The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-10-28
WON FAMOUS
WILL CASE
Man Who Found
Sullivan Heirs
| Is Here.
j. B. Wright of Seattle
Sought Evidence in
| Irish Graves.
Spent Six Months in Cork Delv,
Spent Six Months in Cork Delv-
ing in Musty Records and
Burial Grounds.


almost forgotten grave in an obscure
burial ground in the city of Cork
Ireland, securing the inscribed metal
plates which had once adorned the lids
of several collins, which. according to
Irish custom, had been piled one on
top of another, is the manner in which
Attorney ]. B. Wright of Seattle, now
a guest at the Alexander Young hotel.
procured evidence in the noted Sulli-
van will case of Seattle, which brought
him fame. Mr. Wright, accompanied
by his bride, arrived here recently
on a pleasure trip, and will remain
in Honolulu for about six weeks.
The Sullivan will case achieved more
or less notoriety both in the United
States and England and Ireland, as
the heirs Of Sullivan We're located in
Cork after six months search by Mr..
Wright and evidence produced which
decided the matter in favor of his
clients. AS the Sullivan estate was
valued at about 100000, the case was
| bitterly fought, and is even now pend
ing on appeal in the U. S. Court OF
Appeals.
John Sullivan lived in Seattle for
| about forty years. He was
wrecked on British Columbia shores,
and gradually drifted down to Seattle
| and engaged in small fruit selling
business. He bought property, which
| is now located in the heart Of Seattle
and in time his holdings represented a
value of about three fourths of mil
lion. He died intestate about three
years ago. A woman of French de-
| scent named -tarie Carewe, at whose
home Sullivan had resided for a short
| time and where he died, asked for let
| tiers Of administration, and petitioned
the court to appoint one McCutcheon
as the administrator. The court re-
fused and five months later she came
| into prominence by stating that Sulli-
| van had left a word Of mouth will
She claimed that before his death Sui
Ivan had said he was very sick man
and in case of his death he wanted
his personal property to go to heI
sisters. The case was tried before
United States Judge Hanford who pro
nounced this will a fraud.
In the meantime Attorney Wright
acting for himself and Mr.. Pyle,
| prominent attorney, went quietly u
Ireland in behalf of Sullivan heirs
While he was absent about eighty PEG
pie filed claims to the big estate. MI
Wright spent six months in collecting
evidence which consisted of the Catho
lie church records at Cork and fiftee
lof Sullivan's own letters concernin
two of his sisters who had died a
I Cork. Before his death. Sullivan ha
visited Cork, en- route to Paris, an
probated on the estates of his sister:
Mr.. Wright thus connected Sulliva
with the Sullivan building in Seattle
II The most interesting phase in tn
quest for evidence came when scare
began among the graves. On heat
stone he found the inscription-"E Ellie
| Silvia, died 1S73-R. /. p" but nothin
l to indicate that Sullivan's father an
| mother were buried in this grave. +
had the grave opened and found met
. coffin plates inscribed with the name
of Peter and Albinah Sullivan. TIL
discovery led to the finding Of II
cousins of John Sullivan who We,
Hannah Callahan and Edward Sull
van, and these were declared the hei
by Judge Hanford. Hannah Callahs
!. was a char woman, and Edward Sui
- van a harness maker.
Mr.. Wright and his associat
took the case on so per cent CONT
gent fee, and if the court decides
favor of his clients, Mr. Wright W
obtain a comfortable share of the fo
tune.