Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
THE LANE WILL CASE
ADMINISTRATOR ASKED FOR IN
PLACE OF SENATOR BLACKBURN.
Relatives Want Paper Purporting to
Be Will Admitted
to Probate.

Papers indicating that contest is to en-
sue over the estate of the late Thomas F.
Lane son-in-law of Senator J. c. S. Black
burn Of Kentucky, were placed on record in
the office of the register of wills late yes
terday afternoon. Mr.. Lane committed sui
eide by shooting himself while in this city
the evening Of October Is. 1900. His wife.
Mrs. Lucille Blackburn Lane. was appoint
ed Administrative de bonis non, no will of
the deceased being produced. Mrs. Lane
died last July, and some time thereafter
her father, Senator Blackburn petitioned
the court to appoint him administrator to
succeed her.
One Of the papers filed yesterday is a
statement from Bridget Lane. mother of
Thomas F. Lane; Minnie E. Lane. the sis
his brothers. all Of Summit, N. J. These
relatives in their statement urge that II any
letters of administration are to be granted
In the cause the administrator should be a
citizen Of the District Of Columbia. They
contend that Senator Blackburn ought not
to be so appointed. for the reason that he
Is not permanent resident of the District
1t appears that a day or two before his
brother. Alfred J. Lane. at Summit N. J..
an envelope on which was written: open
only In the event Of some untoward acct
dent or my death. T. F. l.. October 49,"
lac aSSeESlOu Ii HlAUe tnaC as the post
office at Summit was closed Sunday. Octo-
Der Ia. 1900. Alfred J. Lane did not receive
the envelope until after a telegram from
Thomas F. Lane, dated Washington, d. c.,
October IA. 1899. reached him. The tele-
gram was as follows: Return without
opening letter sent you in long envelope
yesterday. Do aot fail to do this. You will
receive letter tomorrow. I do not wish it
opened"
The envelope was promptly returned
although Thomas
Lanes office in this city the afternoon Of
October Is. the latter did not see 1t, he
ending his life before the Communication
was placed in his hands.
1t Is stated that Senator Blackburn took
the view that the telegram of October Ii
was In the nature Of a dying request, and
that therefore the envelope should not be
opened. The situation, upon the death Of
Mrs Lane was that Teresa Blackburn
Lane. the six-year-old daughter of the cou-
pie, was the sole heir of her father and en-
titled to his estate. consisting Of personal
property Of the value of about $4,000 and
stock in the Vickers Sons and Maxim
Company of England. said to be worth
about $4,000.
Recently. so it Is said. the relatives of
Mr.. Lane insisted that the envelope be
opened. This was done and three papers
were brought to light. One purported to be
an assignment to Mr.. Lanes mother, sis
ter and brothers of his stock in the English
company: one was in the form of will
winch directed that MS estate should be dl-
vfded equally between his mother and his
wife. and one was note to Alfred ]. Lane
saying: The hell I go to can never be
worse than the hell 1 endure Protect what
little I leave. and particularly be careful
Of the property l assign to you ALL
Among the papers filed by the mother
sister and brothers of Mr.. Lane Is petit
ton asking the court to admit to probate
the alleged will. and also to take cogni-
zance Of the assignment. Upon this petit
ton the expected contest will very likely
be based.
On behalf of Senator Blackburn it is
stated that his contention is that when
Mr.. Lane wrote the papers that were placed
in the envelope referred to he was not of
sound and disposing mind as was evil
denced by the fact that he later telegraph
ed that he did not wish the envelope open
ed, and directed that 1t be returned to him.
Senator Blackburn takes the position that
the papers found In the envelope should
therefore be ignored.