The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-16

The publication In the Post Inteiligencer
vesterday morning OF the story that Miss
Marie Carrau. a teacher Of French. whose
nome Is at fl17 Seventh avenue with ner
brother-in-hw. L. Doussat and vie,
claimed the entire $4,000 estate OF the
late pioneer, John Sullivan, under an al
legged nuncupative viii. was the sensation
Of the hour. In street cars. under rain
drenched umbrellas IN cafes and at the
ireside the problems brought into bold
relief by the latest development In what
win 10 down In history az the sullivan
viii case, were eagerly discussed.
Under the statutes OF Washington
nuncupative will is legal n spoken and
proved ir accordance with law. All that
Misc Carrau has TO do in order TO acquire
the entire, or part Of the estate, Is 10
convince the court of the genuineness OF
the will, and that II was the voluntary
oct Of the old pioneer.
It 10 possible that she might have
eroubie in acquiring title TO the real es-
tate involved. Some attorneys, claim that
the statute relating tosnuncupatiye Wills
applies only to personal property. and
that will must be IN writing In order to
pass title to real estate. on account OF
what II known an the statute. Of fraud.
This statute says explicitly that convey
ances must be In writing $500
A. yet the alleged nuncupative will has
not been offered for PROBATE How soon
It will be il predetermined. Attorney w.
r. Hays, who has Miss Carrati's case In
hand. was in Portland yesterday. He Will
return this morning. His brother said
yesterday afternoon that he could not
give even an approximate idea when the
Interesting document would be submitted
to the court.
The case h already commencing to as
sumo complex conditions and before 1t
IL settled II Will rival the Yesier sensa-
tion and approach, II not equal. many
Of gan Ffancisco'sr celebrated entanKlc.
ments. At the present time. or prelimin-
ary stages. the contest assumes the as
pect of triangle. The state Of Wash
ington Is interested on the assumption
that there are no heirs, In. which case
the property would revert to tho state
for the benefit OF the common schools
OF King county.
The second faction, or more properly
group OF contestants. are alleged heirs.
In addition to Mrs. George Cramer and
John, and Dennis Sullivan all OF Butte.
Mont. whose claims have already been
stated In the Observation-Disclosures. two more
have appeared on the scene. They are
J. J. Sullivan. managing editor of the
Mirror. a st. Louis newspaper; Miss Nellie
sullivan. Of Larkapur. Cal. and John F.
Lynch. OF 5s4 Market street. San Fran
cisco.
The third factor IL Miss Marie carrau,
the alleged nancee Of the dead man.
some Mere sullivans.
j. J. Sullivan asserts that his father,
Cornelius sullivan, was brother OF John
sullivan. Mr.. Lynch has written letter
which II now In the hands OF John Wal
lace. chief deputy county clerk. Mr..
Lynch says: my mother had an uncle
named John Sullivan IT has been years
since we heard from him. but he was
last heard of In Seattle. He was unmar-
RED hold citizenship papeHs and photo
graphs OF the Sullivan family; also the
papers Of one John sullivan. I wish you
would not settle the estate until hear
from you.'
Miss Nellie Sullivan says she has every
reason to believe that John Sullivan. OF
Seattle. was her uncle. ar she had an
uncle by that name and when last heard
from he was In Seattle.
Marie Carrau Is by far tho most inter
nearly t6o00oo She IL not only interest
Ing. owing to the circumstances which
place her before the public. but also az an
individual. She Ii good looking, may be
10 years old. but she would pass for
younger woman. She speaks with slight
French accent
She lives with her brother-sn-iaw. L.
Daussat and wife. at 14i7 Seventh avenue
where Mr.. Sullivan died Mr.. Daussai Is
one Of the managers OF local cafe.
In conversation with Post Int iiigrn-
Ger reporter last evening Miss Carrau re-
Waved the story printed In the Post IN
teiliGcncer yesterday morning concerning
and the words which she contends viii
give her his fortune. The story was pro-
nounccd correct by her.
Il am not prepared" said Miss Car
rau. ITO enter Into a detailed story at
this time, What you have already saie
Is true, and when the proper time comes
Alleged heirs seem to be numer-
ous." said the reporter and Il looks a n