The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-28
READY TO PAY $4,000.
Insurance Co. Asks Court TO Decide
as TO Meyer Heirs.

Insurance Co. Asks Court to Decide
as TO Meyer Heirs.
Whether to divide an insurance pol
icy of $1,000 between the four children
of the late George Meyer. or to pay
the full amount of the policy to the
two children by his first wife, is a
question which the Hartford Life In
surance Company, by bill of inter-
pleader filled yesterday in the Super
for Court, asked that judicial tribunal
to decide.
The insurance company claims that
it is now, and has been at all times
since the death of Mr.. Meyer, ready
and willing to pay the insurance money
to the proper parties, but does not
know to whom to pay it, as two sets
of children are claiming all, or part
of 1t. In order to avoid suit being
brought against the company. they
ask court for its direction in the
premises.
The suit is against Mrs. Mary Helm
ken, as guardian of Walter R. and
George H. Meyer, the two minor chill
dren of Mr.. Meyer by his first wife,
and Mrs. Catherine Meyer mother
and guardian of Catherine A and
Lucy A. Meyer, the younger children
of Mr.. Meyer, the first named guard
ian claiming that under the terms of
the policy the amount is payable to
her wards. and the other guardian
claiming that her wards are entitled
to half of the amount, since, in her
discretion, the four children of the
deceased should share equally.
BY the terms of the policy the in
surance company agreed to pay, in the
event of the death of Mr.. Meyer, $5,-
COO to his wife Amelie, or If she were
dead, to his children equally Shortly
after the issuance of the policy the
wife of the insured died. and subse-
quen'tly he married again. By his first
wife he had two children. boys, and
two girls were the fruit of the second
marriage.
A short time ago, after bitterly
fought contest, Mrs. Helmken was ap-
pointed guardian of the two older
children. The guardianship was also
desired by Mrs. Meyer, the second, but
Mrs. Helmken showed to the court
that not only was she more able to
take care of them, but that it had been
the oft expressed wish of their father,
when in life, to have her as the guard
ian of his boys when he died Mrs.
J1elmken was appointed guardian of
the two older children, and at about
the same time Mrs. Meyer applied for,
and had issued to her letters of
guardianship to her two little girls.
Since that time the insurance COM
pany, through its agent in Savannah,
mas been endeavoring to make a set
tIement of the claim. Mrs. Meyer, who
holds the policy, has refused to sur
render 1t to the company unless half
of the amount is paid to her for her
wards, and Mrs Helmken. on the 9TH
er hand, would, the company thinks.
institute legal proceedings against
them in the event they paid Mrs. Mey-
er any part of it.
Upon reading and considering the
petition, Judge Barrow ordered that
all parties at interest appear before
him on the second day of September
at 10 o'clock, at which time the guar
dlans will be required to show cause.
II any they have, why they should
not be made to interplead, and to pre-
sent to the court in proper form their
respective claims to the amount held
by the Hartford Life Insurance Com
pany. - Je
The bill yesterday was filed for the
company by Messrs. Adams, Freeman,
Denmark and Adams At the recent
hearing for the appointment of a guar
dian, Mrs. Melmken was represented
by Messrs. Osborne and Lawrence. and
Mrs Meyer was represented by Mr.
X. IL. Richards and Messrs. O'Connor,
O'Byrne and Hartridge.