Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-01-27
A TIED UP ESTATE.
BY MARY a. Sewers.


enty worth a million IT was found
that she had planned for the disposi-
ton of her money far ahead. She
divided It between a nephew and q
niece on condition they should marry
within six months after her death:
otherwise It was to 90 to charity. The
nephew, David Hale, was at the time
devoted to Florence Merritt, whom be
expected to marry. Leona Geddes, the
niece, was engaged to be married to
Hamilton Niles. Neither cousin had
seen the other but on few occasions.
Soon after they came to know OF the
requests and conditions they met for
a conference. Miss Geddes announced
that she would marry the man 70
whom she was engaged This render
ed It impossible for Mfr. Hale to fulfill |
the condition imposed upon him. He
was not bound to marry the girl he
had been attentive to and for the sake
of the bequest was disappointed at
bis cousins refusal TO comply with
the terms Of the will. He used every
argument to persuade her to change
her mind, but the best he could do was
to induce her TO unite with him In an
effort to break the win. They were
the only beirs-at-law and supposed
they would get the property anyway.
But they reckoned wrong. Those
charitable institutions to whom the
property WAS left In case the cousins
failed to comply with the conditions
arrayed themselves for sturdy fight
Hale proposed and was accepted by
the girl he had been attentive to. and
with Miss Geddes' fance there were
four people interested In the will be-
ing broken.
The fight was a long one. There
was decision against the cousins,
and they appealed to a higher court.
The decision was reversed. and the in
situations fighting for their rights APP
pealed. BY this time a good deal of
money had been spent, most of which
came out of the estate. Besides. while
the case was In court the property
could not be sold. and some of 1t de-
preciated In value. David Hale was
very much worried. Indeed. his nerves
we're on edge, and Miss Merritt found
that his condition affected her own
health. They had many spats. and
their engagement was broken and re-
newed several times Miss Geddes
was made unhappy by the fear that
Mr.. Niles, who when he offered his
hand had been perfectly satisfied to
take her without fortune, would in
case she was deprived of her inner
itancp leave her in the lurch. Hale
considered his cousin to blame for the
situation and conceived an antipathy
for her which she heartily returned.
So these four people were made mis-
cradle by Miss Olivia Hale's effort to
manage her property after her death.
The business before the upper courts
was voluminOus. and decisions were
delayed. The cousins lawyers inform
ed them that they had little hope that
the case would ultimately be won.
They also told them that If they were
disposed to fulfill the conditions OF the
will they might take advantage OF an
ambiguity in its wording to do so.
This proved the most unfortunate
turn in the whole affair. Instead OF
Instantly declining this proposition
they took it under consideration. Hale
and Niles both seemed to lean to the
side that this would be a common
sense solution of the problem. At any
rate, they talked or acted in a way
that induced the two girls to break
their engagements. Hale and Miss
Geddes. being free. resolved to take
the lawyers advice and agree to com
ply with the terms of the Will.
This furnished a new legal eomp1
cation, which not only prolonged TN
case in court. but added greatly TO I'M
expense. The cousins seldom met, AM
when they did they quarreled. MIS-
Merritt, who had spent several year
In misery while engaged TO Hale, wa
broken in health and went to SANTA
rum. Niles married a wealthy girl o
cared nothing for and was divorces
within eighteen months. Miss Geddes
who had loved him deyotedly. wa
broken hearted.
And still the case dragged on.
Finally one day decision was an
nOunced. 1t was decided, first, that ID
cousins had not complied with tn
terms Of the will within the specific
time and could not inherit-by doing
afterward; second, the property was I
90 to the charitable institutions spec
aed.
Then came the casting Of the a
counts. Lawyers fees and court ree
we're set down at $3OO.OOO; depreci'
don Of real estate, 100000; ACCOUNT
hted interest against the estate, $40
700 and shrinkage OF stocks and bond
auring a financial crisis. $40O,OO0, lea
ng $4,000 to go to i've institutions,
5000 each.
When Miss Olivia Hale died Tot
Oung people had every prospect OF
Appy domestic life Had she simp
led without laying plans to manal
aer property after her death. leaving