The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-07-06
MEDIUM GOT $5O0,OOO
FROM A RICH OLD MAN
She Must Give Up 100000
Won by Spirits "Wau Kce"
and ''Pat."
HEIRS FOUGHT REQUESTS
Court Finds Rundel Trans
ferred Fortune During
Last Illness.
HEIRS FOUGHT REQUESTS

An unusual story Of the influence Of a
spiritualistic medium upon an old man
who transferred to her securities worth
more than $50o,0OO. including valuable
holdings Of Eastman Kodak Company
stock. IL told in an opinion by Supreme
Court Justice Clark setting aside trans
fers OF property worth 100000 during
the aged mans last illness. Two al
legged spirits named "Wau Kee" and
Pat" figured extensively In the testi-
mony against the medium.
The suit was brought by Robert\ G.
Watson. as executor under the will Of
Morton w. Rundel. against Elizabeth
A. Holmes. in behalf OF Rundei's heirs.
to recover the property transferred to
Mrs. Holmes. alleging that the gifts
were procured by fraud and undue In
fuence.
Rundel was a bachelor and for many
years conducted an art store In Roches-
ter. He died on November 6. 1911, at
the age Of 73 years. Rundel retired
from business in 1904 and subsequently
spent his time in New York. Atlantic
City and elsewhere. He made a will in
1910. Of which the plaintiff was
executor. and executed codicil on April
IL, 1911.
Left Money for Art Gallery.
In his will Rundel made liberal pro-
vision for his sister, who was his
nearest relative. and after remembering
certain other heirs at law he gave the
estate to the city OF Roches-
ter for a memorial art gallery. In his
codicil he changed the Request to his
sister from the income on 100000 to a
legacy Of $500 year. consisting of the
on $50 shares Of Eastman
Kodak stock.
Justice Clark said In his opinion that
Rundel and Mrs. Holmes had been
acquainted for many years and both
were spiritualists. and it was alleged
that Rundel believed that acting
through the defendant as a medium he
could get reliable information from
spirits both In reference to his health
and medical treatment and in business
affairs.
The testimony showed that in July,
1910, when his health was not robust,
Rundel took one Of his frequent trips
10 Atlantic City. and few days later
MIS-. Holmes and a widowed daughter,
Mrs. Sawyer. went there to visit him
They found him seriously i'll OF heart
ailment contracted on the train. and
Mrs. Holmes. who was over so and had
been nurse for many years under
look TO care for him She did so for
about a month. and then the party
home.
BOaGht HOuse for Medium.
Mrs. Holmes was with Rundel night
md day from that time until his death
over n year later Par; OF this time
he lived In house owned by Mrs.
Holmes and paid for with money fur
nished largely by Rundel.
The court found that before Mrs.
Holmes began to nurse Rundel he had
made her many gifts, including l75
shares OF Eastman stock. and at the
line ne was stricken in Atlantic CITY
ne still had property worth $572,OOO.
including 1.4l5 shares OF Eastman stock.
Rundel transferred 7s4 shares OF the
stock to Mrs. Holmes before
lis death. and after his death the exec
itor found that he had given her stock
n other corporations and cash amount
ny to over 100000.
As to Mrs. Holiness alleged commu-
,ioation with the spirits "Wau Kee"
md Pat" the plaintiff offered testi ,
nony to show that Mrs. Holmes gave
tundel advice concerning his health !
Ifter communicating with "Wau Kee."
While the spirit Pat" was "the finan- |
ial man In the business, and that he |
rave valuable advice as to stock in.
'estmenta"
1t was alleged that Mrs. Holmes oh. |
aimed absolute control over Rundc, |
through the alleged communication with |
hese spirits. and that there was moth.
ne In any OF her claims to supernat-
Iral powers.
Religions Views Sacred,
Justice Clark said 10 his opinion that
e believed that the fact that Rundel
nd Mrs. Holmes were spiritualists had
cen unduly magnifled The court held
hat spiritualism Is merely a form ~
ehgion, ana what persons Religions
Jews may be cannot be inquired into
n a judicial proceeding.
The court ruled that "in this country
man who has industry, intelligence
nd frugality enough to accumulate a
ortune has perfect right to dispose
4 1t az he chooses. provided OF course
e Is Of sound mind. and that whatever
disposition he makes OF his property is
Understood by him and is his free and
act"
The court found finally that the fact
hat during the time Mrs. Holmes was
ursing Rundel he transferred TO her
ecurities worth over half million dol
ars gave rise to a suspicion as to the
egularity and good faith of the trans
FRS. and not only justified the suit. but
hifted the burden on the defendant OF
rowing that the transfers were the free
nd voluntary acts OF Rundel. I
The court found that Mrs. Holmes oh
aimed control over Rundel on August
. 1911. three months before his death.
nd held that all his gifts during that
eri0d should he set aside. In that time
,undel transferred to Mrs. Holmes
5000 insurance policy. 500 sharas. .nf
Eastman stock worth $4,000: gave
er $4,000 In cash at various times
nd securities worth over $4,000,
Inder the courts ruling Mrs. Holmes
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