The Detroit times., 1912-05-11
WILL COMING HEIR BREAK
ASTOR'S WILL THAT GAVE
BULK OF ESTATE TO SON ?
Precedent Is Cited To Show That
Young Widow May Be Able
To Set 1t Aside
SOCIAL WAR is PROBABLE
Fifth-ave. Expects Conflict Be-
tween Two Wives For
Queenship of Society

NEW YORK, May 11.-Will the un
born child OF Co. John Jacob Astor,
Titanic victim, place upon its mother
head the'queenly crown OF. leadership
of New Yorks famous 400" and by so
doing make beautiful Madeleine Force
Astor. the bride-widow OF the drowned
7 4multi-millionaire. the most conspicuous
and envied figure in American society?
The rivalry of the two former wives
OF Col. Astor may result In the break
ing OF the will by the child Astor never
saw-by his posthumous heir. who will
be born in July, and whom he cut of
with a petty $3,00O,000, giving, after
the manner OF the Astors, the bulk OF
This $100,000,000 estate 10 his Oldest
son.
This is the possibility all New York
is discussing Fifth-ave Is simply
holding its breath waiting for the mite
of humanity, whose coming may cause
such war in the courts and society
as Gotham has never seen before. So
ciety leaders acknowledge that compe'
tition for drawing room favors be-
tween Mrs. Ava Willing Astor, for the
first wife, and Madeleine Force Astor,
the girl-widow. is already very been.
They say that, in the final analysis.
the woman who holds the support of
Vincent Astor will come 20 be the Mrs.
Astor
Wall-st., though. is not so sure about
Vincent Astor holding the balance OF
power II young Mrs. Astor needs
more money than the will of her hus.
band affords her. big lawyers down
town declare that she may be able TO
obtain it-by breaking the will In the
name of her child, whcn X is born.
They quote the famous Charles
Stachelberk will case. Stachelberg
made no provision for a posthumous
heir. A child was born TO Mrs.
Stachelberg eight months after her
husbands death. The court broke the
will TO give this child an equal share
with the Oldest.
The Astor case revolves about the
word survive" In his will Col Astor
provided for all children other than
Vincent and Muriel who survived"
him.
Astor died April 10. The posthum-
Gus child Is not yet born.
Did this expected baby survive"
him?
The late millionaire's first wife. Mrs.
Ava Willing Astor, is considered, oil
the other hand rs handicapped by be-
ing In the middle forties. She has al
gays been known as an austerc figure,
Who possesses few intimate friends,
rather than a host OF loyal acquaint-
ances.
In the last period OF New York So
cial life this hauteur might have stood
her in good stead. But today society
asks TO be entertained rather than to
be impressed
Bank accounts being equal, ii is
more than likely that Madeleine Force
Astor would win out in a battle OF
feminine ambition But the money
that she has been given by the will
for her personal use will not permit
her TO compete with Mrs. Ava Astor,
If the latter is supported by her SON
the $75,000,000 heir
Madeleine Force Astor's only hope
then. seems TO be an attack on the
will for the benefit of her child" If it
is d boy. and the Stachelberg will prec-
edent means anything. she may even
hope to secure for her division with
Vincent.
Then this bride and widow in less
than a year could easily grasp the
coveted scepter OF society