Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-25
n Hearing on the Phi|o
|pepnet Estate Accounts.
hlid Questioning by Stoddard,
Counsel for Mrs. Bennett.
.,.h Imuatence Shown. -Byan's Acts Criti-
sized--Erp|ains His $500 Fee.

oTIR
spr at a hearing on the accounts of
,hs estate Of the late Philo $. Bennett,
= rbirh Mr.. Bryan is administrator.
n,,,rr the examination, Mr.. Bryan
',h,,,itted to a rapid fire of questions
,rn,, Judge Henry Stoddard, counsel
g. Mrs Grace |. Bennett. the widow,
I'd IT times considerable Impotence
a~s manifested by both the question
and the witness. Mr.. Bryan was
,anre5e,lted by Mcssrs. Newton and
Whit as counsel. while c. NJ. Wick
min. Of Waterville, n. Y, appeared in
eIalt of Mrs. Della Biselow, as Il re-
sduary legatce.
Attorney White was first put on the
Il .,,,,d as counsel for the administrators
"a explain the accounts, but Mr.. Bryan
Il ,o,e,r,,tted so frequently that Judge
| c,oafdrd suggested that Mr.. Bryan
.u until he was on the stand before
Il ATTEMPTED to explain matters. Mr..
BRYAN then said:
Your honor, | object to the insinua-
ton thrown out by Judge Stodadrd.
lar Il months | have heard these insin-
,,,ions and | am tired of it. l am
Wiling to testify. | want to testify.
fudge Stoddard remarked that if Mr.
sryap would go on the stand later he
would ask him questions. Then pro-
eeding with the examination of Mr..
White. Judge Stcddard asked for
statement of the amount of bills re-
,eiyallr accounts and notes rrceiva-
Ne in the partnership at the time of
Mr. Ecnnett's death. Mr.. White gave
this amount as $215.21O and on March
1904, sever months later, the total
had increased to d face value of $22l, -
q. Mr.. Ecnrett was senior member
q. the firm of Bennett, Sloan & Co,
Of New York.
yr. Rryan then took the stand. He
Gil that to the best of his knowledge
Ne AMOUNT presented in court was the
exact amount of the money received
from the estate He only knew of the
value OF the co-partnership from the
apraiscr's report and state ments
male to him by Mr.. Sloan.
Judge Standard: DO you know the
tac value OF the bills, notes and ac-
courts receivable due to Eennett,
Scan g. Co.. at the time the business
vas taken over by the new corpora
tpn:''
Mr.. Eryan.."fI only, know. from the
statement filed that it wis s227. S55.57. y
Judge Stoddard: ''In other words
you know it only from statements
ma lie by Mr.. Sloan?"
Mr.. Eryan: Eyes, that's all. l think
no examination was made except by
The aipraiSers.'
When asked about the amount col
hciel ,n notes outstanding, Mr.. Bryan
stated that the loss on accounts was
@ly 800.
1t appeared that in July 1. 1904, Mr..
Som turned over to Mr.. Bryan as eX-
eutor H12,S4. but Mr.. Bryan could
not say for how long Il time this sum
bad been accommodating. His state
rrnt that he had allowed the new cor
pGaton % days time in which to sell
H. merchandise Of the estate was sub
tctcd to some criticism by Judge
Soddird. who asked if had the 90
hys time not been given. would it
not have been possible to have paid
The legaci"S earlier. Mr.. Bryan re-
Piled; 81 plid the lcgacies as fast as
ny attorneys thought it safe to pay
hem"
After Il recess. Mr.. Bryan resuminS
Ge stlnd said that he had just talked
nth Mr. Sloan in New York by tcle-
ph0ne and had learned that Mr.. Sloan
ms littl" more than half an interest
N the new company. Mr.. Sloan told
MN TINT the money received from the
nal estate in New York is retained i'll
he Investment account. The sale o:
ms Bridgeport property and the rent
as Mr. Bryan said, were kept in the
real estate account ana that money has
ny been turned over, MIR. Bryan said,
% hin as executor.
Judge Stnddard said: mo doubt
W. Sloan has done things which may
night from his point of view. but
acting in two capacities and
h''k check should be put upon il
somebody, and that somebody is evil
ently Mr.. Bryan. should see to it that
uf estate is protected"
lie executor has done what he be-
ae'm is right" slid Mr.. Bryan.
'adSe Stoddard also took up the
"Fn Of Se5on for Mr.. Bryans own SER
'ns Slid he:
s;sO for?"
'of usual ana extraordinary SER
sS as executor" replied Mr.. Bryan
"hat were the usual ana what
". =, Tie extraordinary services"
ne usual services were those per-
"e1 as executor. and the eXtraordi
services were those in contesting
atenpt to remove the executor and
Ulehee against the attacks upon
@ will itself"
y" Bryan said: Il have discharged
.e uu'les of executor to the best OF
~ do'lity and while have allowed
"a a'orheys to put into the accoun,
n. uey thought to be Il fair charge
n my services. l intend to use a parr
!, :, ud' morey to carry out the desire
e., a. Bennett for which he set apart
, ta'ain trust funds. The inheritance
nave reduced the trust funds anG
sasa, l Use about $500 to make up TIL.
ID a. Mr.. Bryan was question.
ss,oo toe items including his feee O.
elra., lie was asked whether it in.
IN ", pay for any trips from his HON,
Ven "'aska to New York or New Ha.
s;0 aoa connection with the bequest o
tinos tut himself ard family con.
Penn" the sealed letter left by Mr.