The Washington times., 1906-10-14
Child'S Attorneys Declare
Aged Woman's Viii
Was Forced.
BARTNETT AND BONDS
Petition to Have Case Trans
ferred From California to
District Sensational.

Charging that the instrument pur-
porting 10 be the last viii and testa-
ment of the late Ellen NJ. Cotton was
produced through fraud. coercion. and
undue influence on the part OF Mrs.
Caroline Martin -Dahlgren. John B.
Dahlgren. and Attorney Walter J. Bart
nett" the attorneys for the contesant.
Helen Beatrice Sacher. the six-year-oId
great-grandchild, who Is seeking divi-
afternoon hled a formal petition with
the District Supreme Court TO have the
coming contest removed from the juris-
dIctiOn or the California courts 10 those
OF the District or Columbia
Thus the contest over the estate OF the
widow OF the late Gen. .. D. Cotton.
former partner of Coils p. Huntington
and George Crocker, testimony con-
cerning which IS being taken before
Justice Charles 8 Bundy. has assumed
an unexpected turn. and now gives
promise OF being more stubbornly and
bitterly fought than ever.
Bartnett's Alleged Act.
Beginning with references 10 the
great affection Mrs. Cotton bore her
grandchlld. Mrs. Helen Thornton Sdch-
er and for the little great-grandchild.
Helen, the petition declares that the
will which practically cuts OF the child,
was drawn according to a concerted
plan between Attorney Bartnett John
b. Dahlgren. and Mrs. Caroline Dahl
greu. in order that they might benefit
20 the exclusion of the other legal rela-
tives
According To the document. Attorney
Bsrtuett prepared the supposed Cotton
VIII at a time when he realized that the
aged woman was totally Incompetent e
realize its import. The contestants as
sert that this was done with the appar-
ent understanding that Bartuett was
TO name himself as executor i'm the VIII
and that Mr.. Dahigren and Mrs. Mar
tin acquiesced In the ARRANGEMENT.
The claim upOu which the contestants
base their plea Tor a change or juFls-
dictiou. as stated in the petition, is that
Mrs. Cotton was a legal resident OF the
District, and that in attempting 90
have the will pr0bated at Santa Cruz.
Cal. where Mrs Cotton was buried.
Attorney Bartnett did 50 without legal
grounds
Resided in Washington.
The contestants point out that Mrs.
Cotton came TO Washington ten years
ago. built the beautiful family resi-
deuce At 1917 Connecticut avenue. de-
claring at the time her intention OF
never returning to the Pacific coast TO
live permanently.
II is further asserted by the contest
ants that Mrs Cotton had previously dis
posed of her property holdings both in
Santa Cruz and San Francisco, except
for a small dwelling at the former
place, where Mrs. Lalgren, then Mrs.
Martin, lived with her daughters dur
ing the summer.
Another sensational claim cited IN the
petition is that Attorney Bartnett, either
before or since the death Of Mrs. Cotton,
has spirited away from this city certain
stocks and bonds belonging TO the es-
tate. the value of which is placed at
$500. 90. These bonds, 1t is shown, were
in the keeping of the American Secur-
ity and Trust Company, of Washington.
but when an attempt was made TO have
them accounted for by Ito collector APP
pointed by a District ccd~t, they were
that Attorney Bartnett b. compelled 10
appear in this city TO testify as 10 their
present whereabouts,
Loved Grandchild.
one of the important claims TO be ad-
vanced at the coming trial. however the
Supreme Court may decide as to the
proper Jurisdiction In which to try the
case. is that Mrs. Cotton held her little
half-American, half-French grandchiid,
Helen. IN the most affecuonate regard,
going each year 20 visit her in Paris,
both during the life Of the child's moth
ar and following her death.
In this correction, a photograph show
irr little Helen and Mrs. Coltcn at
French watering place, the great-grand-
,.arenr holding the baby in affectionate
embrace VIII pe exhibited. The pic
f,,ro a reproductiUn Of which accom-
,autas this article. is cherished by the
l.niId as one OF her dearest memories OF
her dead relative. who acted as the
chiId.s eod-mother, and is said to have
expressed her wish to bring her to this
countrv as her heir, Immediately follow
ipe The death of Mrs. Sacher.
All tbasc claims viii be brought out
I'm the coming litigation over the diTi-
sior Of the win. in addition TO that tes-
tiuonv which has been taken ln TINS
CITY before Justice Burdy. relative 10
Mrs. Coltou's alleged unaoInd mental
condition during the months preceding
her death on February 10. 1905.
DR.. 4. T. Sewers declared at yester-
DAYS hearing that ir has opinion Mrs.
Colton's mind was uusOand VIXEN sha
signed the document alleged 10 ne her
VIII
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