The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-08-01
'AST0R ESTATE IS
JUST s87,218,7s1
Figures Of Final Appraisal For
Taxation Purposes.
JEWELS WORTH s161,s2o.

Colonel Astor's Liabilities at Time Of
Death Were $915,657-cost Of Reoov.
srns Body After Wreck OF Titanic
Was $s,oo7--Art Works Valued at
$464,s1s.
The final appraisal OF the estate OF
John Jacob Aston, who persisted when
the Titanic sank, lately filed in New
York city. was $s7.2lS.79l.
The testimony taken before the ap-
praisers and now made public for the
first time discloses the fact that after
Colonel Astor died In the Titanic wreck
some one-possibly his sIsters-put In
claim for the most valuable pieces Of
Iewery that his mother had worn dur
ing her lifetime and which had been
handed down to Colonel Astor under
his fathers will. Before the appraisal
was concluded this claim to the jew
ery WAS relinqnished.
The jewelry was appraised by Ben
iamin II. Herts, Il we'll known jewelry
expert, ut $l6l0oO. and Lewis Cass
/ AoI NuG V6tNtSf ou" tuot a
tax on this amount would be paid.
The value OF $4,000 was placed on a
diamond sunhurst Of oSS stones. weigh
Ing $50 carats. The outside stones
were estimated at $500 carat aud the
fifteen interior ones at 5000 carat.
A diamond necklace was valued ut
SEC, 900 and rope of 2O4 diamonds.
I NSys,i rhintr nj lAOS sDlil n
praised ut $500 carat. The highest
priced diamonds were found in two
solitaire earrings. They were apprais-
ed at $500 II carat uLd weighed fifteen
carats.
Costly Honeymoon Gifts.
Colonel Aston invested heavily In
jewels after meeting Miss Madeleine
Force. who nfterward became his wife.
One of the debts Of the estate was $67,-
10 due Cartier Il Co. Of Paris. Nicho
iAs Biddle, an executor, testified tlnt
Colonel Astor contracted this bill for
jewels for Mrs. Aston during their hon
eymoon trip, The estate made no
claim upon this jewe|ry. which Mrs
Madeleine Force Aston has In her pos
session.
Edward II. Holston valued the works
Of art at $lG4,Sl3. Colonel Astor
bought $4,000 worth OF these treas
ures and Inherited the remainder.
Flemish tapestry estimated to be worth
$1,000 was moth eaten. but ind been
repaired. The two tapestries on the
north wall of his New York mansion
were appraised at $4,000 They show
ninety separate scenes MiIlet's paint
ing "trhc Goose Girl' was appraised ut
$4,000
Mr. ilolston made the following OK
4 PLANTATION about the change In values
to show how he had fixed the value Of
1.-The Goose Girl" "The Woman With
the Lamp WAS II picture we had ten
times" he said. I'VE bought 1t origl-
naIy for $500 and sold 1t for 5000,
Years later we bought 1t back for $2O,-
600 and sold it for $4,000. We bought
1t back again for 100000 and 1t was
sold In Holland two years ago for
$l5O,OOO."
Estates Total Debts $s15,657.
The total Indebtedness Of the estate
was $0l5,G57, including II loan made by
the United States Trust company OF
$50O,OOO. The expense Of recovering
Colonel Ast0r's body was $0.OO7. Car
ter, l.edyard Il Mlburn, attorneys, re
reived II $2OOO fee for services
n A debt Of $1lO,O3O due Colonel Aston
from Charles W. Morse was put down
as worthless.
4 Summary OF the report
Share OF Vincent Aston. son, $6S. 04.-
500. plus $IO.OOOnO remainder inter-
est; Madeleine Force Astor, widow.
$7,G7S,OOO; Alice Mmriel Aston dangh-
ter, "a ,S5G,7;1S; John Jacob Astor. In
FAINT son. s.. 923,G72.
The cost Of appraisal is stated rs
$4,000.