The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-25
Try 70 BREAK TWO Wills /
PECULIAR CONTESTS IN PROGRESS
IN THE NEW YORK SUR
ROGATE COURT
THE MAKERS WERE BROTHERS
Each Left His Property to a
Woman, Cutting OF the Blood
Relations With Mere
Trifies.

NEW YORK, March 24-Two remark
allie will contests over the estates of two
brothers who had extraordinary careers
members of wealthy and respected New
York family-are now pending In the
surrogates court of this county. Each
had domestic troubles of more than or
binary character, but left his fortune to
a woman, excluding all blood relatives,
one OF them excluding his children.
Eugene Guido Cruger, who died on
April a. $685. at his chateau, at Fontaine-
bleau, France left all his fortune to a
young peasant girl from Russia, with
whom he fell in love after he had sur
v;Ved two marriages and two divorces
Mrs Blanche E. Tams. now the wife of
J. Frederic TamS, was Mr.. Cruger's first
wife, and by him she had three children,
who are now with her. In their behalf
she is contesting the will.
SECOND WIFE LEFT HIM.
His second wife was Meta Kane who
obtained divorce from her first hus-
band, Louis Bell. She also obtained a
divorce from Mr.. Cruger, and more than
a year ago married Raou1 Morichon
cheValier of the Legion of Honor of
France.
Mr.. CrIger left personal property
valued at $125, 900 and an interest in real
estate in this city. The last years of his
lie were spent III WIN MISS OlSd
Heitz, the Russian peasant girl, who took
care of him in his last Illness Evidence
as to his manner of life in France with
this young woman, will figure largely in
the contest over his will.
Ills brother, William Jauncey Cruger,
died in April last, leaving his fortune to
his wife, Mary Fambrough Cruger, with
the exception of requests of $40 to a
brother and somes nephews and nieces.
10 - lott
lite in France with his wife.
WON HIM BY KINDNESS.
The evidence shows that in Australia
more than fifteen years'iag he met the
woman who is now his widow He was
very i'll and she nursed Q him. When he
was restored to health he married her.
They subsequently went to France to
live In 1887 they separated, but later
they became reconciled
Meta K. MourichOn, who was the
second wife of Eugene g. Cruger, testi-
fed that w. J. Cruger's,life was one Of
constant worry with sflisI wife, who, she
says, is woman of violence and jealous
She was constantly abusing her husband
Mrs. Mourichon testified MIR Cruger said
he led dogs life with her and also: IF
I could only get some4peace before [ die!'
He also said that before he married Mrs
Kruger confessed to- him that she had
been the common law wife of Thomas
Henry Blythe, Of SAME Francisco Mr.
Cruger also told Mrs. rMourichon that
Mrs. Cruger had broken him down both
III health and spirits. and. thatahfs life
was perfect nightmare on her accoAnt
and that f4he could only be free of her
he would be happy man. ot7.es loo4
MEANT TO CUT HER OFF.
He said, she testified, that he had be-
gun s(hiveroe proceedings against his wife:
that he. did not wish her to get any of
his money, and that he. had made will
leaving his property Sto his brother
James and nephews and nieces. Mr..
Cruger at another time told her while
he was living at Narragansett Pier, Mrs
Cruger fired several shots at him that
missed.
Wyndham John Evans, who gave Mr..
Cruger electrical treatment, testified
that Mr. Cruger was weak physically and
mentally. was very hysterical and de-
pressed, often cried like a child and did
not wish to have his wife near him.
lie told Mr.. Evans that he was sorry
he married his wife, who appeared to
be a. strong lWilled woman while he Was
but a weak man. She often smoked
cigarettes and drank champagne. ~ cor
eMrJhGiru2eEJ told the electrician that he
intended to leave his money to his family
lie was very much devoted tovhis brother
/ j James, Who attended him during mis-
illness until he was compelled TO" feaFe
and got to Paris to the bedside of his
other brother Eugene. So ill was Mr..
SruSer that morphine had to be given
MIN frequently. 4fla