New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
SAY ESTATE WAS WASTED
Administrator of e. /. Coolidge
Property. Is Removed.
BRoTHER-IN-LAW ACCUSED
Children Said to Have Been De.
prived of Most of Inheritance,
Amounting to $25, 600.

Surrogate Thomas signed a decree
yesterday repoking the letters OF ad-
n.inistration issued 70 William j. Parks
who was the administrator Of the estate
of Erwin L. Coolidge The application
for the removal of Parks was made by
r Edward Swanstronl former President
Of the Borough of Brooklyn, who is the
general guardian Of the three young
children of Coolidge
The reason for the proceeding was
that Parks had, it is charged, Illegally
entered into an agreement whereby the
children were deprived OF all of the es-
tate due them. amounting to s2oe"o'
with the exception of $4,000. There was
no opposition TO the application OF swan
r.-or, who said that Parks was unnt
end ,,Tou.Iified TO act as administrator
Erwin L. Coolidge was killed on May
- 1902. hv the collapse Of q, bridge that
had heen erected over the sidewalk at
Fifth avenue and 18th street, "here
there was q building being erected 19
left wife and three children, the young
ext Of whom was three months old ana
the oldest five wears old, when Coolidge
vas killed. Mrs. Mary E Coolidse' the
wife. vas appointed adninistratrlx OF
the estate with the power to prosecute
only and not to collect or to conprofnlse
She brought suit against the city ana
thc contractors erecting the building and
recovered a verdict of $4,000.
The case went to the Appellate piVi-
sion and TO the Court Of Appeals on an
sn2eel fv the defendants, and the latter
tribunal set the verdict aside ana or
dered = new trial. Before the second
+ris1 could be had Mrs Coolidge died and
Ie-t tho three little children in care of
p.-ls Mrs. Coolidge-s brother. who was
srroiuted ts administrator of the estate
,f Coolidge in place of the wife, and With
her same powers. Parks was not re-
uui-e6 10 give Z, bond
The rev administrator continued the
.rt+ against the city. the contractors
having been declared insolvent- On the
second trial of the action against the city
the Jury gave a verdict Tor e-o'pVo'
which was reduced by stipulation 10
s1snha The city again appealed from
,re verdict. but the Appellate Division
and the Court of Appeals affirmed the
judgment Of the lower court f1hal
Judgment was entered and the city pald
in all S2o441. including the costs and
interest
r,f this amount S6,S15 was held 10 the
order of the City Chamberlain. pending
the report Of q referee appointed TO pass
on the validity Of an assignment OF one
third Of the proceeds OF the litigation
made a-- Mrs Coolidge 70 Powers Il
IoF. Who were her attorneys in the hrst
e,,it The rest of the money. amount
;nr IA SIS 63l. Has paid to William B,
Hrsrine. counsel for Parks. Ferks, II IS
alleged then entered into an sgreelhe@Lt @
-,-irh Tysrfrs 70 give Waring $500 Tor
e;sser--irss in the case. out Of which he
res IN nav Disbursements amounting 10
50 CO., and also TIE prospective costs OF
me reference in the case OF Powers q
IIcff
Tbis agreement between Parks and
ws-ins. said Swanstrom in his appiica-
-io77 ~ the Surrogate. in effect mace
o-,er the control Of the estate 20 Waring-
-1-sr;nS died and SwaLstron reported
-bsf h. rss unable to lind any estate
left by him.
eueus4rorn charged that Parks had
p.re5 in violation OF the legal rights or
=. infants his nepl1eUs. and had waste
frHy and iuproN ioently managed Ihs
ronertz and that the administrator had
1-,a,ef,,ll,- dissipa1ed almost the entire
zS+are cf the children The guardian
ss3G a.so that there was now cause or
z~fiar, against Parks The admlnlstra-
- snreared before the Surrogate, but
consented 70 the revocation OF MS le1terS
r. .dr-7inisrrstio