The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-11
MAY ASK SHARE OF
BUFFERS FORTUNE
Dead Capitalists Former Ste
nOgrapher Plans to File Suit
for Big Sum From Estate
Heirs of RaiIrOadman's Widow
Definitely Decide TO Attempt
to Break Will

OAKLAND. July 10.-With certain
assurances today that the heirs of the
late Mrs. Lucie Beebe Buffers have
decided TO contest her viii comes word
that Mrs. Mano Ian, who. before her
marriage. when she was Miss Jewel
Spencer. was the late Henry Buffers
private secretary, may enter the con-
troversy as claimant with the alega-
tion that the dead capitalist promised
her substantial gifts which were not
presented. These promised possessions
Mrs. Ian is declared TO have said are
still in the Buffers estate, and, as the
dead businessman fortune has been di-
vided, with principal annuites to his
wife and son. Henry Buffers Jr.. a con
test OF unusual intricacies is threat
ened.
Tt was declared here yesterday that
Mrs. Ian has consulted her attorneys
in san Francisco, but had not yet de-
Cided whether 10 contest. 1t is known
that she was a close friend of the CAPT
talist and that she lived at his mothers
home in Berkeley. where Buffers him
self lived after his quarrel with his
wife
EXECUTORS CONSIDER CLAIMS
The claim Of Mrs. Zan has been taken
under consideration by the executors
Of the estate Of Mrs. Buffers. 1t is
stated that Mrs. Ian assisted Buffers
IN his financial operations and had
been promised shares in the Northern
Electric and other corporations but
that these securities were never de-
livered.
Reports Of the relations of my step
father with Mrs. Mano Fan, then Miss
Jewel Spencer. who was employed as
stenogrspher and confidential clerk.
continue to puzzle US ALL" William B.
Edwards, Mrs. Buffers eldest son. de-
olared yesterday
From many standpoints the story Of
huge gifts is ridiculous to us In the
first place. the personal relations be-
tween my mother and her husband
were OF the best.
He was not the man to have rela-
tions with a stenographer such as have
been limited at. Neither was he the
man TO give away 100000 in stock or
securities to woman. or any one else
under any conditions He was in
straitened circumstances after the fire
and needed every cent he had in North
ern Electric
1T is hardly probable, but barely
possible that in some of his numerous
business transactions she may have
been temporary custodian of some Of
MS securities or even had them in her
own name for a few days"
Members Of Mrs. Buffers family
after carefully considering the re-
sources Of her estate have concluded
that provisions in the trust which she
sought to create would be impossible
TO carry out. and that the annual net
cash outgO involved in the annuitfes
and monthly allowances which she had
designated for friends relatives and
charities could not be raised
ESTATE APPRAISED AT s25O.OOO.
Those who had a close knowledge
Of Mrs. Buffers estate have appraised
II in round figures at not more than
s250,O00. This total included the fam
lily home, Alta Vista, in Piedmont. a
nonproductive property worth s1OO. 600.
they said that provisions in the trust
fund which was outlined in the will
called for a minimum monthly cash
outgo Of Ss25, a yearly total of approx
imately $4,000. This would require a
net per cent income on an estate of
100000, clearly impossible from the
property left by Mrs. Buffers
Edwards said that delay had been
asked in court proceedings over his
mothers estate in order to allow the
situation TO be fully understood and the
ultimate working out of the problem to
be given careful study. A contest is
inevitable, as the heirs are virtually
agreed that the will can not be worked
out Question has already been raised
as to the validity of the trust
YOUNG BUFFERS HEAVIEST LOSER
Reiterating that all members of the
family bore only the best of feeling to-
ward Henry A. Buffers Jr., beneficiary
under both the fathers and mothers
VIII, and who would be heaviest loser
If Mrs. Buffers viii were broken. Ed
wards asserted that financial interests
outside Of the bay would dictate the
nnal line Of action which when taken
would be marked by perfect harmony.
Attorney George W. Reed said today
that no further conferences with mem
bers OF the Buffers family had been
held relative to contesting the will.