Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-19
Declares HutChins Estate Has
Not Been Mismanaged.
HIS ANSWER TO CHARGES
Resists Mrs. Hutchins' Effort to Dis
place Him as Trustee.
ATTACKS COURT PROCEEDINGS
Alleged Discrepancy of Statements
and Other Matters Explained.
Question of Jurisdiction.

Attacking the claim OF Mrs. Rose IL eel
ing Hutchins, that she is next friend of
her husband, Stilson Hutchins and de-
mandins strict proof of alleged mental
and physical incompetency of the huS-
band. William j. Dante, trustee of the
Hutchins estate. today answered the bill
to GUST him from his trusteeship, filed
last Saturday by Mrs. Hutchins in her
own name and as next friend OF her
husband.
Mr.. Dante also attacked the jurisdiction
of the court pointing out that the coun-
sci for Mrs. Hutchins had failed to name
the sons and granddaughter of Mr.. Hutch
ins as parties to the bill.
After listening for nearly an hour
TINS morning to statements of counsel
on both sides as to what had been done
and what not. nearly every claim being
denied on each side, Chief Justice Cla-
baugh announced he would do nothing
in the matter today. The chief justice
stated he would confer with Justice
Gould and learn just what had been
the reasons of that justice in declining
to act on the petition of Mrs. Hutchins
for increased allowance.
Willing to Increase Allowance.
Attorney Brandenburg. for the trustee.
act at once in the matter of increasing
the allowance to the wife for the main
tenance of the household when the court
had assumed jurisdiction of Stilson
Hutchins. He urged that it could not
De assumed in this case. not only by rea-
son of the default in naming the heirs
as parties, but also maintained that Mrs.
Hutchins could not sue as next friend
of her husband, when she had an inter-
est adverse to the claim of the one for
whom she attempted to appear.
Mr. Brandenburg claimed the only solu-
ton to the ENHANCEMENT which the Hutch
ms litigation had developed is to await
the return of Stilson Hutchins from
Narragansett Pier to Washington Then,
he said. subpoena could be served on
him and the question of jurisdiction set
tied. Once the court had jurisdiction,
counsel said, the trustee would be ready
and willing to pay to Mrs. Hutchins any
amount authorized by the court
Denying emphatically each and every
allegation of mismanagement. Trustee
Dante in his answer filed today, after
attacking the courts jurisdiction, an
nounced his Willingness to comply with
any order of the court for the proper
maintenance of the Hutchins household.
Mr.. Dante declares Mrs. Hutchins fire.
quently expressed her satisfaction with
the manner of his conduct of her hus-
bands affairs. He also says Mr.. Hutch
excellent showing of the affairs of his
estate.
Estate in Good Condition.
Mr.. Dante tells the court that the
estate is now in far better condition
financially than in the past sixteen
years. during which he has been in the
employ of Mr.. Hutchins. He claims
this showing is largely due to his
fidelity. care and faithfulness. He
points out that he is well acquainted
with the desires of Silson Hutchins in
reference 10 his financial affairs, and
claims he has followed them out since
taking over the estate under the deed
in trust in the spring of 1910.
The trustee explains away the appa-
rent discrepancy in a statement con-
corning the mortgage on the Westmore-
land apartments. Mrs. Hutchins said he
told her it was SlJOOOO and later. testi-
fled the total Indebtedness to be $4,000.
Mr.. Dante says this was an error in
that when testifying before the auditor
he included the debt on three adjacent
lots to the apartment house. On the
building alone the incumbrance is only
Slan.otD but the total, including the lots,
is S115.1W. the trustee declares.
The gifts of stock to Lee Hutchins and
the payment of insurance premiums for
Walter Hutchins are explained by the
trustee. as set out in detail in The Star
last Saturday He declares Stilson Hutch
ins transferred The peanut company stock
prior to the deed in trust. and Mr.. Dante
had nothing to do with it. he asserts.
Fhe transfer OF Fischer Company stock
was made to correct an error on the
stock books according to Trustee Dante.
The stock had been purchased by Lee
Hntchins and assigned to a third party.
When reassignment was made the stock
got INTO the name of StilSon Hutchins
Dy mistake for Lee Hutchins. When this
was called to the fathers attention he
directed the error corrected, Mr.. Dante
informs the court
Payment Directed by Employer.
Mr.. Dante admits paying premium on
insurance of Walter Hutchins. but claims
he was directed to do 50 by his en-
ployer.
Mr.. Dante also calls attention to the
terms of the deed in trust, which seem