Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-28
Agreement Under Way for Sever
al Days "Details kept Secret.
VIII Be Ready Monday 10 Be
Submitted in Court al Biddetord.
Interesting History of This sensa.
tIonal Case on Trial In York Co.

Boston, June 27.-By the terms of an
agreement reached out of court today,
Mrs. Olea Bull Vaughan becomes the
sole heir to the half million dollar es
tate left by her mother, Mrs Ole Bull
widow of the celebrated Norwegian
violinist. The agreement WAS reached
at a series of conferences held in Bos-
ton today between the counsel in the
contested will case. which has been on
trial for several weeks in the probate
court of York county Maine.
The announcement that settlement
was in sight was made late today by
Ralph s. Bartlett. one of Mrs.
Vaughan's attorneys. While the details
of the settlement were not given out.
it war stated at Mr.. Bartletts office
that the attorneys in the case had
reached an agreement upon an adjust
ment of the contest, involving the set
ting aside of the will, and that Mrs.
Vaughan would be the sole heir and
that she could do as she likes with
the property"
! The attorneys said that the agree
ment has been under way for several
days At the conclusion of todays con-
ference. a telegram was sent to Judge
been presiding at the viii contest ask
ing him to continue further hearings
until next Monday. The case was
scheduled to come up in the court at
Biddeford, Me, tomorrow. By next
Monday the lawyers hope to have all
the details of the agreement arranged
and ready to be submitted to the
court.
Mrs. Bulls excursions into Hindu
mysticism have formed the chief sub
jeet matter of the testimony at the
hearings in the will contest in the
York county probate court which have
covered several weeks. Although Mrs
Bull had spent most of her time dur
ing the last years of her life at her
home in Cambridge, Mass. known as
Studio House. where she died last win
ter. she always had maintained a local
residence in York county. She had
made many visits to Maine. chiefly to
Greenacre. in Eliot where she was in
terested in the philosophical and mys
tical gatherings Instituted by the late
Mrs. Farmer.
The will offered for probate. dis
posing of an estate valued at about
100000. provided literally for Mrs
Bulls associates and instructors in the
study of Hindu mysticism left a sub
stantial amount to her brother, Joseph
G.. Thorp of Cambridge, who was nam
ed as one of the executors, and made
only small bequest to Mrs. Bulls
daughter. Mrs Vaughan who was her
only child. The will also provided that
Mrs. Bulls body should be cremated
,t1A he Anr e-fr ~
of her famous husband in Norway.
Mrs. Vaughan contested the will on
the ground that her mothers mind
had become so affected by her assoc
Citations with Hindu mystics, several
of whom had been inmates of her
home at various times. that she was
unable to make a rational disposition
of her estate. Mrs. Vaughan claimed
that Mrs. Bulls frieu1s had come be-
tween mother and daughter. poison
ing Mrs. Bulls mind against Mrs.
Vaughan.
In the course of the hearings at AL
fred and Bddeford. Me. testimony
was given as to many strange actions
of Mrs. Bull and her associates, in
Guiding various mystic "meditations. -
EXERCISES" and dietary practices.
witnesses said that strange Indian
medicines, which had = peculiar effect
we're administered to Mrs. Bull when
she was i'll While some witnesses
testified to Mrs. Bulls affection for
her daughter. it was brought out that
or late years, the daughter was not
permitted to visit her mother at Cam
bridge except when some of Mrs
Bulls friends were present