Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-19
,cONAM uNisTlo~GtacIE
Widows Suit for Dover Interest Re
veals That rour Wealthy Iowans
Held Business in Common.

hcl0 OustUCo5 ~ common.
Des Moines. Ia A eommunlstic
family circle, believed to be the mos.
unique and the first Of its kind, 50
far as court circles have known, has
been revealed here by the filing OF
sit by the widow OF one Of the four
Fleming brothers. commonly reported
to be millionaires.
Mrs. Anna b. Fleming. widow OF
Charles Fleming, one Of the owners
of the Fleming building and other
valuable properties, has filed suit in
ire District Court. asking for her
dover interest in the large Fleming
holdings. thereby throwing blight
upon the extraordinary family ar
Tangement.
Mrs. Fleming alleged that. on the
death of her husband, the three re-
naming brothers collected his life
insurance. which was made payable
to them instead Of to the wife. and
that they have refused to divide with
her any share OF her husbands prop
erty.
In an answer Just filed to this
petition is revealed the innermos'
workings of the Fleming family sys
tenn. For two generations the Elem
ings have conducted their business
Jointly. The present generation has
maintained its business in the name
Of the Fleming brothers-John.
Charles. (now dead, Stanhope and
Robert ]. Fleming. Not once has any
Of the brothers engaged in any sepa-
rate or individual enterprise, except
IN the case of marriage,
The central idea, according to the
answer filed by the three brothers,
has been that "the Flemings" con.
stituted a family circle and that the
producing members Of the family
were working for the best interests
Of all, include wives, mother. sisters
anC children, If any, of the pro
ducors. Every business deal has
been conducted in the name Of the
Fleming brothers, with the under
standing that it belonged to all OF
hem and that on the death of one
member of the family his share Of
the property should revert to the
surviving brothers.
The provisions Of this unique ar
rangement are contained in the last
contract drawn up by the brothers in
! 1911, which contains the following
agreements:
|. No one of the Fleming brothers
owns any separate or Invisible in
terests in the business.
2. No one of them can acquire any
separate interest except with the con,
seLt of all others.
8. In the event Of the withdrawal
of one of the members, he can only
/ take with him as his individual share
j that which the others set off for
him.
/ 4. In the event Of the death Of one
of the members, his entire interest
and ownership shall so to the sur
vv.ng members.
That this arrangement has resulted
IN great success and uniform happi
ness for the members of the family il
asserted in the answer filed by the
brothers. They assert that the foul
brothers, and not Charles Fleming
have supplied the funds which main
taired the home Of Mrs. Fleming
+ while her husband was alive and that
she still is regarded as a member o.
The Fleming family and will continue
TO be maintained on the same plane
as any other member of the family
Family pin money and expense have
been supplied from the common iunC
for all of the separate families. i
the widow so elects, the petition as
sCr,s, she may continue to remain I
rcmber Of the family and will con
tinue to enjoy the same measure Of
THIS worlds goods any other mem
her of the family enjoys.