Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-17
0|JASH SUGAR TRUSTW WANT WILL BROKEN
Denarment of Justice Said to Two Sons of Mrs. H. v A.
Be at Verge of Suit. Craghead Accuse Sister.
WCKERSHAM IN CONTROL CHARGE UNDUE INFL LUENCE
Attorney General Has Given Discrimination"
Persona Supervision. in Division Of Estate
STRONG ARRAY OF FACTS DOMINATION" OVER TESTAT0R
Than in the Standard Oil or Urgings
Tobacco Cases ment of Hurried
Two Sons of Mrs. H. V. A.
Craighead Accuse Sister.
CHARGE UNDUE INFLUENCE.
Unusual Discrimination" Shown
in Division of Estate.
DOMINATION" OVER TEsTAToR
Petitioners Claim They Yielded to
Urgings to Permit Probate-Pay-
ment of Bequests Hurried.

| Accusing their sister, Alice W. Craig
head, of using dominating influence upon
| their mother. Mrs Harriet V. A. Craig
the greater part of her estate to her
daughter, q petition has been filed by
James 3. Craighead of Philadelphia and
j. V. A. Craighead of New York for the
revocation of the probate of the will of
their mother, who died in New, York.
July %. 1909. Mrs. Craigheads residence
here was at Vermont avenue and K street
northwest.
The brothers say their sister and
Thomas II. Alexander, a. local patent at
torney, were named executors Of the will,
which gave to James B. Craighead 81 ,OOO,
to j. V. a. Craighead 5000 and to a
grandson. James B. Craighead, jr, $1,000
The remaining estate, valued at $4,000,
was left by the will to my devoted
daughter, Alice w. Craighead, in consid-
Grafton of the love and constant care be-
slowed upon me, and my unbounded love
for her."
Yielded to Persuasion.
The protestants allege they were notified
September -. 1909. that the will would be
read at the Office of the attorney. Waen
its contents had been made known they
were requested to sign papers consenting
to its probate.
The allegation is made that they were
advised the papers were a mere formality
Tor the purpose of saving the estate the
expense of citation and advertising. With
this understanding, they aver, their sig
natures were attached to the consents.
The executors then had the will admit
ted TO probate the next day. They, set 2
o clock in the afternoon of September Ii
for payment of the legacies.
When the will was read. the brothers
say, they were informed that the docu-
ment had been composed and written by
their mother in her own handwriting and
without assistance or suggestion from
any one. They were SO surprised and
shocked at the unusual and unnatural
discrimination In favor Of their sister.
they aliege. that they submitted to the al
legged urging. and executed the consents to
the probate of the will.
Overnight Reflection.
On reflection during the night, they be-
came convinced. they tell the court. that
their mother. who was nearly eighty
years old at the time of signing the will,
had not acted OF her own volition The
next morning they proceeded to the regis
ter's Office. but found the will had been
admitted to probate, and learned, they
say. that the time for objection had
passed.
The son James, becoming further con-
vinced, he declares, by the offer to make
immediate settlement of the beQuest that
the will was invalid. positively declined
to take part in the settlement or to re-
ceive the sum left to him.
The other brother says, without due re-
hection, being without counsel he ac-
cepted the 5000 and gave his receipt. He
now tenders the return Of the money to
the executors
The court is told that for several years
prior to her death the testatrix was a
confirmed invalid, weak in mind and body
and easily dominated and controlled by
any one who came in contact with her
They allege they have recently discovered
that when the will was executed their
mother was completely dominated by their
sister, and charge the will was prepared
at the sisters suggestion.
They declare the document was then re-
written by their mother at the request
and under the direction Of the sister
Attorneys Hamilton, Colbert Yerkes &
Hamilton appear for the brothers.