The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-11
FIGHT OF GILMAN HEIRS
Hated Relatives May Secure tie
Eccentric Mans Millions.

The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Mag
nate Probably Left No WiII-Con-
tem1inn rs to Where He Actually
ReSidcd-Sume of His PecuIiarities.
BRIDGEPORT. Conn March u-f
George Francis Gilman, the late head OF
the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Com
pany, left a viii il has not been found,
and it seems probable that his fortune
will be distributed among relatives whom
he hated.
The value Of the estate is not known,
the estimate ranging from $20,000,0o0 TO
S75.Oo0,O00
Mr. Gilman made his home at Black
Rock. outside of this city He is said to
have held that his residence was in New
York. There is a radical difference be
tween the laws of New York and Con
necticut about the status Of relatives Of
half blood where there are relatives OF
whole blood-in one State those Of half
blood share equally; in the other State
those Of half blood have a claim only
when there are none Of fun blood
Edward l. Norton, of New York,
granddaughter Of MI Gilman, says the
millionaire was a resident of Connecticut
and has asked the SuTrUgate's Court of
New York to appoint him administrator
Of the property there He takes the stand
that under the laws of Connecticut rela-
tives of half blood are excluded rom any
share in the fortune of a decedent.
Mr. Gilman left surviving him two half
brothers and a haIf-sister. They are The
ophilus Gilman, of Brooklyn; Frazier Gil
man. of South Dakota. and Anna X Gil
man. of CIapton, N E London, England
His other relatives include four nephews,
six nieces, three granduieces, and one
granddaughter.
Thec2hilus Gilman contends that Mr..
Gilman was legal resident Of New York
at the time Of his death, and he has made
an application TO Surrogate Fitzgerald for
his appointment as administrator of the
estate.
G. 2. Gilman quit New York city entire
" after q violent controversy with his
haif-brothers. There had been a Htiga-
ton over the estate of his father. Ma
thaniel Gilman, and his half-brothers had
charged that he had defraaded them out
of the mai or portion of their patrimony.
For fear OF personal violence he had kept
an attendant with him wherever he went
in the city.
Many stories are told of the eccentrici-
ties of Mr.. Gilman The greatest hobby
of the millionaire was the exclusion from
his sight or hearing any suggestion of
HEdAH- axe tdldiIlliiTS- Nilt cDSE VI NAAA3t
or other unpleasant topics He IS said
to have had horror of thoughts OF
death. and this leads 10 the belief that
he made no will. No portrait of him
is known. and II is said that he had not
looked in glass for twenty years he
was seventy-ive years old when he died,
The home OF Mr. Gilman was never
without a house party He was fond OF
posing as patron of the arts, and among
= q
prominent actresses. Nine NOrdica, was
a frequent visitor at the Gilman home,
and her portrait adorns its walls lsa-
bel Irving face smiles from other can
vases. Elizabeth Bistand was another
visitor there. and Mr. and Mrs Berry
Wall Miss Eleanor Sedley. Miss Elsie
Brown Mr. and Mrs BIakely Hall Mrs
Gould BroI-aw, formerly Miss Edith Col
Inns, all were frequent members of the
house parties, which included not only
beauty. but brains
In his way Mir. Gilman did much good
Bridgeport people found him ever ready
TO loan his paintings, his superb tapes
tries, and the talent of his guests-sing-
ers- pianists. artists-at the art exhibit
tons. Many struggling artists have beer
benefited by his millions
Mr. Gilman'S stock OF liquor was small
He was q total abStainer and required
that young men visiting him should be
equally abstemious, but men Of mature
years were given a reasonable amount
or stimUlantS-tO drink at meals AmS$g
the things which engaged much Of Mr.
GLman'S attention was hOrsefeSh- He
owned about two score Of fine animals
In his garb Mr. Gilman was eccentricaE
" Independent. He was quite as apt IC
appear at dinner surrounded by superb
Iy dressed women and men in evening
clothes. clad in Norfolk jacket and cor
dUTOy knickeTbOcherS-
When guests Of Mr. Gilman displeaseG
him by reference TO unpleasant sub.
jects'' they were directed in the most IN
ceremOnioUs fashion TO pack their trunks
and leave and no invitation was evel
sent TO them to visit him again