The Washington herald., 1912-07-27
LETTER MAY END
FIGHT FOR ESTATE
Epistle Written by Late Ross R.
Winans to Son-in-law Expected
to Stop Litigation.
SHOWS AFFECTION FOR
HIS GRANDCHILDREN
Message Is Held by New York
Attorney-Residuary Legatees
May Compromise.
SPECIAL to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
! Baltimore. Md, July 26.-The discovery
| Of a letter from the late Ross r. Winans
Baltimore millionaire, to Prince Henri
dc Bearn, his son-in-law. husband of the
late Beatrice de Bearn. and present sec
retary Of the French Legation at Pekin
and for a time connected with the
French Embassy at Washington. clearly
| indicating that he had no intention OF
| cutting on his two grandchildren. despite
! the fact that they were not mentioned
in his will, may put an end to the threat
! ened litigation in the winans estate of
this city and elsewhere.
winans was known by his friends to
have loved his daughter extremely well.
and Il is said he had the tenderest feel
ing toward her two children-Gaston and
Cecile de Bearn-despite the fact that
no bequest was made to them. The
prince was for a time connected with
the French Embassy at Washington.
holding a nominal position. but not ac-
credited as a secretary or attache. He
was quite attentive to several of the
weIl-known heiresses in Washington So
ciety. and was generally pronounced a
charming man. He was a popular din
ner guest. and for a time was much
sought after. The Countess Gizycki,
when she was Miss Eleanor Patterson,
was one to whom he paid pronounced
attentions.
Letter Shows Affection.
The letter in question. which is now
held by a New York attorney represent
ing the prince, reads as follows:
II was glad to get the photographs
Of the children. / am astonished at
fbpir ts ina all
and Cecile is a beauty and very much
like poor little Beatrice at that age.
IF you should pass through America
snd 1t is convenient, / would. of course
like to see them very much.
Il suppose you heard that very near
~ left this world last summer. / was
delirious for two months and after a
year I am by no means well. / am glad
to know that you are all well. Kiss the
two little darlings for their grandfather"
According TO the New York information
the princes attorney says there is no
doubt of the authenticity of the letter.
and in Baltimore to-day all those in
formed of IL did not doubt It,
The residuary legatees of the estate
are Ross ". Whistler and George S.
Revtllon, stepbrother Of Mr.. winans'
mother. whose share will aggregate
nearly 100000. Both men are old.
"ns kfndS Gets 100000.
Miss Dorothy Bateman, daughter of an
innkeeper at Newport. K. l.. who was
kind to the Baltimore millionaire in
Newport last summer. at about the time
Winans wrote about his grandchildren.
was left S50O.ooO under a provision of the
Will The will did not mention the
grandchildren.
An amicable settlement at this time
will end a fight that has been going on
in the courts for the last three years or
more-since the death Of Beatrice
Winans, wife Of the Prince de Bearn.
Mr.. Whistler. soon after the death of
the millionaire. as well as Mr.. Semmes
declared that the children would be cared
for by those who held the estate in
charge. 1t seems that one Of the last
requests of Winans. the millionaire, was
that his grandchildren be looked out for
in a liberal way.