The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-08
BAL LTIHORE sun
BUILDING TO Be
AUGTIONED TODAY
Sale Scheduled This After
noon of Office Structure.
NEEDED TO ADJUST ESTATE
Anticipated That Member of Abel
Family Will Purchase It-StoTy
of Conflicting Interests.

The Baltimore sun Building, on f
Street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth Streets. is to be sold this after
noon at O'Clock at auction sale in front
OF the building by Sloan & Co.. auc-
tioneers.
The building is one of the most wide
ly known Office structures in the city,
for many reasons. It was the first great
Office building in Washington. and was
one of the first fine buildings erected by
a newspaper in this country. II was
built in 1887, the jubilee year" OF the
Sun" The structure cost $Sz1, 900 IN
addition to the value of the big lot on
which it was erected. in one of the most
valuable blocks in the business section
of the city It is of white marble and
is superlativeIy well built The great
stairway is considered one of the finest
in the city. The architect was the elder
Mullett. since deceased. who was con
sidered one Of the most conservative and
best men in his profession.
The sale OF the building is made neces-
sary in the settlement of the estate of
Arunah s. Abel. the founder OF the
Baltimore Sun" and OF the AbelI fam
lily. For many years there have been
stories. more or less authen.cated. re
garding disagreements among The heirs
OF MT. Abel, and there is much gossip
now over this sale, on the theory that
ii is an indication OF friction in the fam
lily. Il there is any truth in these ru-
Dors, friends OF the family do not choose
TO enIighten the public regarding them
The Foundation of the Estate
The statement made by them is that
the sale of the Sun Building is d neees-
sity By the terms OF the win OF Mr. AbeH
This viii provided that all the estate.
with the exception OF the Baltimore
Sun. should belong 10 The Abell Ieirs.
share and share alike. and that it silouI
be managed by the three sons CT y. &
Abell Edwin F, Walter r.. and George
W, as executors. The Sun Building
was not erected until after the head Of
the family made his will, and it has now
been determined that under the District
laws il cannot become a part OF The
trust. and must be sold, that the pro-
ceeds may be divided among the heirs
The present heirs OF the Abel estate
are Edwin T. Abell. the eldest and only
living son Of Arunah S. AbeI. Arunah
and Walter Abel. sons OF Edwin Abel.
Charles s. Aben. son Of George ".
Aben; and four daughters Of Arunah
5. Abell, Mrs. Victor Baughman. Mrs.
John Griffiss. Miss Fannie Abel. and
Miss Mary AbeIl. now a member of the
Roman Catholic sisterhood- The man
ayers Of the estate and of the Sun"
are Edwin F. Abell and his two sons.
and Charles 5. Abel. son Of George
Abell
Alleged Confusion of Interests.
Under the terms of the will of the
head of the family the daughters have
no part in the ownership OF management
Of the newspaper property. The stories
OF disagreement in the family mostly
center around this fact. II Is nIn.ed
that the daughters and their husbands
allege a confusion Of the newspaper az
sets with those OF the general estate.
A friendly" suit was Instituted In
equity three years ago over the estate.
and it is still under discussion in the
courts
There has been much surmlse over the
probable outcome OF the sale Of the Sun
Building Friends OF the family said
this morning that in all probability
some Of the heirs. perhaps the present
owners OF the Sun, will be the buy
ers.