Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-13
MAKERS
WEALTH SOUGHT
FORTUNE OF CHICAGO WOMAN
IN LITIGATION
Sensational Charges of Fraud Filed
by William SerVis and Wife
in Asking for Set
tlement

The proceeds, estimated at $4,000, of
a wholesale candy business in Chica-
go are involved in contest in the
superior court between two brothers,
William E. Servis and Charles A. Ser
Wis, surviving sons of Sarah A. SerYis,
who died December II, 1908. In u suit
filed yesterday William E. Servis de-
mands an accounting from his broth
er and asks for court order compelling
him to turn over to their mothers es-
tate property, he claims, wrongfully
withheld.
In another action, Emma c. Servis,
wife of William e. Servis, sues her
brother in-law for damages in the sum
of $25, 900, claiming he permanently in
tured her November %, 1909, when she
protested against his rifling her hus-
bands trunk.
Allegations that a defective will has
been filed with the court and that
Charles A. Servis induced his mother
to transfer her property to him before
her death in order to prevent any of
it falling into the hands of his broth
er, are made by William e. Servis.
Mrs. Sarah A. Servis embarked in the
candy-making business In Chicago in
1888. and was assisted by her son,
Charles A. Servis. She retired and
came to Los Angeles several years ago,
dying in this city in December 1908.
William e. Servis was appointed ad-
ninistrator of the estate in November
last, and Immediately made demand
on his brother to turn over any prop
erty belonging to the estate. Inc re-
sponse to his demand was the ming py
Charles A. Servis of a petition for the
probate of a will, by the terms OF Wh1ch
he was to receive all property left by
/ rTba patitioO accommodating
the will fixed the value of this prop
erty at only $21, giving its description
as clothing of nominal value.
Validity of VIII Questioned
1t is contended by William II. Servis
that real estate and other property
has been omitted in the schedule and
that his brother holds it by virtue of
deeds which he wrongfully induced his
mother to sign. The validity of the
will is also questioned, William e. Ser
Wis claiming the document was not
signed by his mother in the presence
of the witnesses. The dispositions OF
these witnesses, both Of whom live in
Chicago, have been received and are
on file in court. One, at least, appar-
entity bears out the assertions made
by the contesting brother. This wit
ness is Henry HART, 620 Roscoe street,
VI
will September 2, 1890, at the
request of Charles A. Servis. Otto
Phillippi, the other witness, says he
drew up the will, but remembers moth
ing else in connection with the matter.
Mrs. Servis was not present when
the will was signed" says HART, in
his deposition. Phillippi and were
asked by Charles A. Servis to sign as
witnesses and after we did SO ne SAD
he was going to take the will to M1chi-
gan to have his mother sign it. His
mother, he said, was in Michigan at
the time and would return with him
to Chicago 1 have not seen him
SINCE
William E. Servis, in his suit, asks
for a division of the estate between
himself and his brother. His wife, in
her action for damages, says Charles
A. Servis entered her home Novem-
ber %, last, and rummaged and robbed
her husbands trunk in a search, 1t is
believed, for papers connected with
the estate. When she protested, she
says she was beaten and permanently
injured.