New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-03
REPORT AGAINST WILLIS y. PAINE.
WILL CONTEST THROWS OUT GER
TAIN ACCOUNTS

Ex-Judge William y Cohen. the referee appoint
ed year TO pass upon the accounts OF Willis
5. Paine. formerly State Superintendent Of Banking
and president Of the Merchants Safe Deposit Com
pany, administrator OF the will of his wife. Ruby
Tlden Paine yesterday filed his report In the Sur
rogates Court. He throws out certain accounts
and 20 a certain extent justihes the objections of
the brothers and sisters OF Mrs Paine who brought
suit for accounting
Mrs Paine was a niece Of the late Samuel ].
Tilden. She died in December, 1896 at her home,
No. 155 West Forty-eIghth-st leaving estate
valued than s3Oo000. Her husband obtained
letters OF administration, but unable 10 find
any will for more than a year after the wife's
death. after Samuel J. Tilden. a brother and other
relatives had brought suit When the will was
finally produced it found that she had provided
only Slot,l year for life TO her husband, instead
of leaving him the Of the entire S3OO0oG
A number or suits were brought in the courts
after Mrs Pane's death and of these took the
form of accusation that Mr. Paine had destroyed
the will of his wife avoid the payment of certain
sums OF money which Mrs Paine had left TO her
sisters.
In his report ex-Judge Cohen says that Mr.. Paine
did not due diligence in hunting for the will
which the latter found after long
time within the leaves OF the testimony in regard
10 The receivership of TIE POND Bank-a tTansae-
ton which occurred in The referee throws out
certain accounts for the reason that TO liability
would have been incurred against the estate II due
diligence had been used in hunting Il Up. and If
benefciaries under the will 20 carry out the
wishes OF the testatriX had been shown
on May Is 1894. che report says. Ar. and Mrs.
Paine both made wills. which paced together
in an envelope and deposle IN a box IN the Lin
coin Safe DEPOSIT vaults. In November OF the same
year Mrs Paine took her husbands will from the
box and gave IL him. Her Will was supposed 70
have remained there. Mrs. Paine died on Decenl-
Der 90 1886 ard was buried IL WOodlawn De-
cember %. Mr.. Paine went 10 Lakewood after the
funeral and remained there until JAM airy Z, when
he came 10 New-YoTk and went TO the safe deposit
/ vault 10 look for some papers referring 20 MS
fathers estate.
The referee says that Mr.. Paine made no search
for the will at that time nOr for some days. the
to do so without witnesses. on January l3, how
ever Mrs Henrietta T. BlRtchford and Mrs. Susan
T Sabu sisters Of his wife. went with Kim 70 the
vaults and there. with the superintendent as an
ether witness. the box was opened The Will was
found for nearly year. when MI PAINE pro-
duced II. He had in the mean time sworn tha'
no will made.
Ex-Judge Cohen says that Mr.. Paine appeared a
little TOO hasty get himself appointed admins
traitor. and that Mr.. Paine. being q lawyer Knew
the advantage himself n case no will should De
found.
Among the items in Mr. Paine's accounts that are
not allowed 3GO0 for attorneys services IN
making examinations in relation TO the transfer
! tax $3.50 premium his bond adninistr or,
500 another bond. 500 for accountants SD for
attorneys services in getting letters OF adnnistra
tion. certain other items that refer 20 the III
neral expenses and flowers