The San Francisco call., 1906-06-05
STANFORD
SKE[E
APPEARS
Brother Of Late Senator
Alleged to Have Been
Cheated by Widow.
Executors Of Latter S Will
Sued by Reict Of Asa
for S608,O0O.

Mrs. Annie F. Stanford of New York,
who was Senator Leland Stanford's sis
ter in-law, is suing the executors of
Mrs Jane Stanford's will for more than
half million dollars she declares was
owing her husband. Asa stanford, de-
ceased, from the estate She alleges
he was defrauded out of it by Mrs.
Jane Stanford, widow of the Senator.
and who left nearly all the great es-
tate to the Leland Stanford Jr Uni
versity.
The infrmities of age and misinfor-
nation as to the value of the estate
left by Leland Stanford are alleged by
the plaintiff as the causes of her hus-
band failing to secure the money she
claims was due him.
The plaintiff sets forth that her hus-
band, Asa. was a director. in 1869, of
the Central Pacific Railroad Company,
and the owner of a sixth of the stock
of that corporation. At the suggestion
and argument of his brother Leland, so
it is alleged. Asa resigned from the di-
rectorship and turned all his interest
over to him upon the latter giving him
a written agreement to pay him $1,000
monthly and at Leland's death to
leave Asa or his heirs capital stock in
the company to the amount of 100000.
These payments were regularly made
up to the death of Leland, on June II,
1888, it is averred.
At his death Leland was worth about
$50. 900 0O0,S all of which was left to his
wife. Jane. with the exception. it is
stated, OF the shares OF stock due his
- [Tk.<.
tinues. had been sealed in an envelope
and placed in Leiands safe.
BROTHER IN PENURY.
Mrs Stanford probated the will and
secured possession of all the property,
TO be due Asa. The $1,000 month was
discontinued, leaving him in penury, it
is declared.
Asa, 1t is further alleged, made many
demands for the money he claimed to
be due him. but could Secure nothing.
Mrs. Stanford, it Is alleged. falsely and
fraudulently concealed from him the
fact that Leland had kept his part of
the bargain, and Furthermore deceived
him by telling him that no part of Le
lands property had been set aside for
aim. When Asa threatened and pleaded
Jane secured an attorney. Russell j.
Wilson. and through him claimed that
after all debts had been satisfied there
was not more than enough for her to
live on. He was further informed, the
complaint says, that If he pressed the
matter he would force the estate into
insolvency and neither he nor his heirs
could expect to ever receive anything
from it. Jane also agreed to pay him
the sum of $4,000 if he would release
all his claims to the estate, and Asa,
believing that he had been told the true
state of affairs. agreed TO accept this,
the widow further alleges.
The plaintiff declares that at the
time this agreement was made Asa
was a very old man, broken in health
and spirits, poor and nervously appfe-
hensive of becoming a public charge.
Because of his age he was unable to
work and hence was easily induced to
yield to the demand made upon him.
SIGNS A RETRACTION.
| Continuing, the complaint says, Asa
did not discover that the estate, which
he had been made to believe was almost
| insolvent, was worth 100000, 900 until
| April l. 1903, at which time Mrs. Stan
ford was out of California; that he was
so exasperated when he learned of the
alleged fraud that had been practiced
upon him that he reviled Mrs. Stanford
to all his friends and that so bitter
did he become that Mrs. Stanford Sc
cured the services of an attorney by
the name of Henry c. Huzzard to act
as a go between and endeavor to force
a compromise with Asa, as well as to
secure Asa's signature to the following
letter:
NEW YORK, June 8, '02.
Mrs Leland Stanford: am sorry for
the things / have said about your hus-
band (my brother) and yourself, and
never again will such things be re-
peated by me. l am very poor l and
tom of my heart If you will help me.
know L have no claim upon you what
| ever, and will never again trouble you
in any shape or form for help, and
| whatever you may do for me will be for
my benefit alone, and that you reserve
| the right to stop such help at any time
my conduct does not suit you in any
way, and / will cheerfully submit to be-
ing watched by any one you may ap-
ASA P. STANFORD.
It is further stated that Huzzard told
Asa he thought he could secure him
an allowance of $50 per month
providing he would sign the letter.
that Asa refused to do so; that the
lawyer then said: With you it is
either to do or die; starvation or the
poorhouse if you don't sign this paper
This is Mrs. Stanford's ultimatum 10
you. What you want is money to live
on in your old age.
| After a long battle Asa, to save him.
self from starvation or the poorhouse
signed the letter and the money was
paid regularly up to Asa's death, SO Il
is alleged. All this time the attorney
was receiving $50 of the allowance. II
is declared.
Annie IF. Stanford asks the release
given Mrs. Stanford by Asa declared
fraudulent and void. as well as the let,
ter Asa was forced to sign. She also
makes a demand for the shares O,
stock alleged to have belonged to hel
husband, or their equivalent, as well as
1.-THE dividends and accrued interest She
further makes a demand for s10S 900
monthly allowance acd interest from