The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-16
GIRL FIGHTS
FOR S75O,000
Miss Kidd Says Her Foster
Father Promised Il TO Her.
He WAS A SPlRlTUAlIST
She Bases Ter Case on a Verbal Promise
and Relatives May tnt.r tho
LenieSt.
He WAS A SPIRITUALIST

New York. July i6.-in an action just De-
gun in this county by Miss Grace Geor-
gette Kidd against the estate OF her late
stepfather. George w. Kidd. who was one
OF the Oldest members OF the New YORK
Yacht club and who became an ardent
follower OF spiritualism. property worth
three-quarters OF a million Is lnvolVeu'
The suit will doubtless mean bitter le-
gal conflict for Miss kidds claim Is
based upon only verbal promise, and
some 20 relatives, scattered in New YORK.
Illinois. Ohio and France Will contest IL.
Miss Kidd was originally "A Miss $40
cum, but was adopted by her stepfather
and changed her last name 10 Kidd. un-
derstanding that IL entitled her to be his
heiress. She and her mother, Mrs. George
w Kidd, are prominent socially In TINS
w. Kidd. are prominent socially In this
try place at Narragansett Pier.
Their New York house is No. S53 F1Rh
avenue. north of sixty-sixth street. and
between the residences OF Col. Oliver IL.
Payne and Mr.. Perry Belmont. This par.
Gel is valued at upward OF $4,000 and
Miss Kidd attorneys, Steele * Otls,
have filed notice indicating that II is In
litigation.
George w Kidd was OF English birth.
but accumulated his wealth here. He was
head of the firm OF George w. Kidd AZ Co.
with headquarters in Water street. lie
was friend and follower of the famous
Ann Odelia Diss Debar. who was con-
victed of obtaining money under false
pretences In connection with her spirit
ualistic performances.
WAS A WEALTHY MAN.
Among those who contributed TO the
spiritualiStic cause Mr.. Kidd was prom
inent In 1892 he acquired some noto-
riety by attending the seances given by
DR.. Henry Rogers at No. 1858 Broadway.
He was also a patron of Mrs. NJ. Il. VII
llams, another New York medium.
Mr. Kidd even went so far as to make
gifts to the supposed spirits II was the
practice OF Mr.. Kidd's circle OF fellow
believers to give rugs jewels, furniture
and other costly presents TO the spirits.
the articles always being consigned TO
the mediums care.
The present widow OF Mr.. Kidd was
Miss Anna e. Garden, a sister OF w.
Morton Garden, who Is one of the exc
cutors OF the estate. She was widow
when he married her a Mrs Slocum lie
took a great fancy TO her daughter.
Grace Georgette Slocum. and finally
adopted her Miss Kidd's contention In
court will he that he promised to give
her his entire fortune on condition that
she assumed his name. This contention
will be supported by witnesses, among
others Mrs. Kidd.
When Mr. Kidd died, in 1901. the effort
TO discover his will was at first unsuc-
cessful. The family advertised for the
document. II was eventually found and
with the finding came a disappointment
for his stepdaughter
Instead OF getting the whole estate. or
the bulk OF Il. she received a legacy of
only five per cent OF the residuary es-
tate. The entire estate approximates
$500 900 in value. but the residuary estate
is only about $500 This entire amount
Miss Kidd believes she Is entitled to, and
accordingly sues for II consists OF
stocks and bonds and New York city
real estate.