New-York tribune., 1903-02-10
TALKED ABOUT A CHILD.
MR. FAIR DIED FIRST
Allegations Made By Mrs. Nelson 's
.Suit for Millions.

What will doubtless prove to be one OF tbs
most sensational lawsuits brought for the
recovery of estates involving many millions cc
dollars begun yesterday afternoon by TINS
filing. in the County Clerks office. of a CONF
plaint by the law firm Of Chandler & Beck
man. who represent Mrs. Hannah f. Nelson's
mother of the late Mrs. Caroline D. Fair. who.
with her husband. killed in automobus
accident in France August Ia, 1902
Startling statements are made I'm the con1-
pIaint which alleges that not only there a
grievous mistake made by the administrators
of the Fair estate. in inducing Mrs. Nelson to-
accept S125,OOO settlement In full for alt
claims against the estate. but that the state
ments made at that time by the defendants wers
untrue and were designed to defraud ths
plaintiffs.
The defendants named in the complaint.
which is to set aside the settlement agreement
on the ground that Mrs Caroline Fair survived
her husband by twenty minutes. are Mrs. The
resa Alice oelrichs, wife Of Hermann Oelrichs:
Mrs Virginia Vanderbilt, wife OF W. h VAN
derbilt Jr, and Joseph Harvey and Charles s.
Neal said to be trustees or Mrs- OeiIlch5 anu
\ Mrs Vanderbilt
| The plaintiffs are Mrs Nelson. Charles j.
| Smith. her son by her first husband. and a
< fulI brother to Caroline Fair; Abraham g. Nel-
| SON. another son by her second marriage, and
| p half brother to Mrs. Fair; Elizabeth 6ohhel''
i Ia Leonard, Edward L. LSIlrI dlu EAiAA0
! Leonard who are next of kin TO those named.
I strinned of its legal verbiage. the story OF
| the alleged conspiracy to defTaud the aged Mrs.
| Nelson (she is seventy three years ODD OF her
| rights in the estate. as told by Mr. Chandler
| in his office yesterday afternoon, reads IKE tns
| plot of melodrama-
| eft is a fact" said Mr.. Chandler. that less
| than eighteen hours after the accident In whleh
Mr. and Fair met their death in France. a
[ NTaIcO at he
| Newmarket N J.. urging her to go at once
| 70 San Francisco 10 make the settlement which
| We shall now endeavor to have set aside on tn%
/ ground that it was not legal ana equltapis
/ one That was one of the questions upon WhlcN
/ we base the complaint; the other is tnat MIS-
/ Fair survived her husband by twenty nlnutes-
We have nine afhdavits of reputable persons tS
/ nrove this fact which established g1ves
/ all of the husbands estate TO the w1re' Wno
! i, trrn benueaths it all to her mother and ner
| heirs"
! Mr. Reeknsn who was in France at the tins
/ Of the accident and obtained the afidavits says
| that eight of the witnesses state emphatlcallN
/ their belief that Mrs. Fair lived for approNl@
uately half an hour after the death OF her NUS
| hand THE depositions' said Mr. Beekman.
/ .sare overwhelming AID convincing nave
! - tho nersons but prefer not to name them.
/ - ba,s investigated their character, and
/ am, convinced of the truth of the afhdavits-
! ".b~abar, Nelson" said Mr.. Chandler. keeps
! = country grocery store at Newmarket n j.
] ard his mother Mrs. Nelson, lives near oy' ms
| occi5ant 10 Mr.. and Mrs. Fair occurred dt :
I - n, paris time) on Thursday August Il At
| O m ON Friday Abe Nelson received tele-'
/ r, from San Francisco, signed Joseph Har-
/ - e,nressing sympathy for his mother. tell
= hin, what close friends he and Mrs Harvey
~ heen 10 Mr. and Mrs. Fair, and advising
then, both to come to San Francisco at once
This was followed by another telegram Few
hours later in which Harvey reiterated his de-
sire that Nelson and his mother should start
at once. and profering his Harvey's) services
as administrator, If requested CharleS =
Neal general manager of the Fair estates.
ioined with Harvey in his proffer of services.
I saving L regard Harvey as the proper person
/ for administrator
! "Old Mrs. Nelson" continued Mr. Chandler
/ had often heard her daughter Carrie speak
of Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey dear friends. and
her mind was influenced thereby, so that sne
and her son started for San Francisco on sun
dav August Il. Harvey had cautioned Mrs
/ Nelson not 10 talk to outsiders. but TO let MIN
know, when she arrived. He met Mrs. Nelson
d hsr son at Reno Nev.. about three hundred
i1as from, their destination. and Immediately
transferred them from the Pullman car IN Whieh
/ they had travelled TO a rear car, away tron the
+ other Messengers. Harvey engaged Abe IN con-
( versation. while Neal occupied the atteht'oh OF
Mrs Nelson Arrived at San Francisco harvey
/ took the pair 10 his own home. IN Eddy-st'
,vhere Mrs Harvey expressed her sympathy
! with them and showed them pictures OF carrie
e. nelson was delighted at finding such dear
friends of her daughter
Meanwhile Charles J. Smith. the tull brother
oc Caroline Fair had arrived from his home IN
Boulder Col and taken rooms at the Lansham
Hotel BY the advice of Harvey. Mrs. Nelson
and Abe also took quarters at the same hofeL
Harvey and Neal told Mrs. Nelson that the
PubIis Administrator was trying 10 get a hoid
on the estate. As a matter 0f tact' 'eete vas
ROYAL. BLUE TOURS TO WASHINGTON