The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-25
WHO GETS THE Cash.
Missionary Societies in Court Over
BeQuest of Mrs. Murray.

suit to determine the control of
$4,000 left by the late Mrs. Fanny Muir
ray OF Atch1son for use in home mis-
sionary work in Kansas was filed Sat
urday afternoon by the officers of the
Home Missionary society of the Meth
odist Episcopal church of the Kansas
conference an unincorporated body of
which Mrs. Murray was a member be-
fore she died. A restraining order is
| asked, on behalf of this society, against
two organizations of similar name
which, 1t is alleged have been incor-
porated with the sole purpose of con-
trolling the money left by Mrs. Muir
ray.
The history of the case is, briefly, as
| follows: In 1908 Mrs. Murray died, leav-
ing city property in San Diego. Cal, to
be converted to the use of the mission
airy society of which she had been an
| active member. Her attorney was Hor-
| ace M. Jackson of Atchison. In the will
the name Of the beneficiary was incor-
rectly written as THE Home Mission
airy Society of the Kansas Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal church. .
Mrs. Murray's estate, when marketed,
| brought $2O,500 of which one-half was
intended and has been used for foreign
| missionary work This is undisputed.
The balance was for Kansas missions.
1t is alleged by members of the plain
tiff society that Attorney Jackson, trus-
tee of the estate, advised certain mem
bers to form an incorporated body of
the same name as the Den6f1c1ary SOc1-
ETY. and to claim the estate. On account
of the confusion about the true name
of the Society-the confusion having re-
suited from the carelessness of the wri-
ter Of the will-two societies were in
corporated This was done without no.
tice to the unincorporated body and the
estate was turned over to one OF the
incorporated societies which has since
used it, employing it in missionary work
in Kansas but never making any re-
port to the Methodist Episcopal con-
ference of this state.
1t is asserted by members of the
plaintiff society that probably no suit
would have been instituted had the
money been used for work in which
that organization, of which there are
over LOCO members, was principally in
terested which, just now is in Kansas
City, Kan. The incorporated bodies
which have the money are composed of
nearly identical officers and are assert
ed to have no other membership. The
estate now consists of real estate which
has been purchased in Topeka to the
value of about $1,000 and cash amount
ing to $4,000 in an Atchison bank.
The belief held by members of the
unincorpordted body is that the scheme
of incorporation was originated by the
trustee of the estate and that it has
defeated the purpose of the testator.
1t is stated that some of the women
who have become directors of the in
position to their practices and that they
are named as defendants in the suit
only as a formality. A restraining or
der is asked to prevent the disburSe-
nent of any of the money until the mer-
it's of the case can be examined.
The plaintiffs named in the petition
filed are: Mrs. Edwin Locke, Mrs S.
S. Boggs, Mrs. H. A. Heath, Mrs S.
A. Bright, Mrs. James W. Reed, Mrs.
w. H. Layton, Mrs. w. C. Hanson, Mrs.
Flora Bechtel and all members of the
Woman's Home Missionary society of
the Methodist Episcopal church of the
Kansas conference
The defendants are: Mrs. T. Y. Lynch,
Mrs. w. ]. Oliver. Mrs. Geo. o. Smith.
Mrs. Carrie E. Cope, Mrs. F. N Lynch
and the Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety of the Kansas conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church and the
Woman's Home Missionary society of
the Methodist Episcopal church of Kan
sas conference, a corporation, and Hor-
ace NJ. jackson.