The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-28
DISPUTE OVER WEALTH
WIDOW ASKED TO ACCOUNT FOR
LATE HUSBANDS PROPERTY,
which, She Says, Was Worth Only
$1,000, While Her Brother Places
Its Value at $1,5OO,OOO.

NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-The Hagaman
case. in which the brother of Theodore
Hagaman, who died in 1900. is seeking an
accounting of the estate from the widow.
came up to-day before Surrogate Fitzger-
aid. The widow, who is now Mrs. Walter
Belabarre, asserted that the estate was
worth about 800. The contestant declared
its value to be 81 100000. The matter came
before the surrogate a motion to set
aside the order referring it to a referee
Counsel for Isaac Hagaman, the contest
ing brother, submitted an affidavit of the
latter. In this document Mr.. Hagaman
asserted that his brothers widow and DR..
Richard c. Flower told him and his two
sisters that his brother had met with
number of business reverses towards the
end of his life. which prevented him from
making any provision for US and that he
left little or no property
The affidavit further said that notwith-
standing 'the immense wealth which my
brother then had, he did not receive the
care or attention Of any nurse except the
said widow and one Maurice Willis, who
is married to the sister of DR.. Flower, and
that while so surrounded ii is claimed my
brother gave check for $572.ss0 to his said
widow, although he did not indorse the
same and although the widow testines that
at the time of his delivery to her of the
said check my brother was of clear mind
and well able to indorse the same if so de-
sired.
The affidavit continues: ION the day she
received the check she transferred $780,
600 to DR.. Flower. On the 18th of Septem-
Der, 1900, the day after my brothers death.
two checks for $4,000 and $4,000 were paid
each in which, it appears from the widows
examination aforesaid, were dated Sept
10, 1900, the day before my brothers death
and which were Endorsed over to said DIR.
Richard c. Flower. I allege the fact to be
that the sum of s572sSo and other moneys
belonging 10 my deceased brother were
Incorporated and converted to their own
use by the said widow and the said Dr.
Richard c. Flower, and divers other per-
sons. as a result of a conspiracy and COM
bination to defraud my said brother and
his heirs"
The affidavit further says that about
one Andrew D. Meloy- My sisters and
did execute and deliver in escrow an agree
ment of release, but the said release and
agreement was delivered without receipt of
one dollar, and was given upon the ex-
press understanding that the same would
not be used nor delivered by Meloy until
we were satisfied with the amount that we
should receive by reason thereof"
The attorneys were asked to submit briefs
next Wednesday, after which the surrogate
will decide the question at issue. Assistant
District Attorney Garvan. in charge of the
Hagaman case for the district attorneys Of
fee, said he would make a full investiga-
ton. Mr.. Caravan said that he had been ex-
aiming the doctor as 10 what he knew of
the death of Theodore Hagamah and had
stenographer present to take down the
questions and answers. He said that the
examination had covered wide scope of
things and that the physician had an
swered all the questions put to him cheer
fully nd/without hesitation. Mr.. Caravan
also said he had heard from Dr. Heald.
and DR.. Flower will visit him again on
Monday.
Mrs. Delabarre will be examined by me. "
said Mr. Garvan. and 1 have been in
formed by her counsel. Mr.. Hummell. that
l can examine any of his clients who are
connected with the case at any time
shall probably take advantage of this offer
to call many persons TO my Office In con-
nection with the case. There have been no
arrests in the case, no new developments,
| and there is no probability of our having 10
exhume the body said Mr.. Caravan in con-
| clusion.