New-York tribune., 1905-08-18
WOOD WILL CONTEST SURE
WidOzc UiU Insist ON DO7Cer Right.
and Children viii FIGHT.

| viii contest which will prevent division
! of the estate of Alan w. Wood for years is
| TO be expected in view of statements made yes
| terday by representatives of the widow and OF
| the children of the dead steel manufacturer.
For the widow it said that there was
Jaw III this State by which she could be treated
as child and told that she must share equally
with the other children of the testator or get
nothing, but on the other hand the law
pain and had been upheld by plenty of decis-
IONS that the widow must receive one-third OF
her husbands estate her dover right For
the children 1t said that they would not
assent to any change in the provisions of the
will by which the former chorus girl should get
more than any one of them received.
These sentiments apparently were not
changed after Henry w Catlin. Mrs Woods
personal representative and adviser had met
representatives OF the children at a conference
Which was called with a view of avoiding lit-
CATION We are considering a contest of the
WILL Mr. Catlin said last night, but shall
nave no statement to make for publication,
PROBABLY until we answer the citation and an
iounce whether the widow consents to receive
one-ninth or decides to renounce that portion
and make contest in order to take one-third
Of the estate. which is her dover right under
the law
MT Catlin said he did not know of any law
OF the State which would permit a testator TO
VIII away his wifes dover right. There was no
dispute about Mrs Wood being the legal wife,
and the only legal wife, of Mr.. Wood at the
time the Will drawn, he said. Mr. Wood
had been almost distracted by the importuni-
ties of his children. who had opposed his mar
rlage TO Miss Mohr, and it to free himself
from these opportunities that he made the will
without consulting with his wife.
i have talked with the Wood children, said
Thomas Ellison, of Pittsburg. a friend of the
famiiy. and find them practically unanimous
in their belief that the viii of their father is
an eminently just one. No matter what may
happen. they determined that there shall be
no settlement whereby Mrs Wood gets more
than any of the children"
After the conference last evening representa-
tive said to Tribune reporter Nothing
accomplished. 1t simply a case OF backing
and filling There is no prospect of settle
ment and long contest in the courts may be
expected"
The will of Alan w. Wood was filed for pro-
bate in the Surrogate's Office yesterday by Nor
gan & Seabury, counsel for the executors. Rich
ard G. Wood and Parke c. Wood, two of the
executors, signed the application for probate. and
there a waiver of citation filed for David
L. Browne of Pittsburg, the third executor
named in the will In the application for pro-
bate it was stated that the value Of Alan w
Woods real estate about $500. and that
the value of his personal property unknown
The statement to the value of the property
was not satisfactory, in view of the general be-
lief that Mr., Wood left estate of from 5000,
900 to $1O,O00,00o, and the lawyers said they
would hand in amended statement later.
August 30 was set the date which the cita-
tions to the heirs of the estate returnable
The statement to the value OF Mr. Woods
real estate in this city would seem TO indicate
that his house in Riverside Drive had been
transferred outright to his children before the
will was drawn. After directing that the estate
be divided into nine equal parts the will has the
following provisions regarding the widow:
To my wife, G. Lillian Wood one of said por-
tions, which shall be paid to her and shall be
received by her in lieu of dover and all other
rights and interests in my estate.
l direct that If my said wife shall decline to
accept the said portion above allotted to her
upon the terms above set forth she shall forfeit
the same absolutely.
The children named in the will are Walter
Devices Wood. Parke Carrie Wood. Rosalnd w.
MacConnell Alberta Wood Anita Wood Roland
Gilpin Wood Helen r. Wood and Laura Gfpin
Wood