New-York tribune., 1919-11-17
Adams Fights Suit
OF MOther-in-Law
To Regain 100000
Son of Chewing Gum Manu-
facturer Denies Charge
Wife's Will Was Stolen;
Says She Died Intestate

Dunbar 3. Adams, son Of John Dun
bar Adams, New York chewing gum
manufacturer, yesterday from his
home at Bay Shore, L. l., character
lied as 'ludicrous" and "idiotic" the
cross-bill in probate proceedings to
recover 100000 left by his wife made
by Mrs. Constance Shack Oracle, of
Washington, .. C., his wifc's mother.
Mrs. Oracle alleged in her complaint
that her daughter, who died on Deccm-
Der 81, 1918, wrote will during her
last illness, and that the will has DIS
appeared She also alleged hat the
parents of Mr.. Adams broke ;nto her
daughters apartment at the Hotel
Savoy and removed all her daughters
personal effects. including the will.
Mr.. Adams said yesterday he had
not received notice to answer the pc
tltion of Mrs. Oracle. The first he
knew of the suit, he said, was when
he was called on the telephone by a
Tribune reporter. According to dis
tce Bailey, presiding in the Probate
Division Of the District Supreme Court,
has cited Mr.. Adams to show cause
early next month why the pc+ltion of
Mrs. Oracle should not be granted
II know of no reason why Mrs. Graclc
has filed suit or why she charges me
or my family with breaking into my
wifes apartment" he said. 81 heard
of her views last summer, but paid no
attention to them. ! have not heard
from her directly for six months.
Said Wife Died lntestate
"My wife died intestatc. There
never was q will. That was proved
time and again Nothing could be
further from the truth that we stole
her will or broke into hog apartment.
We are unable to understand the whole
affair"
According to Mr.. Adams his mother
iA-law attended his wedding to liiss
Oracle on December Is, 1917, when
Adams, & drafted man at Camp Upton
went to Washington and was married
at the brides home. Mrs. Oracle, ne
said, had been on good terms with his
mother, whom Mrs. Oracle in hex
cross-bil said was Il "domineering
grasping and imperious woman
In February, 1913, Adams was sent
TO France, remaining until July of that
year. His wife lived for a while at
his fathers home at Bay Shore, and
then took up a residence at the Hotel
Savoy. Later she became i'll and died
/ at the " Woman's Hospital.
Mrs. Oracle is the daughter OF Coun;
Setback, of the Danish diplomatic scrv-
ice. Her husband, the late Colonel
Archibald Oracle, was a member of q
prominent Southern family and the au-
thor of "The Truth of Chickamaugua.
Besides asserting that the daughter
made will, without which under the
laws of New York and the District o.
Columbia her entire fortune would re
vert to her husband. Mrs. Oracle re
cites that Colonel Oracle died in 1905
leaving to her property which. a.
guardian, she turned over to her dangn
ter when the latter reached ner ma
iority in 1915. The bulk of It wa
deposited in safe deposit box il
Washington and is still there un ie,
her daughters name. 1t consists o
income bearing stock and u small pei
sonai bank account.
The parents OF Mr.. Adams are sait
70 be wealthy, his father being identi
ned with the American Chicle Com
pany and his mother possessing q sep
arate fortune. According to Mrs
Gracie's complaint, Mr.. Adam3, ate
his marriage, remained as before, e,
mere pensioner upon Che bounty of hi
parents and subject to their will ant
control. BY them he was directed ant
governed in all things, especially b,
his mother. domineering, graspinI
aad lmperious woman"