The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-28
BIXBY HEIRESS DEMBNTED.
OWNER OF THE UNION LEAGUE
CLtB AND CASINO PROPERTY.
Countess MankOwskI. I'm Court, Makes No
Response 10 Questions But n Smile and
an Orered Hand-Fertune Made From
shoe Backing Taxed At 81, 043 900.

wv
Countess Mankowski, daughter OF John
NJ. Bixby and wife OF Count Casimir
Ignace Mankowski, was adjudged yes
terday by a Sherlf's jury TO be inoom-
petent to manage either herself or her
affairs. Ten years ago the Countess
was pronounced insane by the English
Court Of Chancery and her husband named
an committee OF her estate. She was sent
to an English sanitarium. but three years
ago she left there to return to her hus-
bands home, the Count having been named
as committee Of her person. The Countess
was examined yesterday in person.
Grace Sterling Bixby married Count
Mankowski in 1879, three years after the
death OF her father, who had made a fortune
by the sale Of shoe backing. The Bixby
estate to-day owns the Casino Theatre,
the Union League Club and other valuable
property in New York city.
The Countess appeared outwardly to be
anything but insane when shs took the
witness stand yesterday. She was fashion,
ably attired and seemed to be cheerful
and healthy. She smiled continually at
those around her, but when questions
were put TO her she Just smiled on, offering
70 shake hands with her ~interiocutor, but
br. Meehan, one OF the commissioner,
asked her this question:
Countess, do you know where you are
now?"
But she simply smiled at him pleasantly
and held out her hand toward him. No
more questions were put to her by the
commissioners after this one had been
repeated with a like result.
Miss Mary A. B. Hicks testified hat
the Countess had been Ill since 1889, and
| that for years past she had suffered from
a complete loss OF memory. She spends
her time knitting or gazing at pictures.
! She never reads or writes anything. She
did not recognize her sons when ehe met
thern here.
Count Mankowski testified that he had
brought his wife over here on September 8,
by permission Of the English courts. Tbe
two sons, Casimir and Robert, who are "a
and y years old respectively, testified that
their mother was mentally Incapable.
George FreifeId, trustee OF the Countess's
estate under the wills OF her father and
her brother Robert, from whom she in
that the Union League Club was pased
for SIS, 900 a year, the Casino Theatre for
S34, 900 a year, a house at 48l Fifth avenue
for Sis, 600 a year, and that there were other
smaller parcels bringing g n several thousands
more annually. The Countess also has
about S4I, 900 10 her credit in England.
The sons, said Mr.. Freifeld, are reoeiving
5000 a year each, under a ruling Of the
Supreme Court Of this county, while the
Count has been getting $4,000 a year for
the support and maintenance OF his wife.
Proceedings have been begun recently to
wipe out OertNin mortgages, and a sum OF
SIS 600 a year has been set aside to meet
this prospective expenditure. The taxable
value Of the estate in 1905 was 81 ,943, O0c
and the income has averaged about 500, 900.
The figures submitted yesterday by Mr..
Frsiield 20 the SHERIFF. jury showed that
able out OF the income above the necessary
expenditures, and the jury found that this
$4,000 represents the total income OF the
Cnalntpen at praNent,