New-York tribune., 1912-03-24
LAWYER WANTED 100000
Lesster's Suit for S800,0OO Es-
tate Reveals Strange Contract.
ONCE AGREED TO PAY HALF
Declares w. T. Gridley Also De-
manded Fees for Other Counsel
and Money for All Expenses.

The consideration by the Appellate d.
vision of the Supreme Court Of one phase
of the litigation over the $4,000 estate
OF William c. Lesster, whose grandson,
William c. Lesster, I'd, Is contesting the
WILL BY which the testator left his entire
estate TO his tWenty-five-year- wife,
Mrs. Grace Felix Lesster. brought out
some interesting details as to what the
contestant had agreed TO pay his lawyer.
Mr.. Lesster brought suit on the ground
that his grandfather was Of unsound mind
and under undue influence when he exc
cuted the will.
The court had before II for consid deration
the decision of Surrogate Cohalan in sub
sttutlng James F. Lynch as counsel for
Lesster in place of Willis T. Gridey, and
also the motion OF the latter lawyer for
permission to place a lien on the papers
Of the contestant Gridley said he was
sure that young Lester was entitled TO
the entire estate of his grandfather, so
that In case ne got II GridIey would be-
come entitled TO $4,000 under an agree
ment with his client, besides certain costs
and disbursements But controversies
arose between lawyer and client over a
young woman whom Lesster married and
VINO subsequently sought separation from
MIN through annulment proceedings.
The Appellate Division held that Mira
beau l. Towns, who was appointed referee
by Surrogate Cohalan to decide the ques-
tion of Grldley's lien. should also decide
the question Of the alleged misconduct OF
the attorney and the substitution of other
~ AL Aarn ~.
first induced him TO sign over to him 80
per cent of whatever he recovered after
the costs and disbursements had been
taken out This. said Lester. would
enable the lawyer to make the disb,Irse-
ments anything he saw nt Besides this.
Lester had promised 10 per cent OF his re-
covery to Mrs. Galdwys Wright, secretary
or Gridloy. II was alleged that Il was the
intention OF Gridley To retain George Cor
don Battle ~ trial counsel in the contest.
and that he wanted to show Battle that he
was getting only 30 per cent OF the estate
Then there was another fixed charge OF
5000 for Max Silbersteln. a lawyer. who
had client who was material witness
for Lesster and whom the lawyer could
guarantee as reliable and truthful" That
law. Another lawyer. named Klausner. was
to get 500 for furnishing "A witness who
could give damaging testimony against the
widow.
LESTER said Gridey told him the other
side wanted to settle for $500 but the
contestants own Information was that Mrs.
Lester. the young widow, would make no
such settlement The only terms Of settle
ment she would listen 70 were to give the
tcstatOr's grandson onc-nlnth part Of the
estate. which would give him Just enough to
pay out the money he had bound himself
10 pay in case he succeeded. and would
not even give the amount OF the costs
and disbursements provided for in the
agreement with Gridley.
For several years before the will case
came up LESTER was on friendly terms
with Gridley and Mrs. Wright Mrs. Wright
had daughter named Betty. without
the knowledge Of the mother Betty and
Lesster were secretly married last Novcm-
ber. The young woman told Lesster, so he
said. that she was nineteen years old. while
her ago was only seventeen years She
brought annulment proceedings. and the
husband did not oppose her action
asked him 10 sign a complaint 10 the Bar
Association against lawyer I'm the will
case and TO sign a petition TO the Dis
trlct Attorney against Mrs. Lesster. the
widow Of his grandfather. and one or more
OF her witnesses for statements made about
Lester. The contestant said that Grid
Icy. who was n member OF the Wright
household. turned on him because Of the
marriage TO Miss Wright
Gridley denied this.
The lawyer said also that the n per cent
arrangement had subsequently been
changed 10 % per cent. He said he would
hay" refused any settlement unless IL pro-
yidcd FOR half Of tho $1,000 estate, Mr.
Testers widow having two children who
should receive part OF the estate.
Klausner put in a statement saying that
he had earned his share. as It was not his
intention TO "asssssnate the ends OF ius-
tice, but to see that the scales were even
ly balanced"