The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
FIGHT FOR AN ESTATE
Petition for Preservation of
Cotton Property.
SEQUEsTRATION IS CHARGED
Attorneys for the Grandchild Also
seek 10 Have Question of Domiciie
at Time OG Death SettIed-Wnnt
New Letters of Administration
Cranted-HistOry of the Case.

Another. ana a most important move
was made In the case of the Cotton will
contest yesterday. when r. Golden Don
aldson and p ". Parker, attorneys on
behalf Of Helen Marguerite Beatrice
Sachcr. the six-year-old grcat grand
daughter Of the late Ellen NJ. Cotton.
widow Of Gen. r. ID. Cotton, filed petit
ton in the Probate Court Of the District,
praying that collectors be appointed TO
collect and preserve for the estate al of
the property left by Mrs. Ellen NJ. Cotton.
The petition further asks the court that
William j. Bartnett be required 10 appear
ana answer under oath what stock and
bonds in This and other estates ne took
from the Americaa Security and Trust
Company after Mrs. Colton's death. and
what stocks were sent 10 him in New
York. and turn over such property 10 the
collector of the estate.
II is further peudOued that the issue be
framed 10 try before the court the ques-
tiou OF Mrs. CotOns domiCue at the time
Of her death, and also that letters Of ad-
ministrauon upon the estate be issued 60
some suitable person or persons.
Claims in Petition.
Il is stated IN the petition that Mrs. Col
ton died at her residence 1917 Connecticut
avenue. February 10, 1885, where she had
resided for ten years before her death.
and that at her death she left AN estate
consisting Of real estate and stocks and
bonds volued at about &54y9e
Had Two Children.
Il appears from the petition that Ellen
NJ. Cotton had two children, Helen Cotton
and Caroline Cotton. Helen married Crit
tenden Thornton. and died IN Paris In 0c-
tobcr. 1899. leaving one child. Helen Cot
ton Thornton This daughter married
Siegfriod SaChcr FIJI Paris She died iH
February. I90f. leaving an only child, the
contestant, Helen Marguerite Beatrice
Sacher
The other daughter Of Mrs. Cotton.
Caroline Cotton married Daniel Cook. ard
after his death, married Henry NJ. Mar
tin. which name this daughter bore when
Mrs. Cotton died After the death uc
Mrs Cotton, Mrs. Martin married John
u. Dlblgrgu. Il is further stated in the
petition that most Of Mrs C0lton's estate
was located in ths District Of Columbia
the bonds being in 70 safe deposit box IN
tho American Security and Trust Com
pany, end that the only property she
=
Santa Cruz, Cal, valued at 5000
Came Here Eight Years Ago.
Mrs. Martin and her family came To
Washington t1 live with AIRS Cotton
about seven or eight wears before her
death. and during the summer months
Mrs. Martin returned 90 California. and
AIRS. Cotton went 90 Paris 60 visit her
great grand-dagghter for whom the de-
ceased Is said to have entertained gu uu-
usually strong affection, expressing lc-
deep love and affection for her great
grauddaughter En- letters and otherwis-.
ana during her last visit To her great
grandddaushtsr in lsoi, she wanted 20
adopt her.
Stricken i'm 1904.
shortly after Mrs. Colton's return 90
. Washington from her last visit to aer
great-granddaughter in Paris in lggi saa
was stricken with combination OF dis
eases from which she had previously suf-
fered. growing rapidly worse. and finally
dying on February le, 1904
Tho petition states. that. while AIRS
Cotton was desperately ill, and when sine
was very feeble ia mind and body, and
unable 20 know and realize what her
property consisted of. and VINO We're the
.
ton. Alr. DadiErru. and Walter J. Bart
nett c0ercCd and uuiawfuily required Mrs
Cotton 10 sign q paper. which these per
sons now claim is Mrs C0lt0n's will
which Mrs. Cotton herself however de-
, MED aIterWaTd II is stated that this
paper was prepared iH the handwriting
OF Walter J. Bartnctt, and that iu it he
was named as sole executor. and that by
this PAPER, all OF Mrs. Colton's estate was
NFH.H- Il tH arsff .ff
inheritiBE uer cat-Sranddaushtcr.
Was Resident OF District.
II Is also stated that, inasmuch as Mrs
Cotton was an actual bona ide resident
, of the District Of Columbia at the time of
her death and continuously for ten years
PRIOR and an of her estate was located
here the Probate Court of this district
has exclusive Jurisdiction TO administer
the estate
Charges Made.
Tho claim is advanced that pursuant
to the precoucert-d plan of Walter J.
Bartnett and Caroline Martin 10 secure
for themselves and Mrs. Martins family
all of the Cotton estate Walter J. Bart
nett took the paper which they claimed 10
be Mrs COlton's Will 10 the County Court
of Santa Cruz, Cal. where Mrs. Cotton
owned q sinai! cottage and filed petition
I there swearing that Mrs. Cotton was q
resident OF that counts. and asking that
this paper be- admitted 10 probate there
as Mrs Coltous will
Mr.. Bartuett afterward came TO the Dis
trict OF Columbia with some order from
the Santa Cruz court II is stated. but
without any authority Of the Probate
Court Of this district, or any other court
, having jurisdiction in the natter and re-
. moved from Mrs. Coltons deposit boxes
in the American Security and Trust Com
pany all of her stock and bonds which
were on deposit there, stated to be worth
S225."61
Other Allegations.
, The petition alleges that during Mrs.
C0lton's illness certain bonds of the value
OF Sl030l0 were sent 10 Mr Bartnctt i'm
Z New York that Bartnctt declines to re-
/ turn these securities 10 the District OF
Columbia, and now conceals them The
petitioner states that Mrs. Martin claims
2 that the valuable furnishing, arr objects.
briC-3-br5c, pictures. and other furniture
Of Mrs ColtOns residence ut 1917 COnnee-
ticuJ avenue. valued at $4,000 We're
b given 10 her by Mrs Cotton before her
de3Jh. and Airs. Martin claims them as
her own
DR.. Sewers CONFIDENT.