The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-12
CorbIn's Suit Against COTbIn
Banking Company Dismissed.
CLAIMED $4,000 WAS DUE HIM
Ms Bride Rejected SutOT Who Shot Himself
In Her Presence Parents BY Adoption
Left Him Fortune.

New York. March 12-After years Of
litigation Thomas ]. Feldner, who began
life as Austin CorbIns office boy, and
who Is now a man worth millions, OF
Nashville. Tenn. has lost his suit for
$4,000. which he claimed as his alleged
share OF the profits of the land depart
ment of the Corbin Banking company.
Interwoven with the details Of Mr..
Feldner's suit is a romance OF love and
fortune
This Georgia boy obtained the conf
dence of Austin Corbin won the daughter
OF Milton II. Smith. president OF the
Louisville and Nashville Railway, al
though rival shot himself in the young
womans presence. and finally Mr.. Field
ner and his bride became the adopted
children OF Samuel NJ Murphy. known
as the surface railway king OF Tennessee.
81. 100000 to 100000.
Mr. Feldner's claim was that Austin
Corbln. before his death. entered into an
agreement with him. by which he was to
have one-nalf OF the profits OF the land
department OF the company lie was un-
able 10 produce this agreement. but al
legged that It had been taken, with other
papers, from his desk by George S. Ed
gell, one Of the surviving members OF the
firm.
Mr.. Edgen Is we'll known in banking
circles and had President Roosevelt as
his guest al Newport, n. H.. last fall.
where the preserves of the Cor'bin estate
are located Mr. Edgell denied taking
NJ IN..f.I IL, -
proving the existence of the partnership
agreement being on Mr. Feldners shoul-
ders the United States court decided
against him.
Austin Corbin took a liking 10 Thomas
J. Feldner when ne was a boy In the
Atlanta branch office OF the banking
company. Mr.. Corbln brought him to
this city when he was p year old and put
him in charge OF the land department. at
a salary OF $500 year. Mr.. Corbin died
In June. 1896. and later in the same year
Mr.. Feldner presented a claim of half
the profits Of the land department up to
that time
When this claim was made Feldner was
discharged. In January. 1897. he brought
suit i'm the United States district court
for the southern district Of Georgia
against George s. Edgell. as one OF the
surviving members of the banking COM
pany. AS the corporation had assets
amounting in value To more than $1,000. 600
IN Georgia, his action threw the property
I'm that state into the hands OF a receiver
for a time.
The case was finally argued and submit
ted TO Judge Emory Speer. in July 1901.
His decision has just been rendered The
costs Will amount, IL is said. TO about
$4,000.
Mr.. Feldner's marriage. In 1898. 20 Miss
Nettie Bell Smith, a daughter OF Milton
H. Smith, followed closely upon William
Preston Thornton's attempted suicide
Thornton had been engaged 10 Miss
Smith. When he received a note from
her declining 10 keep an appointment, he
went to her home and shot himself in
Miss Smiths presence
Soon after his marriage Mr.. Feldner
formed the acquaintance of the late
Samuel NJ. Murphy. Mr. and Mrs Muir
ply had no children. and they became
so much attached TO Mr.. and Mrs. Field
ner that they adopted them. Mr. Muir
ply died i'm 1890. leaving practically all OF
his estate TO Mr.. and Mrs. Feldner.