The Colorado statesman., 1905-10-14
STEBBINS ESTATE
WILL BUILD ORPHANS HOME
AGREEMENT REACHED BY HEIRS
IN DENVER.
Probate of Will Leaves 100000 for
Proposed Charity = Beneficiares
Aoe and Born in Colorado

| Must Be at Least Eight Years OF
Age and Born in Colorado.
Denver.-As a result of the compro-
mise entered into yesterday by the con
testants of the will of the late Charles
H. Stebbins and the executors of the
estate, it is likely that the orphan asy-
lum to be established in Denver for
which Mr. Stebbins left the bIlk Of his
fortune will be reality.
The Gearing was in the County Court
before Judge Lindsey. The agreement
reached between the parties in inter
est, awarded $4G,100 to Charles H.
Stebbins, she son, and S97, $50 to Grace
Stebbins, one of the daughters. The
other daughter, Dora Stebbins Thomp-
son, is not concerned in the settlement
made yesterday. Claims were pre-
sented by the son for 100000, his in
terest in the estate of his mother, and
by the daughter, Grace, $4,000, her in
terest in the same estate. The parties
after much deliberation decided to cut
down the demands as indicated, and
Judge Lindsey allowed the claims.
According to the claims presented
and allowed. Charles M. Stebbins,
after the death of his wife, and the
mother of the contestants, desired to
secure control of certain lands Of the
estate of the mother, in Greenburg,
county of Westchester, New York.
These lands consisted of a valuable
farm of 1876 acres known as the MEAD
Farm" The mother had left the es-
tate to ker three children. Mr.. Steb-
bins secured control of the property
from his children, with the agreement
that the children were to receive Sl5,-
900 each, the amounts to be paid to
them in installments.
These amounts were not paid, and
Mr.. Stebbins was not able to secure
partition of the estate as he had de-
sired. The title to the land was still
in the children, and Mr.. Stebbins made
a contract with his children that if
suit was not brought for the property
or the share belonging to any child,
that child would get his portion of the
property back. One of the children,
Dora Stebbins Thompson, did bring
such suit and was given a judgment
for $24,00G.66 in New York. The other
two children did not bring suit, and il
was on their rights arising out of the
property of their mother that their
claims were based, which were al
lowed by the County Court yesterday.
The will of the late Charles Steb-
bins was admitted to probate by Judge
Lindsey, and there will be left, after
the payment of all debts of the es-
tate, something over $300,005fof the
purpose of founding the orphans home
as provided for in the will OF the de-
ceased.
Mr.. Stebbins left an estate valued
at nearly 100000. He died in Berlin
in June, 1904. In his will he left
nearly all of his property for the found
ing of the home. The children who are
to receive the benefits of the vast for
tune are to be at least eight years Of
age and are to have been born in Col
orado. The beneficiaries of The will
are to be well treated under the terms
of the will.
But little was left the Stebbins chill
dren under the terms of the will, which
was contested on the grounds of un-
sound mind and undue influence.
Mr.. Stebbins was always considered
somewhat eccentric and among his es-
centricities was the writing of book.
entitled "The New Religion This
book was to be printed from fund of
$4,000 set aside for that purpose and
sent to every postmaster in'the United
States with the instruction that it was
to be put into the hands of bright
young man known by the postmaster.
The book had many curious ideas on
the way for one to live in this life in
order to attain the best of The here
after.
For many years Mr.. Stebbins lived
abroad and would have nothing to do
with his children, for whom he did not
appear to have any affection
The trial of the contest of the will
last March in the Probate Court
brought forth many peculiar traits OF
the deceased. and the testimony was
of an unusual character. The jury in
the case disagreed.