Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-21
UNDUE INFLUENCE
Charges Made Relative to
Mrs. Hanson's Will.
A NEW PAPER OFFERED
NEICES OF THE DEAD WOMAN
NAMED AS THE HEIRS.
Disposition of the Proceeds Of the
Sale of Street Property
Questioned.
A NEW PAPER OFFERED

In the matter of the estate of Mrs. Julia
Hanson, colored woman, who died the
18th of last September at the age of ninety
eight years, leaving an estate valued at
about 100000. contest which promises to be
most determined. inaugurated today
when her nieces, Mrs. Eliza Murphy and
Mrs. Julia Ashe, placed record a
caveat to the paper writing. dated June %,
1902, purporting to be the last will of the
deceased These nieces, who are represent
ed by Attorneys Charles c. Cole, R. Golden
Donaldson and Richard E. Pairo, also
placed on record a paper writing in the
form of will and bearing a date earlier
than that of the paper of June D. 1902.
The court is asked to frame issues upon
which trial may be had before a jury to
determine which, if either, of the paper
writings referred to is the last will of the
deceased whether she died intestate.
BY the terms of the paper first offered
for probate as the last will of the deceased,
the entire estate of Mrs. Hanson is left to
local charitable institutions, with the ex-
ception of a few small legacies to friends
and bequest of $500 to each Of the nieces
who now figure as caveatorS. In the paper
in question Eugene Carusi and Charles F.
Carusi were named as executors
In the paper offered by the caveators as
the last will. and which bears date of April
IT.. 1900, small requests are made to friends
and the remainder of the estate is left to
Mrs. Eliza Murphy for life and upon hsr
death to her children. In the eaveat filed
by the nieceS today, it is asserted that the
understanding between the parties was
that Mrs Murphy was to look out for Mrs
Ashe, the other caveator who is well ad-
vanced in years and has children
The cayeators inform the court. Substan-
TALLY, that they are the children of an only
brother of Mrs. Hanson, and that their
mother died many years ago. Mrs. Hanson
had no children. so the caveators made
their home with her. Mrs. Hanson, il is
set forth, always treated them Though
they were her children. while they regard
ed Mrs. Hanson as their mother. They
during all that time, so they claim, they
helped her earn the money with which she
purchased the valuable property of whlLh
she died possessed.
Continuing, the caveatorS say that about
a year ago Mrs. Hanson sold her home.
1919 F street, where she had lived for many
years, to James S. Topham, the price being
$4,000 in cash. The court is further IN
the sale of the street property, pad
from the proceeds $4,000 to local church.
1t is charged that Eirs. Hanson was in
duced to consent to the delivery of this
money to the church through undue p,r-
Suasion.
The remainder of the money arising
from the sale $50, 900, is alleged to have
been loaned on real estate The charge is
was made to the individual who was act
ing as Mrs. Hanson's attorney and ad-
wiser, to secure which he executed a deed
of trust on real estate owned by him. Ac-
cording to the caveators, four days prior
to the date of the paper of June %. 1902,
this note was marked paid and Cancelled.
and the deed of trust released, although.
it Is declared, the 5000 was not repaid to
Mrs. Hanson. The canceling of the note,
it is alleged. was secured by undue inftu-
ence at time when Mrs. Hanson was in
competent tc attend to her affairs.
In conclusion. 1t Is charged that the paper
writing bearing date of June %. 1902 and
offered for probate as the last will of Mrs.
Hanson is void because of her incapacfty
to execute a valid deed or contract at the
time of the execution of It, and because
its execution was procured by undue inf1u-
ence. The claim of the caveators is that
the paper writing offered by them. and
dated April 16, 1900, is the valid last will of
Mrs Hanson
The caveators have also petitioned the
court to appoint collectors to take charge
of the estate pending the settlement of the
CONT oversy The matter will be called to
the attention of Justice Barnard in the
Probate Court next Friday.