The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-23
SUITS REVEAL STORY
OF MAYNARD YOUTH
Grandson Of Former West
chester Man Sold $4,000
Inheritance for q Song.
CREDITORS FIGHT FOR IT
Widow and Daughter in Aus
tralia Also Seek Fortune
Mother Cut Him OFF.

Tho story Of n Maynard youth OF good
family who went to Australia fort.' years
ago to try to regain his footing but whose
widowed mother turned against him when
he failed TO reform and finally refused
to aid him and his family after he had
married under interesting circumstances
a young woman OF American parentage. Is
disclosed In an order Just signed by Su-
preme Court Justice Cohalan. The order
permits the examination Of witnesses who
vii, tell the history Of the man whose
mother was unreienting even on her death
bed.
The papers before Justice Cohalan also
disclose a struggle between the mans
widow and daughter. now nearly 20. and
his creditors. to whom he gave notes for
exorbitant sums to get possession Of $780,
900 now payable to the man from tho
estate OF his grandfather AS n result OF
tho recent death OF his mother.
Tho man was Harry 7. Bernis, who
sometimes called himself Danforth. after
his grandfather, James l,. Danforth. who
was a prominent resident OF Westches:er
county In his day and who died In 1859
He LEFT trust fund for life to his dauyh-
ter Alice. mother OF Harry T. Bemls. She
later became Mrs. Lancey and died at
Hove. England. two years ago. Bemis
himself died IN 1898.
The Danforth will provided that the
trust estate was to 20 20 his daughter
during her lifetime and upon her death
TO her son. She outlived her ron fourteen
years and upon her death the Guaranty
Trust Company. which was trustee OF the
FUND brought suit IN the Supreme Court
To determine whether the principal OF the
estate should go 10 the heirs OF Benis
or should be distributed under the will
OF Mrs. Lancey.
Mrs. Lance made no mention % he
son In her Will. out gave away an estate
OF more than $4,000 20 friends. Under
her will bcQuest q $3.50 went 70
Charles Steele of J. p. Morgan & Co,
while two other friends. Alice d. Seward
and Lydia \. Booth. got $3.50 each.
When the accounting proceeding came
OF before Justice PlatZek claims against
the estate OF Benis far In excess o. the
amount the estate would receive II the
court declared that Bemis had vested
Interest IN The Fund were 'iled In court.
Carl A. Hausn4ann OF Rounds. Schur-
man & Dwight In behalf OF the widow
+ and daughter " I1.rl!s in Melbourne
Australia. maze spirited hght for the
! fund against both the creditors and the
legal representatives OF Mrs Lance;
/ estate and the court finally ruled that III,
/ funu belongs TO the Bemis estate and
directed that the right OF the creditors &c
take any part OF the fund be tried on,
In separate proceeding.
, II WAS through the application by Mr.
| Hausmann for permission TO take deposl.
! t,ons in Australia concerning these claim:
that the story OF Beiris's lie came ouI.
Al examination OF :hc claims agairs
the Beiu!s estate was mad" by }. Me-
NowIen. an accountant IA Melbourne
whose affidavit stating what lie earned u
part of the papers IN the case. H- How
den said
"Bemis uron his arrival In Australi;
FRS, landed In sydney. There he met hi,
present widows mother. who was AZ
American and kept u boarding house 10
Americans. He induced his landlady'i
daughter 10 marry him without bel
/ mothers knowl"dg. on representation
that IL WAS important In connection will
his American estate that he be married =
once"
The $4,000 claim Is held by Mrs. Msr,Ai
/ RosontEGi and tie estate Of her father
Joseph AVnsk!. Concerning them Mr.
Howden SAID they did sma.i time pay
ment furniture business Beniis was H..
duced 10 guarantee tine bill OF woman o
III repute IN Melbourne.
\ not. FOR $50 was given by Ben!s &
one Briuget MadiGan, = wasnwoUan, &
pay thc cost OF his 1ernuTriagc IN til
AMERICAN Consulate.
Tie quarter interest In Bemiss csra.
is claimed by James .. Busnby. = New
York lawyer. who 20. i power os attor.e
from Benlis Ia 1894 and agreed to try L
collect his interest IN his Cgs.adfatner's es
tate on percentage basis II IS allege,
that BushOy rendered no service OF sub
stautlal value.