The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-03
DIR. A. S. Embree Charged With
Exerting Undue Influence"
HAD HIMSELF NAMED.
Was Appointed Executor at
50, 800 a Year.
Claimed That Estate Is Valued
at $4,000.
Another Action to Inyalidate
Transfer Of Avenue Property.

Two actions were commenced in the
district court late this afternoon by the
heirs of Eliza Chrisman to recover the
large fortune which she left at the time
of her death. Stebbins & Evans OF this
city, Lapham & Brewster of Chanutes
and George NJ. Eichelberger, Urbana,
Ohio, represent the heirs.
One case is an action to contest the
validity of the viii of Mrs Chrisman,
and in the petition it is charged that
at the time Mrs. Chrisman executed her
viii, on December 81, 1898. she was and
had been for a long time in feeble
health and of unsound mind That A.
s. Embree was at that time pastor Of
/ the First Methodist church, and that he
! acquired great influence over her, and
that he caused her to execute the VIII
and appoint him one Of the executors
and insert provision giving MIN $1-2uv
! a year salary for ten years. The parties
to the case number about seventy-nFe
/ in all.
leaving a large estate. She owned z,sVO
acres of land in Ohio, estimated In the
petition to be worth $4,000 She own
/ ed real estate in Shawnee county worth
/ $4,000 or $50000 and $4,000 or $4,000
worth of personal property She LETT no
near relatives, and the heirs who are
prosecuting these cases are first, second
and third cousins.
The other case is brought by the same
parties to recover. lot No. 229 on Kansas
avenue, occupied by the Topeka Cash
! Dry Goods company, ana which IS al
/ legged to be worth $25, ,0O0- The petition
/ in this case states that Mrs. Chrisman
conveyed this lot to Fred Pernel IN
| July. 1893 without any consideration,
/ and while she was of unsOund mind.
! Fred Pernen is a colOred man who lived
/ as a member of her family long time
prior to her death. and it Is charged
| that he obtained and exercised great in
! fiuence over her, Overpersuading her 10
make the deed Pernell lives in Kansas
City now upon the income of this oullu.
ing, which is $3.50 per month. Fernen
| sold the building at one time after MIS-
| C'hrisman's death to Warren NJ. crosby
for $24 ESQ, but Mr.. Crosby finally de-
/ clined to take the building OWING 70
| rurnors of threatened litigation.
L. A Stebbins, of the firm Of StebDius
| & Evans, when seen concerning the
1 cases declined to make any statement
| other than what aDpears in the petit
ton, except to say shat the cases have
been commenced after a prolonged and
! careful investigation into the facts,
! and that they are fully prepared TO
sustain all the allegations in the petit
ton.
Mrs. Chrisman left her estate in the
hands of DR.. A. S. Embree, then pastor
/ of the Methodist church in North To-
peka, to be used in founding a Meth
odist university in Topeka. Mrs. Chris
J man was quite old and feeble. In April
| 1900 her residence on Harrison street
| between Seventh and Eighth streets.
| caught fire and was badly damaged
| Mrs. Chrisman received a severe nerv-
| Gus shock as the result Of the fire AMI
| died short time afterwards. Her only
heir in Topeka is John Norton, Sec
| ond cousin.
DR.. Embree, the executor. has expect
| ed litigation over the win and SO far
| little has been done toward the pro-
| posed university.
Dr. A S. Embree. the executor of the
Chrisman estate, when informed of the
case said: We viii certainly make a
defense and I do not think that the
! action can be sustained. The aliega-
tions made can not be maintained. 7
have heard all along that something oe
this kind would be commenced and so
have waited for it,"
The following is the list of heirs and
legatees to the Chrisman estate:
Abrahams John ", India plaque and
alternative executor; legatee.
Bartholomew, Mrs. John, India shawl.
Boyer. Ella, $500. legatee.
Burnett, Mrs. Florence, silver tray,
chatting dish butter dish sugar bowl,
cream pitcher, and cut glass; heir
Cain. Florence. 30 feet off southwest
side of lot No. 81. London, Ohio; lega-
tee.
Chrisman. David r. $3.50 a year for
chrisman. Eliza. all diamonds; lega-
tee.
Chrisman, William H., $500: legatee-
Chrisman, Adison, second cousin;
heir.
Cox, Alice. 300 a year tor life; Iegatee-
Creager. Josephine. second cousin
heir.
Grain, James. first cousin; heir.
Durfiinger. S. w, trustee deed OF
trust; legatee-
Durhinger, Mrs S. W, small Darlor
table. steel engraving; legatee.
Durfinger. Florence, glass music
bottle; legaJee-
Embree, A. s., trustee, executor, CEN
ter table; legatee.
Espy. Lucinda j., first cousin $o0o'
two pictures; heir.
FassIer, Mrs. Grace. bronze vases,
+ brass tenders, andirosas, hall tapie,
second cousin heir.
Foos, Ada. second cousin; heir
FOos, Helen, second cousin; heir
Foos. Elsie. third cousin; heir
Foos. Alice. third cousin heir.
F-oos. William. son of Gustavus Foes.
first cousin. VINO died December ID
1900: heir
Foos. Robert, son Of Gustavus Foos'
frst cousin, who died December y,
| 1900; heir
F'oos. John, first cousin; heir.
F'oOs, Fergueson, second cousin ;netf-
Florence, Richard. second cousin 'neii-
Hanger. Mrs. Ida. second cousin fneiI-
Herring, Mrs. Camelta, Persian rug
and bedding; 1egatee.
Herring John c.. 81 600: legatee
Jones' George, second cousin; nelr-
Jones Reed. second cousin; heir.
Jones' Mrs. Samantha, parlor cur
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