New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-01
NEW ASTOR APPRAISAL
Second Report Shows Estate
Valued at $1,631,236.
JAMES YEREANCE RETIRES
Last Official Act Ignores Order
Made by Hamburger as to
Transfer Tax Reports.

The last official act of James Yereance,
State Transfer Tax Appraiser. in retiring
from Office yesterday. having resigned some
DAYS before. was to send to the Surrogates
Office reappraisal OF the estate of Mrs.
Caroline Webster Astor. the original ap-
piasal made by Mr. Yereance having been
rejected by Surrogate Cohalan as unsatis-
factory
The second report on the estate OF Mrs.
Aston was sent to the Surrogates' ONCE
few minutes before closing time. and In
sending II there the appraiser. VINO had
made some complaint about the conduct oil
the office OF the State Tax Appraiser. ls-
nored the order issued by julius Harbur-
ger. Deputy State Controller in charge Of
the local office and with jurisdiction over
the appraisers that the appraisers submit
10 him all transfer tax reports before they
we're filed in the Surrogates' office.
The new appraisal was practically the
came as the first enc. with the inslsnln-
can, difference that the furnishings ana
paintings in the Aston home. No. A2 Flith
avenue. were appraised SS.2Os higher tnan
in the original report. The second report
was accompanied by afiidavits of the per
sons fixing the values Of the various art-
cles that belonged 10 Mrs. Aston. at least
in part conformity with the order oil sur
rogate Cohalan. But there was strons
possibility that even the second report
would be rejected. FOR George \. LaNeile'
counsel TO the State Controller said last
evening that there had been much care
lessness in the appraisng Of Mrs. Astor $
iewelry and he objected also TO the eX-
.mption from taxation by Mr. Yereance or
the remainder estates left to Mrs. NJ. orme
Wilson and Mrs Charlotte A. Haig, daush-
tiers Of Mrs Aston. amounting in each IN
stance 10 500. Coz
The exemption by the appraiser was said
10 have been made because these portions
were only life. estates. Surrogate Cohalan
will sit in the trial part Of the Surrogates
Court for a month beginning ON MohdaN'
and in the ordinary course of business the
new report Of Mr. Yereance would 20 lot
confirmation to Surrogate Fowler. who VIII
be in the special part However. IN TINS
case il can he said that the report VIII not
miss the inspection of Surrogate Cohalan.
who will carefully scrutinize IL. II the re-
port does not conform to necessary require
ments il will he returned for a tilrd re
port Opposition is certain TO he maze 20
the confirmation Of the report by the state
Controllers Office.
In the original report the appraisal of the
paintings and house furnishings was maze
by Duveen Brothers. who since have been
convicted and fined for smuggling. In the
new appraisal Mr.. Nereance had the a'd
of another appraiser for these articles ana
the increase in the estimated value was
due in part IL was said, to the fact that
the duty on some Of the articles had not
been included i'm the original estimate
The estimate Of s2S1 l6S on the jewelry of
Mrs Aston remained the same a. in the
first report. although Mr.. Lavelle was not
vet satisfied with this part of the new re-
mort. The appraisal was made by Tiffany
g. 60. and the first affidavit this time ac-
COMMANDED II The surprising announce
,rent that in Mis-. Astors fve-strand pearl
necklace. valued at $4,000, there were
ninety imitation pearls was confirmed IN
the reappraisal.
The eross personal and real estate OIL
Mrs. Astor in New York State was valued
at S1.72s1s7 90. The deductions from ms
for debts. cost of administration and OK
ecutor's commissions reduced the comhincd
estates TO 81. S3l e3s g. Mrs. Aston who was
the widow of William Aston. died on Octo-
Der 50. 1905
In her will her son. Colonel John Jacoh
Aston. received five pieces Of JeWelry, put
did not share in any other part OF the
estate Mrs Aston explained IN A codlcii
that she did not give her son part OF her
estate because he had already been pro
yided for bv his father.