The times., 1901-03-13
THE GILMAN CONTEST OFF.
An Agreement Reached Between the
Many Claimants.

NEW YORK. March 12.-There will be
no fight for the fortune of George F. Gill
man, who died recently in Bridgeport.
That decision Is the result of several
conferences held today between the rep
resentatives of the various interests in
the estate.
Subject to legal requirement and to the
formal assent of all OF Mr. Gilman's
heirs, an agreement was made whereby
the estate will he equally divided among
those who have valid claims to share in
the property OF the merchant. Mrs. Hall
will be included among the beneficiaries.
The preliminary steps toward this
agreement were determined on this af-
ternoon at the conferences referred to.
Tonight a further conference was held by
the lawyers of the different claimants, at
which it is understood the final details
were arranged Henry Z. Knox, who for
a great many years was the legal adviser
Of George F. Gilman. was mainly instru-
mental in bringing about friendly ter
mination to what promised 10 be pro-
tracted and costly fight in the courts.
Mr.. Knox knew the exact value of the
estate He was aware, probably better
than anyone else, Of the merits of the
claims which Mr.. Gllman's relatives had
against the property, and If the million
aire left either a deed or a viii in favor
Of Mrs. Helen Hall. Mr.. Knox would prob
ably have drawn up the instrument
To the representations which Mr. Knox
was able to make to the prospective lid
giants, it was said today. the decision TO
divide the estate without resorting to the
courts was due.
That Mrs. Hall had in her possession
some ante-mortem documents which
would give her the right to intervene in
any contest that might have been begun
between the full-blood and half-blood
relatives is no longer doubted. But, as
was ascertained on good authority today,
Mrs. Hall and her advisers realized the
extreme improbability Of either deed or
"A will being upheld by the courts In view
Of the known eccentricity OF Mr Gilman.
and of the stress which the opposing fac
tors would lay upon the influence which
Mrs. Hall might have exerted over the
old man.
1t was for this reason that whatever
testament Mrs. Hall had has not been
publicly produced The explanation is
made that she merely desired to make
lise of il To insist that she should receive
scme benefit from the estate.
Frazier Gilman, who represents the
half-blooc heirs, said today that the total
value OF the property. so far could be
asceTtained was not more than about
$500. ooo. Like the Black Rock property
many of the real holdings OF Mr.. Gilman
We're mort "a ged.
According to the terms of the tentative
settlement. sS0NUo0 will be set aside to ad-
minister the estate, to pay the necessary
legal expenses and for taxation and 10
leave a working capital for the tea bust
ness, The remaining $1,000, 600 will be
equally apportioned among the heirs.
Each will receive a share amounting to
between $100.go0 and Sl25. 900.
While the individual consents of ali the
full-blood relatives have not yet been
subscribed to the agreement. no fear Of
opposition is felt. 1t is recognized that
should a contest follow il would probably
not be finally decided until il reached the
United States Supreme Court, which
would mean stretching the case over a
long period of years and the swallowing
M of the major part of the estate in
legal cXnenses