The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-24
SOON TO WIND UP
BIG FORD ESTATE
Papers Drawn for Final Settle.
ment Will BE Presented to
Court Tomorrow.
MANY QUESTIONS AT ISSUE
Site Of Ford's Hotel, Most
Valuable Asset, Involved in
Litigation.

Efforts will be made this week 10
wind nm the much involved Ford es-
tate, the "Jaundice and Jaundice' OF
the city courts, the endless rhmifica-
lions Of which have puzzled even many
a trained chanoery lawyer, and have
presented problems OF more than pass
ing interest to as many as four judges
Even now It does not seem TO be posi-
tive that final settlement can be
effected, as there are many parties at
interest aud innumerable claims ana
counter claims, the reports Of COM
missioners already filed being great
typewritten volumes, one OF Whicn
alone runs to more than LOCO pages OF
sworn depositions In the Chancery
Court clerks office the chest purchased
some years ago and Labelled "Ford
Estate" has overaowed With docu-
ments, and few there be who have read
them all.
RcnlIy Tontnine Estnte.
According to the lawyers. the term
Ford estate" is a misnomer 1t should
be the "Fontaine estate" and the trust
runs back for nearly half century.
The court record begins when Mr. Fon-
talne made over the Powhatan Hotel.
now known as the Ford's Hotel. on
Broad street, opposite the City Hail.
to Mrs. A. j. Ford. subject to deed
or trust and certain clnims
A j. Ford husband OF Mrs. Ford
became manager OF the hotel. and by
his business sagacity made IT for a
time tho first hostelry In Virginia. the
old Exchange and Ballard was on the
wane, and the present hotels of Rich
4. into Oh CT
of the profits of his hotel Ford made
at least 100000. hat left large debts
growing out of certain horse ventures
ana. an encumbered estate. Legal COM
plicat tons then began. and. according
to the attorneys. every possible Issue
known TO chancery practice has come
In TO add TO the ENHANCEMENT Mrs
Ford was declared non compos mentis
and Judge Edmund Waddill and Edgar
Allen. Sr. were appointed as commit
tee OF her estate. and barring Judge
chanccry. who have been studying II
for months, Judge Waddill is perhaps
to-day the best Informed man as II
the various indications The two
chief heirs to-day are Mrs " G
Benet, OF New York, and Stewar
Ford. son and daughter of Mr. ant
Mrs A. j. Ford. Each has large per
sonal debts, and has assigned claims
on the estate in part to other parties
Then comes the claim OF b N. Ford
we'll known 10 the racing world, who
Killed himself several years ago. hi
death preceding that OF his mother
Cross suits have been filed both in TIL,
interests Of his creditors and of hi
infant child. other heirs claiming tina
his death terminated his interest II
the estate
Many Questions Involved.
There are other questions at issue
questions as to the priority of certain
claims. the validity of notes given FOL
debts on horse races. the dates of brit
of various children and alleged heirs
validity of certain marriages and thu
endless claims and counter claims o.
parties to whom the estate and the in
dividual heirs are Indebted. either b,
secured or unsecured obligations.
As many as four counter suits are
pending in various courts seeking e
establish prior claims, all of which are
outgrowths of the main chancery It'll
cation. Several payments or dividend
have been made TO the heirs ant
claimants under authority of the court
and the property now held IN trust Il
valued at something like s25o.oo0 l
embraces. besides certain securities
the Eord's Hotel building. and lot tn
Ford Law Building. on North Mint
Street. and certain farm property II
York and Gloucester counties. TIL
hotel building has greatly deter!oratet
In recent years. 1t has been close
and the furniture sold and portions O
the building condemned. But the site
it is believed. has advanced in valu
to an even greater degree, there having
been a rapid advance in East Broa
Street property following announce
ment Of plans for viaduct to Churc
HILL Efforts to dispose of the prop
erty for building purposes have prove
unavailinS, In view of the numerou