The San Francisco call., 1903-12-16
NORTON HEIRS
SCORE A POINT
Beneficiaries of Kentuckian's S
Will Invoke Assistance of
CalifOrnia'S Probate Laws
CHARITY LOSES BIG SUM
Executors of Eccentric Mans
Estate Here Looking Into
the Legal Phases of Case

G. w Norton and James w. Barr,
the former a banker and the latter a
prominent attorney of Louisville, are
registered at the Palace The gentle
men are the executors of the estate
Of the late Captain w. F. Norton. an
eccentric character Of Louisville. who
left large fortune, the bulk of which
was becueathed to the Baptist Or
phans' Home Of Kentucky, and il is
this particular beQuest that has led
to much trouble in the settlement of
the estate and eventually upset the
original provisions of the captains will.
Captain Norton. shortly before his
death, came to California and located
at Coronado, where he built himself
a beautiful home, in which he finally
died. His will provided that his body
should be cremated in Cincinnati and
money was set aside for a special train
to carry his relatives and friends to
the latter city, the desire having been
expressed by the captain that his fu-
neral should be an occasion of merri-
ment.
LEARN MORE OF LAW.
The estate of the deceased was val
ued at over SSOO.0OO, and Of this, as
stated before. the bulk was willed to
the Orphans Home the heirs of the
captain receiving sums ranging from
$1,000 TO s15.O When the executors
entered upon their duties with a view
Of settling up the estate and made a
trip TO California to look over the
property located in this State they
were suddenly confronted with a pro-
vision Of the California law that pro-
hibits a testator leaving more than one
third Of his estate TO a charitable or
ganization. The discovery caused no
end Of excitement among the benefi-
ciaries of the will ana the legal repre-
sentatives of the Orphans Home in
Louisville at once took steps to carry
the case into the courts in order to pro-
tect the interests of the institution in
the estate of the captain.
t The prospects of a long siege of liti-
cation caused Executors Norton and
Barr to make another trip TO this State,
where they engaged local legal talent
to clearly interpret the law of the
State. 1t was found that Norton had
renounced his citizenship in the State
of Kentucky and become a citizen of
California. His will having been exc
cuted in this State, there was no reason
to question further the right to apply
the law Of California in the matters of
the estate, and the executors so set
forth in a commanication sent to the
interested parties in Louisville.
COMPROMISE EFFECTED.
As a result a compromise has now
been effected whereby, it is said, the
Orphans Home viii turn over to the
other beneficiaries the sum of $25000O,
and in addition agrees to have deducted
from it's share of the estate the indi
vidual devises, provided that all threat
ened litigation is abandoned.
AT the time the executors discovered
that Norton's viii was subject to the
laws Of California the heirs were pre-
pairing 10 contest his will on the ground
that the captain was not of sane mind
when he executed the document and
were preparing to dig up from the past
the many peculiar traits of the de-
ceased. which had made him a famous
character in Louisville. This suit, how
ever. will now be dropped, and Execu-
tors Norton and Barr are on their way
home. where they expect TO quickly re-
Iieve themselves of the responsibilities
imposed on them by the will of Cap