Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-02-16
The Estate Of senator EIkins.

Interest was created in West Virginia
the past week by the announcement tnal
Ms. Halle Elkins, widow OF former
Senator Stephen B. Elins, would claim
the widows dover of oneIthird OF ief
husbands estate instead OF accepting the
provision of the will by which she was 10
be given minimum income OF VOW
annually, the Senator's home in wash
ington, the property within it, the proper
ty at Elkins and number of other per-
sonal effects. The result OF this would
have been an income of about 100000 a
year for Mrs. Elkins, besides the houses
and other property. The pictures IN the
art gallery of the Washington home, that
would have gone to her under this option,
are estimated as worth $25O,00O
BY claiming the widows dover, Mrs.
Elkins gets practically one-third OF tie
estate. because the bulk of the property
consists of stocks and bonds. While
Senator Elkins owned his various prop
critics, he had them all organized into
corporations, and they were really in the
form Of personal property. II is estlmat-
ed that these properties are now worm
Sl2, OOO, 600 to SIS, OOO, 900, and under her
dover rights Mrs. Elkins will get about
81, 100000 to 100000, considerably
more than she would have obtained the
other way.
In explanation OF her action, it is said
that Mrs. Elkins desired to make better
provision for her own children than had
been done byher hus band in the will. In
that document Senator Elkins so arrang-
ed masiers that his seven children, includ-
ing Mrs. Oliphant and Mrs. WeiderseIm,
children by his first wife, would all share
equally, but by Mrs. Elkins claiming the
third which the law in this State allows a
widow she will have from five TO eight
million dollars in her own right, which
she can divide among her five children
Davis, Richard, Stephen b., Jr Blame
and Miss Katherine Elkins.
The following document was filed IN
Elkins, w. Va, showing the intention OF
the widow:
To the County Court of Randolph
County, West Virginia II, Halle Davis
Elkins, widow of Stephen B. Elkins. de-
ceased, under the provisions OF Section
II, Chapter 10, of the laws OF the State OF
West Virginia, do, by this instrument in
writing, renounce the provisions made
for me in the will of my husband, Stephen
B. Elkins, which will was dated and &C
knowledged on the twenty-ninth day OF
September, 1910, and probated on the
seventh day of January. 1911, in the
County Court OF Randolph county, West
Virginia, and declare il to be my desire
and purpose to take and have such share
of my husbands real and personal estate
as would have had if he had died intes-
tate. leaving children. Given under my
hand and seal this thirteenth day OF jan
tiary, 1911. HALLE ID. tLKlNS.
Z Mrs. Elkins is worth million dollars in
her own right and IS also woman OF con-
siderable business ability. 1t is altogeth-
er probable that she exercised the choice
above referred to so as to be able TO have
large estate OF her own. so that she may
continue her gifts while alive and make
some important requests in her will. The
property which she owns in her own
right is largely invested in gilt-edge sand
6 per cent investments, and to this will
be added third of the personal estate OF
the Senator.