New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-10
BLAIR WILL A PUZZLER.
COURT ASKED TO CONSTITUTE 1.-THE
TESTATOR MUCH RICHER THAN
HE THOUGHT.

Trenton, N. J.. July Ode Witt c. Blair. ex-
ecutor of John 1. Blair filed bill in the Court
OF Chancery to-day for a construction of Mr..
Blair's will There Is question whether the
grandchildren shall receive such portions of
stocks and securities especially bequeathed as
were found belonging to the estate. shall
ee1Ve from the residue of the estate amount
sufficient to make UP for missing stocks. The
VIII was made long ago. and MIR. Blair subse-
quently sold some OF the stocks bequeathed.
The proceeding Is of a friendly nature, and
millions of dollars are involved; but the suit is
unusual in many respects. and particularly in
that the papers show Mr. Blair worth sew
eral millions of dollars more when he died than
he really thought
The bill is filed by De Witt c. Blair az an In
dividual beneficiary and also executor and
as trustee of the estate under the will. 1t sets
forth that John l. Blair, late OF Blairstown, n.
J., died on December p 1890, and that his will
proved December %. The bill enumer-
ates stocks valued at between S20OOOOOO and
$50. O00. 900. which were mentioned in the will.
and which constituted part of the trust of the
executor. Some of the bonds have become value
less. the corporations having ceased to exist.
while others have greatly increased. The bill
then tells of the various trusts created, and
says:
Your orator is Informed by certain OF the
benefciaries under said trusts that their con-
structon of the will is that there shall be sub
stituted out of the estate other securities for
those mentioned in the Will and given to your
orator in trust, wsich were not In the state at
the time Of the testator's death. but your orator
is not informed what principle IL is claimed
that such substitution should be made. Your
orator desires instruction and a decision of the
court with reference to the rights and duties OF
the beneficiarte%
The bill covers sixty-two printed pages. and
each page sets forth complication arising by
reason of the death of of the benefciaries
or by the decrease of the value of bonds be-
queathed by the increase of their value.
a feature OF the bill is that. although De Witt
c. Blair is empowered under the will to settle
all disputes arising. ne nevertheless asks the
courts aid to carry out the actual intentions Of
his father and he particuarizes the complca-
tons under which he asks the courts advice
The bill. in part. sets forth that:
Dewitt c. Blair is the only surviving child Of
John /. Blair. The defendant, Charles Scr1bner,
is son of Emma Elizabeth Blair. a daughter or
said testator. who died before the date OF said
will. and of Charles Scribner. her husband.
Charles Scribner the defendant. married Louisa
Flegg both of whom are now living at NO. II
East Thirty-eighth- st IN the city of New-York
OF this marriage there were issue the defeno.
ants Louise Scribner an infant over the age of
fourteen years. and Charles Scrtbner 1r-, an IN
FAINT under the age of fourteen years. Both or
the infants live with their parents In NewYor
The defendant Arthur II. SCribner. IS a son OF
Emma Elizabeth Blair. daughter of the tes-
tator and her husband. Said defendant married
Helen Amman, both of whom live at the Hotel
Renaissance. No 10 West Forty-third-st. New
York City. There is no issue of this marriage
The defendant Emma SCribner Larned. is a
daughter OF Emma Elizabeth Blair. and her hus-
band Said defendant Is married to the defend
ant. Walter Cranston Larned both of whom live
IN the city OF Lake Forest, ILL., OF this marriage
there were issue: Elsie Blair Larned, who died
unmarried before the death OF the testator: the
defendant. Frances Green Larned, who lives in
| the city OF Lake Forest. Ill: the defendant Wal
ter Cranston Larned. jr.. an infant over the age
of fourteen years; the defendant, John L Blair
Larned an infant over the age of ourteen years;
the defendant. Edward Claiming Larned, an in
FAINT under the age of fourteen years. All live
with their parents in the city of Lake Forest.
The defendant. Isabella Scribner Fitz Hugh, is
n daughter of Emma Elizabeth Blair and her
PENDANT Carter Harrison Fitz Hugh. both OF
whom live in the city OF Lake Forest Ill OF
this marriage there were issue the defendants.
Mildred Fitz Hugh. Carter Harrison FttZ Hugh.
IT. Emma Blair Fftz Hugh Virginia F'itz Hugh.
all OF whom are under the age of fourteen years
and live with their parents J. Blair Scribner.
who is mentioned in the will. was son OF Emma
Elizabeth Blair and her husband He died on
January 90 1879. leaving a widow, who is still
| living. ]. Blair Scribner never had any chill
| dren.
De Witt c. Blair explains that the bill is filed
as the first formal step toward closing UP the
Blair estate; that there several trusts in the
will that might continue for a great many years.
| and II is advisable to have the rights of the
| benefciaries and the duties of the executor and
| trustee fixed by the court"
| The bill is signed by GeorSe w Shipman. as
solicitor and John W. Griggs William H. Horn
| blower and James T. Byrnes as counsel The
whole estate is estimated by experts TO be worth
| S5O000.000.
| FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH TURKEY