The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-01-04
Washington Promoters of
Durkee Claim Get For
NAL Sanction.
WILL EARN GREAT RICHES
Judge Taylor Formally Gives Admins
traitor Hastings Right to Compromise
Claims Against Government as Held
by Estate of Charles Durkee.

Judge George w. Taylor opened the
way for formal fight to collect the
alleged Durkee millions this morning
when he signed an order authorizing
Henry j. Hastings, recently appointed
administrator de bonis non for the
estate to compromise claims on the
basis of so per cent. The order was
signed on the petition of the admins
traitor in which he declared that the
assets of the estat were Of very
doubtful nature and that 1T would be
impossible to get hold of them without
the expenditure of large sums of
money. He represented further that
some of the alleged heirs to the estate
had already offered to give rs per cent
for the collection of the allegeds as
sets Of the estate. In the formal or
der Administrator Hastings is given
the right to contract with J. j. Souder
Of Washington for the collection of
the assets which are to be turned over
to the administrator.
Associated with Souder in the eT-
fort to bring to light the fabulous as
sets of the estate is J. G. Stoner also
of Washington and these mems have
for more than twenty five years. It is
claimed that these men have secured
certain statements from men in public
Office at the time the bonds were al
legged to have been left in Washington,
but these men are not willing to sell
their information unless a large sum
is paid for it. It is declared that these
men If assured that they will be given
a contingent fee of fifty per cent of
the amount collected will go into the
court of claims of the United States
and tell what they know in regard to
the claims of the Durkee estate.
Souder and Stoner are alleged to
represent many people who have taken
an interest in the proposed collection
Of the millions and it is declared that
both of the men expect to gain great
fortunes by the uncovering of the as
sets.
Judge Taylor declared this morning
that considering the fact that it has
been fortyN years since the estate was
settled the uncovering Of any assets at
this time would be well worth fifty
per cent to the heirs. 1t is certain
that the Judge is not greatly impress
ed with the claims of the Washington
men but he has 'Eshow me'' nature
and for this reason he has given his
sanction for the men to 60 ahead with
their fight for the estate
1t is expressly stated that no
charges beyond the contingent fee is
to be made against the estate and that
these charges are not to be paid until
the estate is turned over to the county
court of Kenosha county. -
The authority vested in the Wash
ington men is supreme as it gives them
full power to compromise claims in Sc
curing the possession of the alleged
assets of the estate. Generous funds
have been provided for the carrying
on of the fight and it is understood
that this money has been advanced by
men prominent in Washington who
have been given an insight into the
facts that have been secured by
Souder and Stoner,r 1t is expected
that the next move. in the case will be
the filing of formal action in the
United States court of claims in Wash
ington which will demand the repay
ment to the government of the vast
sum alleged to have belonged to Dur
kee.