882 before his father. Tho other.
Henry, was disinher'ted by his father and died
in 1885. Henry Fleming WAS sued by Mary AL
mont Alice Livingston Fleming for breach OF
promise OF marriage, and she secured q judg-
ment OF $4,000 against him. This was tho
Mrs. Fleming who was tried for poisoning her
mother and was acquitted. Louis V. Some, who
had operated in oil with Francis Fleming, was
appointed executor Of the Wills OF both brothers
and obtained a legacy from each.
The estate OF the elder Fleming yielded an in.
come of about $4,000 n year. Mrs. Sutherland
went into litigation over 1t and secured from her
mother n largo share OF it. Mrs. HaRan says
that Mrs. Sutherland became irresponsible soon
after getting tho property, and within two yoars
had disposed Of all OF 1t.
Mrs. Sutherland died Sept. 10, 1897. She made
her will April 3. 1897, at 7S4 West End avenue.
The last two years OF her lito she lived almost
alone and seldom saw any OF her friends or rolR-
tives. The contestant says she never went out,
never wrote to any one and was in the habit of
drinking a quart and n half of brandy II day.
Unable TO attend to her own affairs, 1t Is stated,
she left almost all her business to the attention
OF Lawyer Sidney Ward and Mr.. Some. 1t is
alleged that she was unduly Influenced.
As incidental to the attack on the will, Mrs.
HaEan attacks n deed which her mother made
in April. 1895, TO Some, and says IL was executed
ms part Of n scheme to secure her mothers
estate. Mrs. Hagan states that when this deed
was executed her mother was n habitual
drunkard, the victim OF paralysis and mentally
incompetent. The deed conveys her interest in
father to Sono in consideration that he pay her
So 900 a year for life with an income TO her
mother II the estate warranted. 1t Is stated
that tho deed was taken with the knowled &c
that Mrs. Sutherland could not 1.-Two long. The
contract was drawn by Sidney Ward, who had
been her fathers attorney.
Under the will the contestant receives 81. 600;
Barbara and Kitty Sutherland. stepdauGhtors
who 1.-Two in England, get 1000 between them.
and Mrs. Barbara Fcnwick $4,000. She also
lives In England. Lawyer Sidney Ward re.
ceives 7.00O; Ernest Harvicr and Cecilia HAr
vier. cousins OF the testatrix. ST 900 each; Kate
Fitzgerald. her servant. So, 900. and her cook
Mary Boyle, 81, 900. The executors are Louis
V. Some and Sidney Ward.
Pending tho contest the Surrogate has ap
pointed tho Union Trust Company temporary
administrator.