The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-09
ORPHANS
DEPRIVED
OF ESTATE
Claim That Mrs. Loo, wife Of
a British Diplomat, Received
More Than Hlr Share.

New York. Dee. Mrs. Madeline Lee
the wife OF Henry Austin Lee, secrstai.
cf tho British legation In Paris. and on.
of the most prominent women in tn,
french capital has been sued by tn,
Title Guarantee and Trust company foi
return moneys which she is charged n
court With having wrongfully received
when she transferred a property formerly
swned by her fsther and Left jointly 10
her and her Two brnthsrs.
While The action is brought by the
title company as suarantors OF the title
10 the property. IL is. in fact the result
OF suit brought by the orphaned chill
tren OF her brother who were, they
claim, deprived Of their brthright when
Mrs. Lee and another brother, Warren
1)e Wolf Smith. claimed that they each
pwned one-hslf cf the property.
Their claim was that they had no idea
that their dead brother known 10 ihs
pperatic stage as Frank DE Wolf. had
left amy children.
BROIHER OPERA SINGER.
Mrs. Lee was the daughter Of lS. Frank
Smith. of this city. well known real
estate operator and when he died some
years ago hs left a house at lN West
forty-seventh street as part OF his es-'
tate. This was left in equal parts OF enc
third each 10 Mrs. Lee. Warren Ds Wolf
smith and Frank De Wolf Smith. known
At the time OF his death az Frank De
Wolf.
In April last the house was sold for
s22. 50a. subject 10 a mortgage OF sl3.soe. Ia
Anna "A. Summeryille. by her transferred
10 the Longacre Realty company and hy
1hsm sesin transferred 10 George Felt.
who is building a large apartment house
Dn the site
At the time Mrs. Lee and Mr.. Smith
each warranted that they were the own
srs OF an undivided half OF the property.
fheir brother. Frank DE Wolf having died
rbrosd In 1886 IL Is said that neither Mira.
Lee nor Mr.. Smith nor the title company
made any searching investiga tion TO find
out whether their dead brother, wha-had
third interest during his lifetime. had
any heirs. and SO the property passed
into Mr.. Felt's hands.
Frank DE Wolf Smith went abroad
about ten years ago To study music In
Munich and became one OF the best known
baritone singers in Europe. lie had his
name changed by order of the city court
no Frank DE Wolf. under which nom de
theatre he had been already known
abroad.
+, HE DIED UNRECoNcILED.
In Europe Mr. De Wolf married Cath
erine Catlin, and this. with his adoption
of the stage brought about an estrangs-
rient between himself and i1is bfetAer and
sister Although the singer and his sister
the wife OF one Of the leading diplomats
of Europe, came into frequent coutact' in
Europe. NO word passed between them
and when Frank died In Dresden Ia 1895
there had been no reconciliation. Three
children had been born to Mr. and Mrs
De Wolf OF which two Grace r. and
Philip, are now living
The children lived in ignorance OF the
Tact that the third OF the estate OF
their grandfather. which was theirs by
Will, had been taken from them. untn
IN August last a guardian for them was
appointed In France aud Charles r.. I.y.
Secker was chosen as counsel la fnd out
what their interests were. lie discovered
she means by which they had been de.
prived al their third aud brought An
action i'm partition 30 establish the share
of tie DE Wolf children IN the smith
cstate.
decision OF this action I'm the courts
gave the children ss0co ss their share and
clouoed the title TO the property held by
Mr.. Felt, who in order 10 clear the same
paid Mr. Lydecker Scow ler his clients
ord had the title esta blishea in court