The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-10
PLAN CONTEST
OF THE WILL OF
MRS. BUFFERS
Children Ready to Attack the
Provision Which FavOrs
Capitalists Son
Story That Spencer's Daughter
Received Magnificent Gift
Is Denied

OAKLAND. July 9.-Children OF
Mrs. Lucie Beebe Buffers, wife of the
late Henry A Buffers, president of the
Northern electric railway company and
prominent capitalist, have decided to
contest their mothers viii. which left
the bulk of her fortune to her son and
only child by the Buffers marriage,
Henry A Buffers Jr.
The first move in the struggle to
break the trust and bring into the
glare OF publicity the disturbances. do
nestle and otherwise. which separated
Buffers and his wife, was made today.
That the contest was impending be-
came public when Attorney J. c. Nc
Kinstry, representing the executors,
consented 70 continuance for two
weeks OF the hearing on the probate Of
the viii, indicating that something
was in the air. McKinstry consented
10 the postponement on the request
Of the Oakland law firm of Reed, Black
& Reed. who have been retained TO
conduct the fight TO smash the will.
READY TO BEGIN BATTLE
That dissatisfaction as to the terms
.
children has been known by some of
their intimates. None of them by her
two nlarrisg es prior to that with But
tiers was given cash or other property
outright They were provided with
aunuities from a trust, so arran ged
that II virtually was perpetual. The
bulk Of her fortune. as in the case Of
her husbands will went TO young
Henry Buffers. Within 10 days the
contest viii have been fled. While it
has not been definitely decided as 10
the selection Of the contestants. one OF
Mrs. Buffers children, William b. Ed
wards. has given instructions that the
battle against the viii shall go for
ward and the attorneys are ready to
proceed.
With the announcement of contest
follows story involving Henry A.
Buffers fortunes According TO this
story julie Spencer. daughter of Den
mis- spencer the prominent democratic
politician and lawyer of Napa was
the recipient Of a handsome fortune
from Henry Buffers before his death
last winter at Berkeley. Miss Spencer
was the railway presidents confidential
stenogra pher. Tt was said that she
was given 100000 worth Of securities
by her employer. The tale runs that
after Buffers death this gift was dis
closed and that former Judge c. W.
Slack of San Francisco. an executor
with Charles Buffers of the will.
claimed the collateral for the estate
on the ground that transfer had never
been made on the books of the corpora
ton. IT was said that negotiations
were opened which led to the surren-
der by Miss Spencer Of half of the col
lateral
APPRECIATED HER ABILITY
Miss Spencer married soon after the
death Of Buffers. She is now the wife
Of ManO Zann, representative OF the
Meese & Gottfried company of San
Francisco. at Los Angeles, where the
Zanns live. Mrs. Zann is stately
beauty OF the brunette type Intelli-
gent and OF keen business ability, she
proved an invaluable assistant TO But
ters. That he appreciated her was not
denied. Miss Spencer remained in at
tendance upon her employer UP TO the
time Of his death. Buffers spent many
days at the home of his mother, Mrs.
: L. Buffers, in Berkeley. where his
death occurred last October.
William B. Edwards said tonight:
Ny stepfather denied positively TO
my mother Of making any gifts of
value or otherwise to Miss Spencer. She
was his stenographer and confidential
clerk. and at his death in that capacity
she may have had documents of value
in her desk which belonged TO Mr.. But
tiers If that were so she readily sur
rendered them when demand was made
on her by the executors of the estate
such a contingency may have given
rise to the story that she had been a
beneficiary in a substantial way at the
hands of my stepfather.
THE trouble between my mother and
Mr.. Buffers which caused their sep
arstion, was due to a disagreement
over financial matters. She did not
think ii wise TO intrust him with all
Of her property when he was so heavily
involved in Northern Electric. He was
imperious and under great nervous
strain hence the separation. I can
say positively that this and nothing
else caused the difficulties which re-
suited in my stepfather going TO his
mothers home. There was absolutely
no friction on personal grounds Mr..
Buffers positive assurance that he had
not showered favors upon Miss Spencer
was not doubted in the least by my
mother. She knew that his word on
that subject or any other was good,
beyond question. and. after he had
given il. the subject was eliminated.
VALUE or ESTATE IN DOUBT
Edwards refused to confirm the re-
port Of the prospective contest, but ad-
mitted that steps had been taken TO
discover II there was sufficient in his
mothers estate to carry out the pro-
visions of her VIII.
Just what is the value Of Henry But
ters' estate is doubtful. His invest
ments were centered toward the close
OF his long career in the Northern
Electric railway Everything upon
which he could raise money went into
a big pool 70 construct that road. oper-
ing now between Chico and Sacra-
mentO. Toward the end, the financial
stress Of two years ago seriously af-