The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-16
ACTRESS STEPS IN
Helen Staudish Claims the Gil
man Millions
An Estate of About SSO,OOO,-
600 Is in Doubt
WOMAN is RETICENT.
Refuses to Tell Why She Claims
the Money.
Gilman Was Owner Of 2s5 Tea
Stores.
WOMAN is RETICENT

New York. March 16.-The fight over
the millions Of George Francis Gilman
has. commenced in the courts in when
Mrs. Blakely Hall. known as Heleh
Standish the actress, is making an en-
fort to hold the immense fortune aseAAtiH~
the blood relatives of Gilman I'LL,
ont of the haze which SURROUNDS II
l,ean of gold left by George Francs I'll
man, the eccentric tea mercha5ie 49, Aas
died in his mansion on the SCUM T. 80
gradually grows the inquire OF d DS S...-'
f,rf Young woman stretching one Sna ST-
TT hand toward the gold, while Jne o1hel
Is held behind her hack IT Is ths Heu1,S
If Mrs Hail. sn.ilingly, courteousiy
claiming the fortune
per IT may be a viii. Other rumors nav
II that Mrs. Han conceals ller own aae'iS-
zion nv the millionaire. Still wilder rp-
mors say that It IS the adoptlon % 49,. .
little daughter W hatever II may III.
she is serenely confident that the nllliiel-7
will be here in due time
The documents " hich make her siniie
so confidently viii not be revealed untii
those who viii be heirs if there IS no VII
apply for letters Of administration 1uh-
Ger Connecticut laws on next MONDAY
RELATIVES UNITE AGAINST Ht.t-.
Meantime the heirs Of the full brpth-
ers and sisters led by Edward T. Norton
of New York; the heirs or the halI GRO
Tiers led by Theophllus Gilman or
TsrooltTyn and Mr. Gilman'S business
Bridgeport, have combined against the
woman who Is still mistress Of the man
sion overlooking the Sound. once she lS
brushed aside from the heap OF gold
these three factions Will fight one anotA-
er for years in the courts while many
lawyers niDble at the fortune OF $Sp'VVo'-
600.
This compromise was arranged yester-
day when Surrogate Fitzgerald appoint
ed both Edward L.NOrton and Theopnl-
lus Gilman administrators Of that por-
ton Of the estate which lies IN the Jur-
isdiotiOn of thiS-State- The vital poIet
q Z issne-the question of the legal resi-
dence Of the dead millionaire-was lett
omen. Temporarily, the half-brother IN
terest was consolidatsd with the 1uit-
brother interests, the leaders OF each
side being united in looking up the New
Later. If il Is decided that George j.
Gilman was a resident Of Connecticut
these administrators appointed by the
New York courts will have to render an
account to the administrations appointed.
by Connecticut. Each side IS confidenl
that ultimately the supreme court OF the
United States viii decide in its favor.
These temporary administrators gave
bonds Of $500 600. If it should be found
that the value of Mr. Gilmanfs property
in New York should exceed $500. 600 the
bonds will be increased This order pr
administration was granted so late IN
/ the day that small attempt was made to
locate Mr. iGlman's possessions in New
box in any safe deposit vault in this
! city It is known that he had papers
1 in the central office of the 2S5 tea stores
he owned. George Hartford, manager
of these stores. says there Is no VIII
among these papers.
To New York yesterday came two per-
sons of striking personality, who are
/ central figures in this blurred picture.
/ Frazier Gilman, half brother Of George
| Gilman. a typical westerner. arrived
from Atlanta to press his claims It was
! Frazier Gilman, a man who carried a
/ gun, who was the central figure in ire
/ personal encounters which marked the
4 bitter quarrel of the half brothers of
! George Gilman over the estate of old
/ Mr.. Gilman, story as full of bitter per-
sonal warfare as the feuds of Sicily.
MAY HAVE DIED INTERSTATE.
Frazier Gilman made the startling in
timation last night that George Gilman,
/ remOTsefuI in his latter years over the
/ injustice he had done his half brothers
/ and moved by a great favor once dore
him by Frazier, had made written
/ agreement to die intestate in order thai
the wrongs of his half brothers might