The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-24
Contest TO Determine the Pro-
visions Of John |. BIaiT's viii.
ESTATE GREATLY INCREASED.
Demand Made 90 Executor Tor The Larger
Value Of Securities Sold Before the
TestitM's Death

Trenton, " j., Oct. a-It developed to-
dsy in the chsncery court that the con-
test over the will OF John l. Blair, the la
railroad millionaire, of Blairstown, ~ j..
which involves an estate of the estimated
value OF SO, ,ooo, 900. Is not friendly suit,
as was first announced, when Chancellor
Magic was asked TO interpret the provi-
sions of the ewill.
In court today the Interrogation made
by the defendant heirs sought to compel
De Witt G. Blair. the executor and trns-
tee. to make a plain statement as 10 the
value of the property.
| Both sides were represented by eminent
counsel. Former Attorney General John
| W. Griggs. with George NJ. Shipman Will
liam y. Hornblower aud others, appeared
for the executor. and II. V. Lindabury,
John +. Parsons, former Judge Peckham
and others for the defendants. among
whom are Charles Scribner, publisher, of
New York and his children, who are
grandchildren OF John L. Blair Emma
Scribner Iarned and her children, and
Isabella Fitztursh and her children.
SUBSTITUTION OF VALUE.
The suit was brought by the executor,
De Witt c. Blair, son, as complainant,
against the other heirs, because they
'laimed specific bequests.
Stocks and bonds bequeathed I'm the will
which was made i'm 1915 were disposed OF
between the time the document was exc
! cuted and the death of Mr.. Blair A
substitution OF value was demanded by
these heirs The estate. by the increase
in the value of the investments, 1t is al
legged, had grown from the time the viii
was made 20 Mr.. Blair's death, from $5,-
900 to something more than 3O,OOo,coO.
De Witt G. Blair gets the benefit of the
increased value Of the estate, it Is
serted, while the heirs aver that the will
provides that there should be substitution
by just appraisement of all the stocks and
bonds maturing aud disposed of in the
interim. This would mean that several
more millions would be distributed among
them.
The defendant heirs. In their answer,
filed several interroga tories which sought
30 ascertain the value Of the estate and
the time and manner OF disposition Of
these stocks by the presentation 10 the
court OF the books and reference ac-
counts or the late millionaire. The ar
sument today was principally on the
merits OF the interrogatories
Mr.. Hornblower, who opened for the
executor. advanced the argument that
there could be no contest because the
conditions that form the basis Of tho pres
ent action were anticipated by Mr.. Blair
when he made the will. and Mr.. Horn
blower asserted that De Witt G. Blair
was specifically exempted from the SUBJ
stitution which Is demanded
COUNSEL OPPOSES PUBLICITY.
Mr.. Hornblower said that while at the
date of the making of the will Mr.. Blair
had owned the millions I'm stocks and
bonds specified. he did not own them at
the time OF his death. Some had been
sold. others paid off at maturity or cx-
changed or wiped out by mortgage, while
still others had become worthless and had
been surrendered
Ii WAS further contended by Mr. Horn
blower that the interroRa tories were iu-
tended primarily 10 have :he actual pos
sessions Of the estate made public. lie
said no good would be accomplished by
such p result.
John F. Parsons. for the defendant
heirs. asserted that tho iuterroEa tories
submitted were fair and should bc an
swcred because the hcirs were entitled
10 some knowledge Of the value NJ tho
estate and of what had happened since
the will Vas made.
lie said he witt q. blair was not only
sxacutor. trustee and residuary logatcc.
bt, custodian OF The estate and was en-
deavoring 20 keep facts from the court
and the heirs.
Fofmsr Hrtorney Gensrai GriEs- closed
the argument lie said the executor
was forbidden % make any substitution NJ
value and Was Withholding No iniorina-
fion. but was protecting the estate hy not
giving any unauo publicity 70 rs condi-
ticn
Roth sides submitted briefs on other
roints that had hscn raised in the original
hn and The answer, and a. iecislon is
expected M a month.