The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-21
So Lawyers Say Of tho Baby Mrs.
Bedford Claims as Her Son.
TWO SETS OF CLAIMANTS
A Merry War Is on Over the Possession Of
the Fortune Left Behind BY Summing
S. Bedford.

New York. May ei-The arrest OF Mrs.
Cunning s Bedford in Paris. charged
with representing a spurious baby as her
own. to secure her husbands estate. Is a
mystery TO Mrs. Virginia zerega. who
with her three sisters, Instituted the pro-
ceediings against her. II was she who
nployed Coudert Brothers to bring pro-
edings for possession OF the estate.
Mrs. Zerega lives at 926 Park avenue,
Plainfield. n. j.. and is the widow OF Al
bert Zerega. who died few weeks ago.
She Is a cousin of Cunning g. Bedford on
his mothers side. She and her sisters.
Adelaide Blanchard. Henrietta Martinot
and Mrs. l.. v. s. Gallagher. claim to be
the next kin.
Nevertheless. the four sisters are not
against Mrs. Bedford. Mrs. zerega said
yesterday that she could not understand
who had instigated the arrest.
We believe the baby is spurious,
che said. but cannot say that we have
did not get to my cousins funeral. MY
son was there. The value OF my cousins
estate. ] believe, Is less than 10000. All
that We know OF Mrs. Bedford is that she
was know i'm Washington as Henrietta
Mlddleton. and believe that she met Mr..
Bedfor there.
WRIGHTS CLAIM 1T. TOO.
Mrs. Mary f. Wright. widow Of Isaac
Merrit Wright. who says she is the prin-
cipal heir. was seen yesterday at her
home h1n IN Hampstead J.. l. Her daughters.
with her. The three said that they had
only casual acquaintance with Mrs
Redford. They did not even know of his
marriage until his death
When we met the widow at the fI-
neral, said Mrs. Wright. II felt sorry
for her. She wept beside the coffin. and
said she did not know how she was to
live without him. l invited her TO come
and stay with us here. Just before she
sailed for Europe she wrote me an ex-
ceedingly nice letter.
We are not bringing the present ac-
tion against her. have taken steps TO
guard our interests In the estate. We
myself. my son and three daughters
were Mr.. Bedford's nearest kin. and We
expect TO Inherit most of the estate
AS 10 the marriage OF Mr.. Bedford
understand that Eugene l.. Busche
executor Of Mr.. Bedfords will. has proof
that II took place in Washington Mr..
Busche. who told me that the will pro-
vided for reversion Of the estate TO
the widow In case there was an Issue"
Mrs Henry r. Taller. another daughter
OF Mrs. Wright. who lives In Roslyn,
and whose husband is a cousin OF L.
Suffern Taller said that she did not
see how Mrs. Zercga could claim the
LAWYER SAYS IT'S FRAUD.
Henry Cachard. the Paris representa-
tive of Coudert Bros. said that at the
proper time IL would be easy 10 show
that the baby was spurious
1T was the evident intention Of Mrs |
Bedford 10 get the estate Of the elder 1
Bedford with her husbands by bring /
Ing baby into the case" he said I'VE \
have affidavits by servants of the Bed |
fords in Paris. which prove that Mrs. /
Bedford's story cannot be true
Bedford was lying critically III at his |
Paris home and was expected To die |
most any time. Mrs. Bedford suddenly /
went to London. and was away for |
week. When she returned the baby |
was with her. We will show that Bed
'ord only saw the baby when he was
lying.
Howe and Humel are equally positive
hat the legitimacy OF the Bedford baby
IAN he proved
David May Of the Arm who has charge
" Mrs. Bedford's interest said:
There is no doubt as TO the legitimacy
" the Bedford baby. There IL evidence
" II in the handwriting OF Bedford him
'eh. II is Cunning Bedford's baby.
Mrs. Bedford was aware that the birth
" the child was to be questioned" +"