The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-11-24
F INAL CHAP TER
IN I'LL TON CASE

Salt Lake. Nov 2i.-Aftcr years of
tdttle in the courts. tho famous Hilton
cases have finally been ended. The
last legal chapter 10 those cases was
written when Judge c. w. Morse Of the
Third District court yesterday signed
adverse decrees In nine cases, in
which Mrs Annie F, a Hilton laid
claim to property owned nv Or John
Il, Park at the time of his death.
Few cases in the history cf the Utah
courts have attracted such widespread
attention as did the Hilton cases. botn
during the hearings 10 the district
court, and later in the supreme court
Of the state. where two differing opin-
ions have been written in regard TO
the peculiar phases presented In IN
final disposition. Mrs. Hilton loses in
her fight for n portion IF the real
estate of which Dr. Park was pos.
Sesscd at the time of his death. She
had brought suit through the fact that
~ years ago she was married To DR..
Park for eternity, according to the
Mormon faith, when 1t was Thought
she was on her deathbed. Later she
married Mr.. Hilton.
The actions settled by the decis-
ions of Judge Morse yesterday were all
instituted by Mrs Hilton against Leo
w. Thatcher Mae C.. Beamer, Everard
Bieres. &dolph Anderson. Fred c.
Stauffcr Nellie NJ Blair. Salt Lake
City and Joseph Geoghegon. A sep
a"ate action was filed In each case.
Az the outsea, IN agreement was
radc between the contesting parties
that the Thatcher and Geoghegan lc-
tons should be fought out. as ali was
based upon the same claim-,he dow
er or one-third interest OF the wme
10 her husbands property. Mrs. Hi
ton had married Or John X. Park
when it was thought she was on her
deathbcd. The woman recovered,
however and later married Mr.. Hilton.
Ly whom she had number OF child
rcn, but never lived with Dr Park
The Dover Interest.
DR. Park was president of the state
university and prominent H. the state
end during his life accumulated con
siderable OF fortune. which was rep
resented chiefly in real estate After
the death of Dr. Park. Mrs. Hilton
set uD claim TO an interest in the
property which was owned by Dr.
Park at the time OF his death. But
before this claim was made. the prop
erty had been sold In whole, or in
part, to the several owners who were
named In the law suits.
In the first hearing before the SUI
RENE court II was claimed that Mrs
Filton, having been bound in celes.
tH4l h..
mon law wife, and entitled to an in.
tereSt in the property. This was in re-
yersIng the opinion OF Juuge c. w
Morse Then Judge Morse decided
the other seven cases-aS the Thatch-
CT and Geoghegan cases had been first
tried-on the basis laid down by the
supreme court
Claims Not Allowed.
Another appeal was taken To the
supreme court. however, aud the case
presented In n new light The result
was that while the supreme court did
rot destroy the former ruling that A
celestial marriage is as binding as a
common law marriage. but upheld that
opinion, the lower court was again
reversed. The supreme court held that
though DIR. Parks wife. Mrs. Hilton.
had knowingly allowed him TO sell his
property. had never raised a claim 10
hcr share during ms life time and
lot until many years after his death
For this reason. the higher court held
she was not entitled TO any part of
the estate. Thus. while the celestial
marriage phase was not disturbed,
the court erased the claims of Mrs.
Billion.
Ii was in filing DEGREES in conform
ity to the supreme courts last ruling
tnat Judge Morse yesterday brought
the famous cases TO a close and wrote
Iinis to one of the most interesting
and diversified legal tangies In the
history of the state