The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-05-19
WOMAN FILES Big ]
CLAIM FOR CHUNK
Of HOES FORTUNE
Declares Millionaire Gave Her
Bond for $3.50, 900, Which
She Is Trying to
Collect.

New York, May 17.-Margaret john
son Brown Johns, the London woma
whose beauty attracted the attention.
of tbs late King Edward. has papers
In her possession for claims amounting
to approximately s25o.oOo against the
estate Of Robert Hoe. the late multi
millionaire printing press manufac-
turer.
This fact was made known by John
P. East, her attorney, after her identity
had been disclosed as the result OF the
action she began in the ~Surrogate's
court to collect a3c.00 upon a bond
delivered to her by Robert Hoe.
From statements made by Mrs.
Johns and her father. Major Claude
Johnson, former mayor of Lexington,
Ky, 1t appears that Mrs. Johns nursed
Robert Hoe during his last Illness,
and thai he died In the residence adj
Joining her fathers home In london.
For several years h was o favorite
friend Of the manufacturer.
While Mr.. Hoe lived in London his
wife spent much of her time with her
son. Arthur Ingersoll Hoe. at No. III
East Thirty-sixth st. She still lives
there. In Mr.. Hoes will. leaving his
property to his children, no mention
was made Of his widow.
Courts Rule in Her Favor.
An investigation Of the supreme
court records disclosed the fact that
Justice Whitney has just ruled In fa-
vor of Mrs. Johns In a suit she
brought against the two executors Of
the Hoe estate and the Metropolitan
Trust company. The action is brought
by her to compel the trust company
to record upon its books her name as
the owner of 66 shares of Metropolitan
Trust company stock that Mrs. Johns
alleges Robert Hoe assigned to her dur
Ing his lifetime.
Mrs. Johns has q bond calling for
the payment Of about $3.50. 900 from the
Hoe estate, executed under seal. She
claims to have stock assignments. duly
executed by Mr.. Hoe to her, aggregat-
Ing 100000 in value. All Of these Sc
c~urities We're rendered her, her attor-
ney explained. as a gift from Mr.. Hoe.
II was Mr.. Hoes London manager
for eight years" Mrs. Johns father
explained yesterday. My daughter
came; To London III 1868 to visit me.
Shortly afterward Mr.. Hoe, who was
old enough to be my daughters grand
father, took the house next to us. We
had a door cut through the walls and
lived practically as n family. These
personal relations continued until Mr.
Hoes death last September.
Had Fathers Approval.
"Mr. Hoe was very much attached
to my daughter. and their friendship
had my entire approval. She aided
him in keeping up his house. AS q
matter of fact, she was practically his
ward. From time to time he told her
and also told me, that it was his In
tenton to provide for her after his
death. Two years before his death he
executed bonds against his estate te
the amount of $4,000. He also gave my
daughter certain shares of stock
Mrs. Johns was one time known as
the most beautiful woman in Ken
lucky" While her father was active r
the political life Of his home town. his
daughter fell in love with Lewis F
Brown, formerly a ticket agent for thu
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad at Lex.
ington. She eloped with Brown ant
afterward she and her first husband
went to London.
Episode With King.
The episode which won her the ad,
miration of King Edward occurred
during a theater party In London Thu
king happened to see Mrs. Brown il
an adjoining box and requested he
to Join his party. After a slight alter
cation with her b the American
beauty went into the kings box.
Mr.. Brown is said to nave beer
piqued by the incident. Later he ar
his wife separated. Mr.. Brown cam
to the United States and obtained
decree IN Lexington, NY, alleSlnS Una
she had abandoned him. Mrs. Brown
continued her residence in LondoI
with her father.
A month after Mr.. Hoes death, Mrs
Brown and Major Johnson came t
New York and presented their claim
against the Hoe estate. In Januar.
Mrs. Brown was married to Arthu
' Johns. a lawyer, Of No. SO Wall 81
They have since made their home a
No. 81 West Eleventh st.
I THE case is simply this" Mrs
Johns explained last night: II wa
Mr.. Hoes ward, and he warted me t
have the money he has left for me
He wanted me to get the money per
sonaiiy, and didn't want any one els
to get it. 1t was for this reason tina
: he stipulated that the gift in the bon
!, should lapse If / died before he did"