Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-06-24
SPRECKELS' ARE
Still At IT
OLD WILLS ARE
BROUGHT FORWARD
Bitterness Between the Children Is
Shown Openly in Court While
Lawyers Contest for Departed's
Millions.

Adolph and Claus A. Spreckels. whit
are ranged on opposite sides In thu
battle for the millions left by the late
sugar king, Claus Spreckels, sat II
Judge Coffey's court yesterday Will,
their attorneys quoted from ponder
GUS law books and Unanswered fol
advantageous positions.
Millions were spoken of with ths
nonchalance with which lucky
schoolboy would talk about a bis
bag OF marbles; old family troubles
of the Spreckels were discussed by
John ID. and Adolph Spreckels.
At the conclusion of the days
session the court records found them
selves incumbered with two former
Wills made by the sugar king. which
he had revoked, and a lot OF legal
argument by Attorney Chas. Wheel
er. who represents Rudolph and Claus
A. Spreckels and their sister. Mrs.
Emma Ferris.
Cold Chances Exchanged.
Rudolph Spreckels and his sister
were not present in the courtroom.
The bitterness that existed between
Rudolph and Claus A. Spreckels and
their older brothers was made mani
fest by the cold glances that shot
back and forth between Claus anu
his opponents.
Although Attorney Wheeler con-
fined his argument mainly to an ex-
position of the law, which he, said
upheld his contentious that John d.
and Adolph Spreckels were not enti-
tied to a share OF the sugar kings
estate left at his death. because they
had both shared heavily In their
fathers wealth during his lifetime.
he occasionally referred with strik-
Ing emphasis to the equality among
children" and fairness among heirs
which he said did not exist in the
case at bar. pt .v
Talk OF equality" said"Wheeler.
as he looked III the direction Of the
attorneys representing John ID. and
Adolph Spreckels, ''and then think
Of what these admitted gifts meant
81 ,06e, 900 to each OF these two
older brothers, Just As per cent. OF
the entire estate OF Claus Spreckels.
The father parceled out to these two
sons as per cent. of his vast estate.
leaving 55 per cent. to be distrib-
uted among his widow and three
other children. Our statutes were
created to promote greater fairness,
greater equality among children. Is
this equality?"
Old Feud Touched Upon.
The old feud OF years gone by,
when the late Claus Spreckels OPP
posed his youngest sons. were spoken
OF slightly by John d. and Adolph
Spreckels, who we're both witnesses,
By adroit questioning the attorneys
for the witnesses only brought out
a few, short statements to show that
the enormous gifts were made by
Claus SpreckeIs because he wanted to
exclude Rudolph and Claus A.
Spreckels from sharing In his estate
John ID. Spreckels was the first to
assert that his father Intended to dis
inherit Rudolph.
Referring to the gifts prior to
1891" said Spreckels. my father al
ways stated to me that he made the
gifts because. he said, 4 do not wish
my sons Rudolph and Gus (Claus) to
have any share in my estate. He
said also. I do not wish to have any
question arise as to these being
gifts. a"
Are you sure that he used the
word 'estate'?" asked Wheeler.
Weep in Fear.
Well, l don't know" replied
Spreckels. "He said, 4 don't want
those boys to have any Of my
money"
Then he said money and not .ss-
tate?" inquired the attorney. t+,
well, he said any Of my money or
estate" the witness answered.
The testimony OF Adolph Spreck.
els was to the same effect, except
that questions were asked Of him
concerning his fathers attitude to.
ward Mrs. Ferris In 1896.
The marriage OF my sister Emma
In 1896" said Adolph Spreckels, Ito
Mr. Watson caused an estrangement
between her and my father"
Attorney Peter +. Dunno, who APP
pears for John ID. and Adolph. en-.
deavored to go further into the diff
ferences between parent and chill
dren. but an objection from Wheeler
prevented an exposition of this
matter.
Talks Of Announcements
Wheeler argued that both broth
ers had admitted they had received
more than their share OF the estate.
though he said they may have done
II unknowingly. These admissions. -
said Wheeler, SHOW that these two
brothers received their share OF the
property as advancements, the father
Intending. ~ they have said 10 leave
no share Of his estate to the other
children DlaIulp than tina, admit