Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-23

Capt Friedman specifically declared
that he had no living heirs. Before his
funeral was over, purported heirs liv-
ing in every part of the civilized
world began to appear as claimants to
the estate. Then began one of the
most famous will contests in the his
tory of probate matters in California.
Since its inception, twelve years ago;
it has been kept constantly alive until
yesterday. ".=.
Trial Lasted Four Years.
During the actual trial of the con-
test, which began four years ago, md
which continued without interruption
for two years and four months, over
5000, 900 wor6r of testimony went into
the transcript OF the proceedings. sd
Murder was brought into the. rec.
crds by the charge Of certain of the
p:.rported heirs that Friedman had
not died a natural death, but had been
murdered by people who would benetit
under the will.
At least one of the heirs was exam
ined as to his sanity, on two occasions
during the proceedings, and several
others were in contempt of court be-
cause rumors had gained circulation
that they had made alleged threats to
revenge themselves on the judges con
rected with the case who had decided
adyersally in thir claims.
Several of the attorneys connected
with the case had all their expenses
Maid on "round the world jaunts
gathering evidence. Others have peen
receiving fat retainer fees for the
past twelve years, and in spite OF all
this. the estate which was valued at
$3.50 900 at the time of Friedman Z
6esth has a total value OF almost a
million dollars now.
Many Friends Benefited =... =.
BY the provisions of Friedman s
will $4,000 was bequeathed in small
amounts to many friends. These nave
all been paid. To many small cnar-
tiles was bequeather total sum OF
$40 600, which has also been paid. TO
his natal home at Mitau, Russia, ne
beaueathed $4,000 to be held in trust
to establish a fund for the aged poor.
This also was paid many years ago
by agreement of all contestants. Tne
remainder of the estate was be-
queathed to the Hebrew Home for the
Disabled
It was over the residuaTy portion
that the contest was waged. The many
heirs contended that as the law pro-
hibits the bequeathing of more than
one-third of an estate to charity when
hnir this art nf the
will was invalid. In his will Fried
man says: 81 am the youngest son OF
the late Burgher Solomon Elias Fried
man of the city of Mitau and am
not aware of any kin who may have
/ legal right to claim a, portion of my
estate by right of representation OF
inheritance.
Weeded Out Claimants
OF the IL original claimants, Judge
Graham weeded them out from time
, to time until the actual trial began
four years ago, when but thirty-four
remained. AS a matter of convenience
they were separated into five groups,
designated respectively as the Grun'
waldt claimants, the Bernstein claim
ants, the Kagan claimants, the Liebe
Friedman claimants and the Jacobson
claimants. OF the merit Of these va
rious claimants Judge Graham's opin-
ion says:
I "a careful reading of the testimony
discloses many contradictions and in
constituencies in the cases of the de-
PENDANTS, the purported heirs. No two
of the cases made by the respective
claimants can stand together. If the