New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-12
HERMIT WENDEL'S
S50,OOO,00O FADE
by Estates At
torney Shows Valuation
of Only S2,979,933.
HAD TRANSFERRED
WEALTH TO SISTERS
State to Charge That Gifts Were
Made Before Death in Effort
to Escape Tax.

According TO an appraisal OF the e'-
tate OF John Gottlieb Wendell. known az
the "millionaire hermit" OF Fifth ave
nue.. Manhattan. filed yesterday with
State Transfer Tax Appraiser william
c. Clark, OF Mount Vernon. by b. t.
Rabeu. of 80 Park Row. Manhattan at
tornay for the estate. Mr.. "ende' >
nroperty IS worth only s2,s7s's9o'
This is somewhat Of surprise 10 tne
state appraisers, as it had been IRE,
ouently reported that Mr.. Wercei
owned property in New York and Wes o
chester County worth between soo'ooo''
600 and sS0000,000.
Now that the attorney for tne es
tate has fixed its value, 1t Will be UP 70
Francis A. Winslow, attorney lot tre
State Controller, and his assis.a.t'
Charles c. Fenno, Of White Plains 10
prove that the property is worm iio''
than the attorneys estimate; W.
The appraisal shows that nj az W Ven
del, who died on November oo'
previous to his death maze cohvFI
ances OF real estate valued in the mill
;nns ~ his four sisters. Mary f. a.
Wendell Rebecca A. d. Swope. Lila "
Won + Wendell and Georgianna u. H.
Wendell.
Property in New York City
The location of the property IL not
given. but it consisted OF more ina
TWENTY-FIVE parcels in New York Cl,Y'
The state appraiser will have 70 de-
tarmine whether Mr.. Wendell made the
transfer in anticipation of death ana W
oscane the state tax. which would nave
mounted in the millions.
The appraisal shows, among othei
things. that Mr.. Wendell, though ne had
hank deposits aggregating more than
s27o 900, yet at the time OF ms dean DEAN
his wearing apparel was valued at Slo;
Mr. Fenno said to-day that iegai
noint never before passed upon IN
transfer tax proceeding Will come up
NJ the Wendell hearing before APP
praiser Clark. John D. Wendell, the
father Of John G. Wendell, died in 1870
leaving his son valuable property IN
New York to hold during his LIE Tor
his own use. He also authorized Johh
G.. Wendell to transfer said real estate
10 his sisters for their estates on sucn
condition as he might think mt by deed
or will. John G.. exercised that ap-
pointment, and decided in 1910 certain
property to his sisters.
"The State Controller SAID MT
Fenno. twill try to show that these
were taxable transfers in the estate OF
John G.. Wendell and he, having exer-
cised by deed the right imposed upon
him, made the transfers taxable by the
state"
Will Resist Paying Tax.
l. is said any attempt of the state to
tax property that Mr.. Wendell decided to
his sisters before mis- death will be
strongly contested before Mr.. Clar<.
The schedule filed with the appraiser
shows that Mr.. Wendell ownel forty
seven parcels in New York and an un-
divided one-half interest in the prop,
erty at 1S1 Broadway. He also owned
property at Tarrytown valued at S4O,-
500, land at Dobbs Ferry valued at 81.
400, and real estate at Quogue, Suf-
folk County, worth Sl6,550. The total
value of the realty is fixed at S2,5l5,-
$50. and the personally at S463,983.
Mr.. Wendell did not own an auto
mobile, and his five horses sold for $500
and one carriage brought only $50.