Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-22
Scores of Heirs
W age Figth for
Smith Millions
Lexington Court House Will Be
Scene of Unique Battle for
Fortune Left by Wealthy
Georgia Planter

In the courthouse of the little town of
Lexington, Ca, a week from next Mon
day there will begin one of the strang-
est legal battles in the history of Geor-
gia, when scores of Smiths and dozens
OF their lawyers assemble to tight for
the millions of Colonel Jim" Smith. the
wealthy old planter who measured his
holdings by the mile, who one time ran
for governor of Georgia, who lived in
almost feudal magnificence and died last
December at the town he made, Smith
sonia. leaving neither will nor wish to
direct the disposal OF his vast fortune.
Five separate and distinct sets of
heirs already have laid claim to the es-
tate. two more have announced their
intention of doing so and rumors are
abroad Of more sets of claimants who
base their titles on the ground that
they are descended from Smiths father,
from his mother from his half-brothers.
his half-sisters, his whole sisters or his
whole brothers.
/ In each set of claimants there are
from one to twenty individuals, so that
no one will be surprised If nearly a
hundred in all contest the inheritance.
Many of them are plain Smiths, some
are hyphenated Smiths, the majority are
not Smiths at all, but off-shoots Of the
Smith family tree.
Each of these has lawyers. one law
yers, two lawyers. sometimes six or
eight lawyers. In addition to these at
torneys. the state OF Georgia will be
represented by Judge John c. Hart, tax
commissioner. who will intervene in an
effort to collect the inheritance tax on
the Smith estate. And the county OF
Oglethorpe will also have its lawyer or
lawyers there in an effort to collect
back taxes on the broad Smith acres
which formed a large part of the county.
The state hopes to get at least $780,
600 taxes. Oglethorpe county Is count
ing on a considerable sum. AS for the
contesting heirs, most Of them are fight
ing for only certain shares OF the for
tune, but there are two that claim 1t In
all its bulk.
The litigation over the Smith fortune
began when attorneys representing
pieces and nephews of Smiths half
brothers applied for administrators for
the estate. The ordinary Of Oglethorpe
county heard this application week ago
and at this time, other attorneys, repre-
senttng other heirs, filed caveats and
called for a postponement.
The postponement was granted, the
hearing set for February 20 at Lexing-
ton. Now lawyers for all sides are bus-
ily at work getting ammunition ready,
and when the word to fre is given AT
lexington courthouse, an explosion Is
e~Dectad that will cause Europe to sit
nm and take notice, as some of the lead
Inc legal talent in the south have clients
in the case
An Atlanta attorney who was at the
herring last week, outlines the sets OF
contesting heirs as follows;
Nephews and nieces of smith
half brothers, by Zodock Smith, MS los
ter father, who applied for adminlstIa-
tors represented by Judge Hamp NC
whorter, of Athens, and seVeral olier
attorneys. s.... 80
ssIita smith. mother of Jim Smith. VINO
Claim that Jim Smith was her inegiti-
--,.ta SON. that Jim Smith was ADOPTED
,r---.ha sister-in-law of Zodock smith
nd was no actual relation or Loooch'
-s-rTssa tTeir-s are. represented by Judge e.
K Iumpkin, of Athens, and other attor-
neys. -,., e.
s-Mississippi woman who claims 70
he the sister of Jim Smith ana wants
the entire fortune. she rs repIes , o',S
by Ex-Governor Noel, of MISSISSIPPI aho
by John I. I've, ST., of the law firm OF
Tye, Peoples & Jordan. -,
THE heirs of William smith, VINO
died At Concord. leaving eight chilureh'
ali of whom are dead but one, wac
claims to be the sister OF jim smith
Among these heirs are Captain Georse
BuIlard and Captain w. p. Reid OF the
Atlanta police force. j. 3. James the
Atlanta attorney, represents these heirs.
5.-Attorneys from western state
who claim Jim Smith was born in Mary
land and before his death wrote his SIS
ter out west that he would leave all ne
had to her daughter.
s-North Carolina Smith who claim
kin with Jim Smith.
T-Greene and Fulton county heirs'
uvbo claim they are related to the Boat
v.-rights and that the mother Of Jim
Smith was a Boatwright
s.-Several other descendants, includ-
ing Miss Foot,e Of Atlanta, and Smiths
from other parts of the state.