The sun., 1903-11-20
SON DISPUTES TEFRT WILL.
vISS WHITNEY PUT OUT OF Girls
void LODGE BY THE COURT.
ALLEGED Csrousal There After the Death
or the New Yorker Who Left Her All
His Estate Except 81 OCCIDENTAL OF
Her Petition to BE CO-Administrator.

His Estate Except l,OOO-Denlal OF
Her Petition to Be Co.Administrator.
Erastus T. Tefft, son OF Frank G. Tefft
~ this city, who died recently at Great
p.uin rton, is to contest the will OF his
father which has already been presented
,oy probate at Pittsfeld. Mass. This will,
which was made last March. by Mr. Tefrt,
left 81 900 to the son and gave the rest Of
the estate to my friend" Helen NJ. Whitney
Of u Gramercy Park, to whom. it was stated,
he was engaged to be married Miss Whit
ney, who was nominated administrator
in the instrument, has valued the personal
estate at $4,000. but it is contended by
Erastus T. TeIt that this valuation is too
small
Through his counsel. Francis L. Well
man OF this city, Mr. Tefft is going to allege,
!. was learned yesterday, that Miss Whit
ney exercised undue influence over his
father In the making of the will and that
u should therefore he declared invalid.
AZ preliminary step Mr.. Tefit has already
had him self appointed temporary. ad-
ninistrator mainly for the purpose of get
ting Miss Whitney elected from the estate
Of his father at Great harrington, of which
she claimed possession.
From a person in a position to know the
facts in the case it was learned Yesterday
that the senior Tefft had known Miss Whit
ney for about seven years, having met
her in this city, where she was living with
sister. Mrs. Kendall. Mr.. Tefft, in recent
wears, bad been accustomed to spend
great deal of his time at Griswold Lodge,
his estate at Great harrington. The estate
consists Of rs acres. with beautiful green
houses and stables where Mr.. Tefft kept
Mr.. Tefft frequently had Miss Whitney
"a a visitor there She was there in March
last and also when Mr.. Tefft died, when
nSas ssatsy % ns s.er esae his desth @s Rs Whitney
went away for two days and on returning
to Griswold Lodge took possession of the
place it is alleged, and discharged the
servants. The place had been practically
ssv up Ss sna Miss II IS MEney SsEa 1y sed a ores s n
entering the house and also went over
private papers in safe.
After taking possession of the place
Miss Whitney hired new servants and
She refused to relinquish possession, and
Mr.. TefYt g son went before Judge Slocum
An the Probate Court in Pittsfield on Tues
day and was appointed special admins
traitor. An order of court also was obtained
by him, requiring Miss Whitney to relin,,
quish possession of his fathers place until
she had proved her right to it.
A deputy sheriff served this order on
Miss Whitney Tuesday afternoon, and she
left the place, under prote est. with her sister.
Since then she has engaged counsel IN
OF ntaining her right to possession Of
the property There is to be hearing in
the case at 'Pittsfeld in about ten days,
Mr., Wellman said yesterday that Mr:
Tent, who Is "a years Of age. Is prepared
Of winning it. Although his fathers Tor
tune dwindled in recent years, his estate at
Great Darlington is estimated TO be worth
SO 900 and the maintenance OF 1t cost HIM,
it is said, over so 900 year
PITTsFIELD, Mass. Nov. ls-Io-day IN
the Berkshire Probate Court hearing was
given on the petition of Miss WhiJney. who
asked that abe be appointed coadmlnls-
traitor Of the estate with Erastus I. Ten.
Mr.. Teflt opposed the petition,
charged that Miss Whitney did not come
before the court with clean hands. He
alleged that she went to GIlswolo LouHe, |
surreptitiously forced an entrance despite |
her friends in the house. He also alleged !
that wine was taken from MIR. Tent 8 cellars
and drunk, Offering to prove the number oil !
bottles consumed, and the house ol mourn
ing was turned into place OF revel ana that /
Miss Whitney ordered supplies 10 be charged |
10 Mr.. Teft's estate. BY servants of the !
late Mr. Tefft the lawyer offered 10 sub
stantiate all Of his statements. |
II was brought out that Miss Whitney, !
when she took charge Of Grlswold Lodge, !
discharged servants who had been in Mr.. |.
TeHt's employ for twenty years, and the |.
safe in Mr.. Tefft's apartments had been |
opened and papers examined, and that the |
safe combination had been changed so that !
the administrator had no entrance 10 it.
Miss Whitney's attorneys admitted the I;
opening Of the safe and the discharge of !
the servants, but denied the alleged wine
drinking or that carousal had been carried |
on In the house.
It wos brought out at the hearing that
Mr. Te.ft's Berkshire estate Is valued at
100000 and that his New York property
s worth $4,000. Attorney E. F Mcintyre
Of New York, representing creditors of the
estate Of Mr.. Tefft to the amount OF $50 ,OOO
said that the estate was heavily indebted
10 New York creditors and that it might
bo insolvent.
Judge Slocum denied Miss Whitney,s
petition and appointed Frank P. Wright
Of Great harrington co-administrator with
Mr.. Tetft. Heavy bonds were required
The Court appointed commission to take
an appraisal Of the estate in Great Barring
ton.