The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-27
A FIGHT FOR MILLIONS
Heirs to the Gilman Estate Clash
in Court.
QUESTION ONE OF RESIDENCE.
The Heirs Ask For Letters OF Adminis-
tration at Bridgeport. Conn.-Laws OF
Inheritance in Two States Involved
in the Long Legal Fight - Fortune
Estimated at ST5,00o,OO0

Inheritance in Two States Involved
in the Long Legal Fight - Fortune
Estimated at ST5,o00,OO0.
Bridgeport. Gonna formal appli-
cation was made in the Probate Court
in this city for letters Of administra-
ton to be granted to Edward L. Nor
ton and Edward S. Percival, Of New
York City. on the estate of George
Francis Gilman, the millionaire, OF
Black Rock. The hearing in the Pro-
bate Office was held by appointment,
Probate Judge Nobbs holding court
after the regular hour of closing.
There were present in the party Attor-
ney Charles s. Brush. Attorney Nc
Cormack. Alfred Gilman, Edward l..
Norton and Edward s. Perciyal. the
last three heirs-at-law. and George
W. Smith, of this city, who. it trans
pires in the last minute, Is not an
heir at ALL
The latter gentleman was present
for the purpose Of giving the court
and the parties interested local infor-
nation. The gentlemen present repre-
sented to Judge Nobbs that there were
other heirs present in the city, VINO
would be sent for If their presence
were required.
Attorneyr Brush and Mccormack
represented that Mr.. Gilman dled
without leaving any heirs in Bridge
port, and that at the present time
strangers were in charge OF the local
property. They thereupon offered
petition asking that q proper person
be appointed as temporary admins
traitor to take charge Of the Black
Rock property. The object of the
motion was to force Mrs. Blakeley
Hall and her mother to give up the
possession of the house.
Judge Nobbs denied their petition
for the temporary receiver. The coun-
sci then formally presented an apph-
cation that Edward L. Norton ana
Edward s. Percival be granted let
ters of administration on the estate.
The application was signed by all the
heirs-at-law. as follows:
George Gilman, New York City.
nephew; George Mcclellan. Northamp-
ton, Mass, nephew; Edward s. Per-
ciyal. New York City! nephew; Caro-
line Scammon. Brooklyn, niece; DIVA
Drew. Lynn. Mass, niece; Nellie Tut
tie, Milwaukee, Wis. niece: Lydia d.
Bradford. Skowhegan, Me-, niece;
Caroline r. Garozynski, Brooklyn.
niece: Caroline G. Mcclellan, Darien,
Conn, niece; Edward c. Norton, New
York City, grandnephew; Minnie Il.
LITTLE. New York City, grandniece;
Ellen A. Starr, Manila. Philippines,
grandniece; Mary Ford. California.
grandniece: the infant children OF
Milford H. Norton, a grandnepheW'
and George Perciyal, Philadelphia
grandnephew.
Unless Millionaire Gilman left will
his large fortune will be divided
among persons whom he avoided,
feared and hated. High and low
have the searches been made for any
document that could be filed in the
Surrogate's office. No nook OF Granny
where he would have been liable to
place q will to conceal it has escaped
observation.
Gilmans business interests were
enormous. Persons who are conser-
vative say he was worth less than
$50, 600, 900, while others assert that
his property may amount to S75,Ooo.-
900. He was very wealthy. and any
figure that may be given is nothing
more than guess.
His relatives assume that he has
left 10 will and have begun a fight
over the spoils on that basis. Should
a will be produced it will be attacked
without a question. So great Is his
estate that the allegations Of mental
unsoundness and undue influence are
inevitable, with the usual raking over
of every unpleasant feature OF his
career.
The Probate Court here assumes that
II has Jurisdiction over the settlement
of all the property Of Mr.. Gilman, OF
whatever kind or description, except
real estate situated outside of the
State of Connecticut. The legal rep
resentative of the half-blood relatives
intmated that they could prove that
Mr.. Gilman was a resident of New
York City. and by producing such
proof. would transfer the jurisdiction
of administration from Connecticut
to New York. The whole blood rela-
tives asserted that such move would
be met with ample proof to the con-
trary. The contest will be due to the
fact that the probate law of the States
conflict. Under the statute of Con-
necticut. half-blood relatives are ex-
cluded entirely from participation IN
the distribution Of intestate estates,
while whole blood relatives are liV-
ing.
1t will be a pretty fight for lawyers.
anyhow, and the estate will be tied
up for months, or years until the high
est courts have passed upon the ques-
tions involved.
In the meantime the beautiful es-
tate here is in the joint possession OF
Edward S. Percival. Of New York
City, one of the heirs-at-law. and
Mrs. Blakeley Hall.
No Promotion For Morgan.
Gunner Charles Morgan, U. S. NJ,