The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-29
w arm e d Millionaire s
Adopted Daughter Of
Her Supplanting.
FRENCH WOMAN
SECURES RICHES
New York Supreme Court Will
Be Scene of Struggle for Wealth
Accumulated by Man Who
Won His Way Peddling
clot hes in vir-
ginia.
Especial to The Tlmes-pispa,ct

tSpecialto The Times Dispatch.1
New York, May 2S.---The fight that
is to be waged In tho New York Su-
prone Court for the 100000 Benja.
min Hart left when he died in his Par;.,
mansion was foreseen many years aga
by John Campbell. who served as but.
Ter In the Hart household for twenty
4 successive years.
A letter filed to-day with the county
clerk. in connection with supplemental
afidayts to be used at the trial, re.
vealed the fact that Campbell not only
foresaw the possibilities of the future,
1 put warned Nine. Isabel Luchesi Gull
lemin Har.'s adopted daughter, at the
! risk OF losing his own position in the
4 family.
t<doptcd Daughter Cut on.
When Hart died two years ago IL.
left French will that cut his adopted
daughter off entirely. He gave hi.
vast estate to Antoinette Gabrielle de
Bic, the French woman who presided
over his home in the latter years OF
his life. and to his New York nephew,
Michael Hart. Soon after Nine. Bic
became acquainted with the aged
! American multimillionaire. it appears.
Campbell wrote Isabel. the adopted
daughter who married Jean Guillemin.
| now minister from France to Peru, as
/ follows:
This is very delicate and indscreet
Tor me to do. but knowing you as Il
child, | feel that | must tell yoi the
truth Your father has become ac-
guainted with a young wonan-I will
not say lady; that would be a crime
| She is known by the name of Barone
de Bic. I regret TO say. madame, she
lhas complete control over all the sc-
tions OF your father. She is very dan
serous, and her control over his ac-
'ions ought to be stopped or some
other influence brought to bear on him.
Madame, you know would not write
this only fear the worst. Kindly ask
Mr.. Guillemins advice how to act in
this affair and remember risk my
bread by telling YOU these facts. Now.
madame, have given you a rough out
line on which to work. I trust to your
honor to keep my name out OF the
affair. (Sgned)
! JOHN CAMPBELL"
Letter in Evidence.
| Nine. Guillemin guarded Campbell's
confidence as long as her father lived.
She has now Incorporated his letter In
the testimony Campbell has given be
fore tho American consul in Paris in
order TO use it In support of her con-
| tention that the Hart will should he
broken because OF the alleged undue
Influence of Madame de Bic in securing
| its execution.
| Campbell. in telling the story of
Hart's life after the introduction OF
Baronne de Bic in the household. tes-
| titled that she rarely or never remain
| ed in the house over night. She usual
ly came in the morning and remains
| ed throughout the day,
! ibid Hart fell Won that n n
| tended to live and die in Paris?" Camp
| bell was asked.
! Paris is the only place for white
man to live in the butler declared
Hart often told him.
A pathetic incident in the life or
the rich American who began to ac-
cumulate his fortune by peddling
clothes in Virginia is related in the
testimony OF Antione Coquetin. the sex
ton in Paris who has had charge OF the
st. Germane Cemetery where Hart's
body is Inferred, for the past two de-
| cades. He explained that Hart picked
| the site of his own grave some time
| before he, died, and superintended the
! preparation of the sepulchrc.
Visits Ellis Castle"
conc da;, he visited the cemetery
and inspected the arrangements for
/ u. a
looked down at the grave he ioketl
told me, T shall probably live in it
a little longer than on the earth.'"
Among the now witnesses who have
come forward in support of the adopt
ed daughters contention are the Mar
quis and Marauise Montebcllo. Count
! Montebello was formerly Ambassador
for France to St. Petersburg. lie is
an uncle Of Jean Guillemin.
The count declared that Hart was
lentirely wrapped up in his devotion
TO Isabel. He even wanted to have
las we'll as under the American law, in
order that her legal right to be con-
isidcred his heir might not be question
ed. AS she was minor at that time
adoption.
Miss Fannie Reed, an American wo-
man who resides in Paris, testified that
she had known Hart for twenty-nine
until he lived with a certain woman,
and then lie had no friends. she said
\ because no one Went to his house
when he built the house" the Witness
daughter; that it was for her. always
for her. and everything in the house.
i His idea was always to leave 1t to her
1t was hers. He always said to Belle,
Everything i nave is for you. ] built
my house for YOU and live for you''
u Dodges the Question,
I. Miss Reed was questioned regarding
the character of the Baronne de Bic.
but she dodsed the question. II can
only say" she said, that her general
reputation was not the highest. That
Ills all I know
I, The witness stated that Hart was
SO fond Of Paris that he said ne would
live no other place.
4 "Did he tell YOU wherc he wanted
n to die?" she was asked.
. HE wanted to at all.'' 8
Nearly all of the witnesses testified
to the grandeur Of the mansion Hart
\ while sle was still Isabel Hart, THE
china and ensraylns g, !. !. g ], were considered