The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-25
Administrator on Gilman Estate
Files Petition In Court.
A COMMISSION ASKED FOR.
hetIsi PscIpiltsd by The Filing ois Claim
for S265,000 By tho Nspssx Of the
Dead Tea Merchant

bridgeport, Conn. Sept. 2S.--The Bridge
port Trust company, administrator OF the
estate OF George Francis Gilman. veal
thy tea merchant. today petitoned Judge
Nobbs. I'm the Probate court. for "a de-
cree In OF insolvency for the estate.
The object of the petition s TO bring
about the appointment of commissioners
90 pass upon the several claims filed
against the estate, those now before the
administrator aggregating s2sSooo, an
amount considerably greater than ths In
sentoried total of the property within the
company's Jurisdiction.
1t will be- the duty OF the commissioners
10 examine the claims and to ascertain
their tenab.lity, and ths process is expect
cd TO develop much personal history OF
abe old merchant.
II is also believed that Il will prove a
productive field for the attorneys for the
estate and for the claimants. The hearing
ON the claims. IL Is believed, will also present
20 counsel for Miss Helen Potts. formerly
Nrs. Hall. an opportunity TO explain her
claims.
The action OF the trust company was
precipitated by the filing of the claim Of
George w. Smith. the nephew of MIR.
uact1StQ
marriage few years ago, when he lost
favor with Mr.. Gilman. was his most
trusted adviser and agent
CLAIMS STATE STREET BUILDING.
Mr.. Smiths claims aggregate t2s5. 900.
and the itemfzed statement, which ac-
companies them embraces expenses vary
Ing I'm amount from 25 cents to $4,000.
The lowest amount Is charged TO express
LaU
and the highest TO the payment or inter-
est and taxes
Aside from the money claimed by Mr..
Smith. there is a claim for a five story
building with a frontage of 70 feet In
State street. one OF the most valuable
pieces OF realty I'm the city.
Mr.. Smiths counsel are prepared TO de-
n}onstrate the truth OF every item in
the claim II the itemized statement which
covers 121 pages of typewriter paper. can
be considered as evidence OF such an In
tent. Wearing apparel for women, pro-
visions for the household. services OF ar
lists. articles OF furniture. the services OF
singers. actors and actress and gifts made
for charitable reasons are among the
sources OF expense indicated.
Although Miss Potts has no standing vet
in the Court OF Probate. having taken
her action 10 the United States Circuit
court. II Is the belief OF lawyers that the
commissioners cannot deny her recogni-
zion IN the hearing. for she has laid claim
10 the entire estate, with the exception
OF on~-haif OF the tea business. in which
ehe admits that George n. Hartford was
full partner. Meantime the probate ac-
vicn will not interfere with the progress
OF Miss Potts suit In the Circuit court
HEIRS WILL DISTRIBUTE CLAIMS
Counsel for all the heirs Of the full
fS will hafn
the commissioners and dispute the tena-
bility OF many OF Mrs. Smiths claims. as
well as that Of Miss Katherine Kupfer
who asks the sum OF $4,000 for her ser
vices In painting portraits.
As the ruling OF commissioners on the
claims will not be necessarily final and
the way is open 10 appeals, there is OPEN
ed an extension OF the already long course
of litigation through which tho estate is
destined TO pass.
IL is not expected that any OF tho heirs
will oppose the appointment OF the com
snissioners. the date for the hearing OF
which has not been set. but they may
have decided views as TO the personality
, cf the nrpointees as they had in the mat
ter OF the appointment OF an sdministra-
tor.
SAYS ESTATE Is SOLVENT.
! Charles II. Bush. who represent. the In
the Gilman estate. was the only one of
the New York lawyers, engaged to be
found in the city.
II cannot understand what this means"
ne said. 81 do remember some discussion
about such procedure I'm the early stages
Of the litigation. hut according TO my
recollection Il was dismissed as imprac-
ticsble. The Connecticut laws concerning
probate are peculiar, end the Bridgeport
Trust company as administrator may
have found something In them which this
step would aid IN untangling the litira-
ton. have received no rotice OF Il and
10 not know what IL means
THE estate Is not insolvent IN anv
ssnse of the word. II shows free and
1nnnistakable balance of al least two mil
lions on the credit side There are several
snits now pending 20 clear up the dispute
as 20 whether AIR. Gilman was a citizen
OF New York of Connecticut hut can zee
no bearing. at present which this proceed
ure might have upon that issue I sun
rose shall find out what ~ IS all about
tr tho morning"
nfRP1 AxA