New-York tribune., 1911-03-07
A SUIT FOR A MILLION
Timothy HeaIy Attacks a Law
Firm in America.
THE HEIR ALLEGED INSANE.
Senator Piles Mentioned IN
Transactions Relating to
Sullivan Estate.

Dublin. March 6.-Timothy Healy ap-
peared to-day as counsel for a petitioner
in lunacy proceedings, in which an effort
was made TO establish that American
lawyers had obtained for themselves the
greater part of a large estate to which
Dublin saddler was legally entitled.
The case came up before the Registrar In
Lunacy and a jury, on petition OF Z.
Corcoran, who sought to have his father,
Edward Corcoran, the sadd!er in ques-
ton. declared insane.
Mr.. Healy said that if the elder Cor
colan had his rights he would be worth
S1250. 600 Instead, he had been found
within the last three months in squaho
Dublin lodging house, unable to give an
account of himself Mr.. Healy said that
Corcoran's cousin, John Sullivan, died In
Seattle in 1909, intestate. An American
lawyer came TO Dublin. and, contlnued
the counsel, seeing he had an easy
mark. grossly misrepresented the value
of the inheritance" Corcoran signed
away his right to half the property to
man named Levin, whom he had never
seen. for $3.50. Altogether Corcoran got
about $4,000. THE rest of it." asserted
Mr. Healy, lis sticking in the pockets Oh
solicitors
After evidence was taken concerning
Corcoran's mental condition the hearing
was adjourned.
Sir Arthur Chance. surgeon In ordi-
nary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
who made an examination of Corcoran,
testified that the man was incapable OF
managing his affairs. although not a
lunatic.
Seattle. March 6-F. II. Peterson. who
effected the final settlement between
Corcoran and the attorneys said tonight
that when Corcoran and his Irish coun-
sellor. Charles p. O'Neill. left Seattle,
on July &. 1909, Corcoran took with MN
$40 600 in cash and $4,000 in bonds OF
the Provident Investment Company.
This company was organized to hold
the sullivan lands. The bonds in the
Provident Investment Company were
worth 80 cents on the dollar, said Mr..
Peterson. so that Corcoran obtained
nearly $4,000 net as his share ol the
Sullivan estate.
The Sullivan case was fought throu- n
state and federal courts for nearly ten
years. Sullivan had never made men
! tion of heirs and little was known OF his
past life. He reached Seattle. the sur
vivor of a shipwreck. when it was a
small town. He acquired property IN
what is now the centre of the business
quarter. When he died, leaving no VIII,
many claimants disputed the action OF
the state. which sought TO obtain the
estate.
Eventually the claims of all except
| Corcoran and Hannah Callaghan, both
| of whom the law firm of Piles. Donworth
g. Howe discovered in Ireland. were
thrown out. That portion of the estate
which had not been eaten by court costs
was awarded to Corcoran, who had in
herlted Mrs. Callaghan's rights. When
the law firm. of which Senator Piles was
a member. discovered Corcoran and Mrs.
Callaghan, they asked half interest
I'm the estate as a contingent fee, 1t Is
said.
While the case was dragging through
! the courts Mr.. Piles was elected to the
| Senate and the law firm of Piles. DON
worth & Howe was dissolved. The Sui
livan case was left in the hands of Howe.
AT that time Senator Piles issued a
statement, saying that he had sold his
interest in the estate for $1,000. Judge
George Donworth, who has since been
appointed to the federal bench for the
District Of Western Washington. also
sold his interest in the claim obtaining
$4,000.