The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-01-12
Property. After Paying All Debts, Is
Now Worth Over Helf
Million Dollars.


SEATTLE. Jan. 11.--A tragedy
which shocked Seattle for a week and
furnished material for months OF gos-
sip and speculation was recalled this
morning when Court Commissioner r..
H. Lindsay officially closed the estate
of Frank b. Hubbell.
Mr.. Hubbell committed suicide by
taking gas in the old Washington ho-
tel October 2S, 1905. He was one of
the best known men in Seattle,
wealthy, and the fact that he had
been married but three months
gave morbid intensity to the occur
renee that threw it into tragic relief.
"Why did he do it ?" was on every
lip. and there being no reasonable
explanation coming, innumerable
theories were formulated, but none
was ever satisfactorily sustained.
The estate left by Mr.. Hubbell, at
ter all debts have been paid, is esti-
mated to be worth $650,00O, all left
to his wife and the child unborn at
the time of his death. Judge Lindsay
labor in settling the estate. which she
refused to accept.
Why He Did II.
Those who, through personal or A.
nancial interest in Mr.. Hubbell, have
been brought into close connection
with his business affairs since his
death, have long since satisfied them
selves as to the causes which led to
his killing himself. That he decided
o end it all after careful and cool de-
liberation is certain by the manner in
which he provided for the disposal of
his estate. There is everything to
show that the determination was not
The result of any sudden despair or
flash of anger.
Mr.. Hubbel, who was Al years old
at the time of his death, was in poor
health. He had made a fortune in
the east and retired. Coming to Seat
tie, he instantly saw the vast real es-
tate possibilities, and invested heavily
He tied up everything he owned in
Seattle banks $135,000 on no other Sc
curity than his note.
Pressed for Money.
The banks began to press him for
the money, and he could not sell ex-
cept at loss. Once started he felt
that the whole scheme he had builded
with 80 much care would topple and
bury him and his wife In the financial
ruins. All he needed was time, but
time the banks would not give him;
they wanted money. Being sick, he
saw everything darkly. If he lived he
felt he would be ruined, Al years old
too late to make another fortune, anu
he who had retired wealthy when
most men are just beginning, could
not face the prospect Of starting over
again. If he were to die, his prop
erty could not be touched for over a
year. In that time everything would
right itself. This was a sick, discour-
aged mans view, and he killed him.
self. Before he did so he set out a GER
lain amount of property to be used in
paying his debts. The rest he left by
will to his wife even writing in a
clause to protect the interests of his
yet unborn child.
Plans Marked Out.
Everything that Hubbell planned
came to fruition. The amount he set
aside to care for his obligations has
cleared them all and left balance of
quarter Of million dollars. The
property left directly to his wife and,
his child, now little girl three years
old, is worth 100000 more All
came out as he planned. Had he lived,
Mr.. Hubbell would have been one of
the wealthiest men in Seattle today.
The closing Of the estate has been a
financial triumph for his widow. Mrs.
Hubbell came from Chicago to Seat
tie as an art teacher, with absolutely
no experience in the intricacies of real
estate finance. All her training had
been contrary to finance. On her
mothers side Of her family she is
connected with the Nicolays. Helen
Nicolay, cousin, Is one of the fore
most American artists, and another
relative, George Nicolay, was Presi-
dent Lincoln's private secretary and
minister to France.
After Mr.. Hubbelrs death Mrs.
Hubbell took charge of the estate.
Her father, William r. Moore of Kan
sas City, real estate dealer and
broker, spent several weeks with her
teaching her the rudiments of the
business. Since then she has had the
assistance OF her brother, Harry e.
Moore. who lives in Seattle, but for
the most part she carried on all the
dealings herself and has developed a
business ability that has astonished
the men of large affairs with whom
she has come in contact.