The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-24
MRS. MUNN'S no.
Objects to Stepmother Admin
istering the Gordon Estate.
Charges She Was Not Legally
Divorced From First Husband.

In probate court today, the attorneys
representing Mrs. Lille Gordon Num-
daughter of Gideon Stoddard Gorooh'
deceased, made some serious cnarses
against Jennie S. Gordon, widow OF
the deceased. The attorneys entereo
six objections to the appointment OF
Mrs. Gordon as Administrative OF the
G. S. Gordon estate, and the Skin oo-
lection was the "stinger. In tnls
narasraph of the objections, the at
tornevs cited as fact that the WIDOW
of G. S. Gordon was never legally ol-
vorced from her former husband, Otco
starr TO whom she was married III
California about 20 years ago. >,
1.-THE court granting the alleged ol-
yorce from Otto Starr had no Jurls-
the attorneys representing the odosH
ter of G. S. Gordon
Gideon Stoddard Gordon, one OF the
wealthy men in Shawnee county dleu
intestate about a month ago. he leIt
a, widow, Jennie Gordon, whom ne
was Mrs. Jennie Starr, and she hao
no luck in making friends with her
husbands only near relatlVe, MS
daughter. Mrs. Lille Gordon MUM,
wife of DR.. L. H. Mum, a prominent
local surgeon.
When Mr.. Gordon died, he had neg
lected to make will, and his WIDOW
and daughter were equal benenclarles
to his estate. 80
The first legal proceeding as the re-
suit of Mr.. Gordon's death was SUI sui.
in partition, filed by his widow, 1or
the sale and division OF all properly
of the deceased, not otherwise ac-
counted for In answer to this, on
the next day, Mrs Mum, only daugn-
ter of Mr. Gordon, filed suit IN Wnlcn
;v,ir,
venting Mrs Gordon from dlspos1ng
of any of the property. In this SUIT
Mrs. Mum claims that her step
mother secured two deeds to Valuaple
pieces of property While u. .. NoioVli
was in his last illness, and mentaliy
incapable of conducting MS own al
fairs"
Following this suit and counter
suit. Mrs. Gordon, the widow, came
into probate court and asked for let
ters of administration of the estate.
This morning, when the case was
called. Mrs. Mum, the daughter. with
her attorneys, was on hand to con-
| test the granting. Mrs. Munn's at
torneys introduced list OF op1ec-
tions in which they declared that
Mrs. Gordon, the widow, had 1nduceo
| G. S. Gordon, while mentally 1ncom-
petent to sign over to her, two DEEDS,
one for the home property In Fot-
| win. valued at $4,000 and one Tor
farm east of the city valued at $5,-
| 900. The last objection is based on
the alleged failure of Mrs. Gordon to
get a legal divorce from her former
husband. Among the other charges
is the allegation that during his last
illness, G. s. Gordon was unable 10
transact business, and allowed ms
wife to sign checks, and that with
this privilege, 'she did draw several
thousand dollars upon checks and
conceal the same, or refused to list
the same with the estate
Judge Hayden, of the probate
court, will probably take the matter
of administration under Amusement
The fact that suits including most Oh
the charges made in the ob1ect1on
have been filed in district court, will
preclude their consideration in pro-
bate court, and it is probable that
the court will appoint an admlnistra-
tor who is in no way AFFILIATED W1tr
either the contestant or conteStee.
feature of all these suits is ar
alleged ante-nuptial agreement be-
tween Mrs. Gordon and her late nus
band, in which she agreed to waive
all her inheritance rights in case o.
his death. Mrs. Gordon does not dis
pute this agreement, up to date, bu
holds that it is void and of no effect
and that she is entitled to one-hal
of the estate, together with sucl
. property as G. S. Gordon decided t.