Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-06
BATTLE BEGUN
FOR BIG ESTATE
FIGHT FOR 100000 STARTS
IN SUPERIOR COURT
Report That He Will Marry Again
stirs Action on Part of Half
Brother and Sister of
Dead Wife

A contest over the ultimate disposi-
ton of a 100000 estate, part of which
is located in California, but the greater
portion consisting of stocks and bonds
and property in Baltimore, was begun
in the superior court yesterday by the
filing of a complaint by Adelaide Miller
Black and her brother, Horace }. Mil
Ter, against James NJ. Cocl1lns, former
lv a well known minister Of the gospel
in the Maryland city
The estate is that Of Marian M
Cockins, deceased wife Of the deten-
dant in Yesterdays suit. Cocklns Is
now said to be in Los Angeles con
templating a third marriage anu II Is
This step that is complained of by Mrs.
Black and her brother and mentioned
as one of the principal reasons why
he should give into their keeping tne
property left by Mrs. Cooklns' Whlch'
they claim, is held in trust IoF THEM
during his lifetime.
Residents of Baltimore
Mrs. Black and Miller are residents 5
az baltimore, the suit in their behaI
being brought by the law firm OF Gray,
Barker, Bowen, Allen, Van Dyke alu
Jutten. They are half-sister ana nan
brother of Mrs. Cockins, ana, accoru-
ing to Mrs. Blacks stcry, Mrs. COCK
ms loved her as a sister and frequent
Iv EXPRESSED the intention to leave al
her nroDertv to her and her brother
This devotion and intimacy, says
Mrs BLACK, was disrupted when her
half-sister was married to Cocklns' d
yUidower and a minister, who, she al
leges. studiously sought to ALLEVIATE ms
wires affections for her two nearest
relatives, taking her on long eXtehueu
trips to Europe and the orient ana
compelling her to live at hotels lnsIeau
of Mrs. Blacks home while staying
III Baltimore. -,
I'm order to live happily with her
husband Mrs. Cocl1ins told me she was
compelled to make a will leaving all
her property to him upon his verbal
agreement that he would divide II
according to her wishes" says Mrs.
Black.
Dated Shortly Before Death
This will was dated February 6, 1907,
y month prior to Mrs. COckins' death,
and it was admitted to probate IN the
orphans' court, Baltimore. Threatened
litigation by Mrs. Black and her broth
or thew say. frightened COckins and he
signed an agreement providing that
the property would be held in trust
for them during his lifetime, he to re-
ceive only the income. In the event
of his marriage, which was then be-
Iieved improbable, as he was more
than go wears old, the trust should
! terminate and the property should be
distributed equally between the broth
er and sister,.
Mrs. Black says she received a letter
from Cockins dated in Los Angeles
August 20 last. stating in spite Of his
age he intended to marry, and when
! Mrs. Black responded with letter
calling attention to the agreement she
received a reply in which COckins said
he had entered into no such promise
as stated.
what I did say" he wrote, was
| that no part of Marian's money would
go to my brothers or their families,
and what you may have thought or
imagined has no bearing on the mat
! ter"
Cont Produce Agreement
Mrs. Black says she cannot produce
the agreement, which she believes is in
! Cockins' possession, and she maintains
that his last letter and his determine
ton to marry are part of scheme
to secure for himself the property left
/ by his wife.
Mrs. Black and Miller ask that the
terms of the trust imposed by the
agreement be ordered carried out and
that Cockins be restrained from sell
ing or otherwise disposing OF the prop
erty.
The property in California left by
Mrs. Cockins consists of two lots II
Angeleno Heights, a lot in Santa FC
Springs and lot in Hollywood Ocear
View tract.