The Washington herald., 1907-10-10
ASKS FOR DIVISION
Suit Filed to Secure Portion
of Cotton Estate.
GRANDCHILD IS COMPLAINANT
Wido,- of Gen. Cotton Left Property
auEhter-ActiOn Brought by
VI. b. Saeher-PetItiOn Al
"Undue influence" on Part
Caroline DahIEren.

cation over the large estate left
Ellen NJ Cotton, widow Of Gen.
Cotton, formerly business associate of
John w. Mackay. Coils P. Huntington,
Senator Stanford, and other millionaires
Of California, had an interesting chapter
added TO it yesterday when Attorney
Conrad II. Syme. representing Mrs. Caro-
line Cotton Martin Dalghren, filed in the
Supreme Court Of the District of Colum-
bia q demurrer, plea, and answer on be
half Of Mrs. Dalghren to the bill In
equity filed by Siegfried Sacher, the
father of little Helen Margaret Beatrice
Sacher, a granddaughter OF Mrs. Cotton.
This bill sought 70 restrain the removal
Of peysonal property, and to accomplish
other purposes.
Mr.. Sacher Is a resident of Paris, and
since Mrs ColtOn's death, about two
years ago. has, by several suits insti-
tuted both here and I'm California, sought
TO secure for his daughter who is about
nine years old. an equal division instead
of the small sum bequeathed TO her in
the viii Of Mrs. Cotton, dated December
.. 1904.
Daughter Gets Estate.
Under the terms Of this viii. practically
the entire estate was left TO Mrs.
DaIghren. Il daughter of Mrs Cotton.
Mr.. Sacher. in the suit which he brought
to break the viii in the District of Co
lumbia. and also in the California courts.
alleges that Mrs. Cotton, who was an
aged woman, was unduly influenced by
her daughter. as a result of which little
Helen. his daughter, viii receive but a
small sum. This suit is still pending in
the courts Of the District of Columbia
and win be heard probably at this term
of court.
The demurrer, plea. and answer filed
yesterday by Mr. Syme is 90 a bill filed
on the equity side Of the Supreme Court
by Nj Sacher for the appointment of a
receiver 20 take charge OF the personal
property Of the deceased. pending the
settlement Of the suit instituted TO break
the win
Personal Property Value, 100000.
This personal property. consisting Of
household furniture valuable oil paint
ings. works of art and bric-a-brac, IS
now in the Cotton mansion, on Connect
cut avenue, and according to the report
of Messrs. Charles \. Douglas and b.
W Parker. who were appointed by the
Probate Court as collectors of the estate,
is valued at approximately $l0o09.
Want VIII Filed.
In the suit fled 10y Mr. S1cher, through
attorney =. Golden Donaldson, it is al
legged that AIRS Dahlgren carried away
from the District Of Columbia a certain
paper writing. dated December ., 19oi,
purportiug to be the last will and testa-
ment Of Mrs. Cotton. and the court is
asked TO compel her 20 return It and file
it with the register of wills of the Dis
trlct of Columbia.
Cause Not Sufficient.
In the demurrer filed yesterday. Attor-
nev Syme states to the court that Mr..
Sacher. on behalf Of his daughter. has
not. in his bill OF complaint. made or
stated a cause sufficient 60 entitle her 20
any such relief as IS sought by such bin
and prayed for against Mrs Dlhlgren.
and also because the bill does not show
that the paper writing referred TO is or
has been in the custody or control or is
now under the custody OF control Of Mrs.
Dablgren.
The plea filed by Mr. Syme sets forth
that the appointment Of q receiver is un-
necessary. as the Probate Court of the
District has already appointed collectors
of the personal property left by Mrs. Col
ton.
In the answer filed Mrs. Dahlgren
makes q general denial of all the charges
brought by Sacher. and goes into detail
Of all particulars contained IN petitioner
bill
The estate in controversy is said 10 be
worth in excess of $500 600.