Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06

Ola 1Olonei ! olHltuSDu foaAf HeA
liant Georgia Confederate soldier
scion Of the Fort family, famed in
Georgia history. and leading lawyer
or Chattanooga, Tenn. disinherit his
brother. sisters. nephews and nieees
for love Of his stenographer?
This question is now being deter
mined by the courts Of Tennessee in
a contest TO break what the Fort
heirs claim is a forged will, convey
ing to Miss Lizzie II. Carroll, for 90
Dad years Colonel Forts stenographer
and confidential Office assistant, the
bulk OF his quarter OF a million dollar
estate.
And around this contest revOlves a
mystery without a parallel in this
section that for more than twelve
months has been battling shrewd law
yers. skilled detectives and experts
in penmanship and typography
The will. II it IL genuine, lay hid.
den for year after Colonel Forts
death in the possession of some un-
known person who kept its existence
a secret for some motive that may
never be known. II the viii Is not
genuine IL is a most cleverly forged
link in chain OF plotting to secure
title TO the rich estate possessed by
the aged lawyer at the time Of his
death
Is There a Nemesis
Is there a Nemesis pursuing those
who have played leading and minor
roles In this drama OF life? Deaths
OF four prominent men-two most un-
expeetedlv and similar In character
are woven into the story that the
hand OF fate has written. These men
were Colonel Fort. Colonel Robert
Pritchard. leading counsel for Miss
Cs-rou. julius Brown, brother OF
Governor Joseph NJ. Brown and
brother-in-law OF Colonel Fort and
ex- Senator Joseph NJ. Terrell.
II was while I'm Atlanta bringing
about the settlement OF contest over
the viii OF julius Brown that Colonel
Fort is claimed to have written his
own will now in contest. Barely
month later Colonel Fort died, while
apparently in his usual vigorous
health. A few months ago Colonel
Pritchard died most unexpectedly
Later Senator Terrell died as the re-
splt Of a stroke OF paralysis suffered
shortly after Colonel Forts death.
Colonel Fort dropped. dead in a cor
rseo~ Of the James Building Chat
taaooga sky-scraper. where he had
his ofices-on the morning OF Decem-
her Il. 1910. He had been at MS
once hut a few minutes. When he
left his Vine Street home after break
fast that morning he showed no signs
OF Illness and uttered no complaint
~ his sisters. with whom he lived,
10 indicate that he was not feeling
as well as usual.
Had old-Fashi0nsd Ways
Colonel Fort was man Of peculiar
habs,s that might be called eccen-
tr,oities. He took few persons into
his confidence. To even his closest
relatives he confided little of his per
sonal and business affairs. Miss
carroll alone knew the exact status
81 his affairs. and she had
learned the details through % years
~ continuous service as his stenog-
RAINIER and confidential clerk. lie
was not prone to adopt new methods
- business. nor was Miss Carroll
10 suggest them Even to the time
Of his death he continued to use the
cid letter press and book method of
retaining copies OF business papers
and correspondence.
So. when Colonel Fort died and was
buried with Masonic. Confederate. bar
association. and other honors, and
surviving relatives turned their at
tention TO ascertaining the status Of
his estate they naturally expec'ed to.
ma a will. both in the original and
in a letter book copy on fiie among
his Office records. The only one lo-
Gated was drawn in 1855. % wears
before his death. across the face OF
which had been written cancelled"
But Miss Carroll produced another
usp per in the form or a deed TO his va
rious properties. bearing date Of June
10. lslo. conveying all the property
OF which he might die seized or pos
sessed to Miss Lizzie H Carroll. 90 be
administered by her for period Of
hYe years in accordance with his
wishes as expressed 10 her verbally"
Heirs Force Settlement
Miss Carroll explained that Col
onei Forts verbally expressed
wishes were thai she manage the
property for i've years and that the
estate. except a portion which she
and Colonel Fort jointly owned.
should 20 to the children OF his BROTH
er. John P. Fort. OF Mount Airy. c.
The heirs. including the John p. Fort
children. announced that the courts
would be asked 10 PASS upon fhe Va
hdity Of this deed.
About six months later a settle
nlent was agreed upon and achnoNl-
sdEed in court. whereby Miss Carroll