The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-16
LAWYER ASKS THIRD
OF KEITH MILLIONS
John F. Cronan Says Paul
Keith and Albee Pledged
S5;000,000 Fee.
FEARED DIsINHERITANCE
Charges Vaudeville Pioneer
Let Women Rule Him and
Made Them Large Gifts.

BOSTON, April 15.--AlleSations that
A. Paul Keith and Edward r. Albee
agreed in December. 1910. to give John
F. Cronan, a lawyer, one-third OF the
$4,000, 900 estate Of b. +. Keith, the
vaudeville theatrical proprietor. II he
should success In preventing Mr. Keith
from disinheriting his son Paul are
made In q bill in equity filed by Mr..
Cronan in the Superior Court to-day.
Mr.. Albee personally, and Mr.. Albee,
Walter p. Cook and John p. German. as
executors Of the will OF A. Paul Keith.
are made defendants in the suit. which
seeks to have the court order enforce
ment Of the alles tea agreement.
Mr.. Cronan was counsel for B. F.
Keith from 1898 to 1908. He alleges
after that date" B. r. Keith was Civ
ing to various women property OF con-
siderable value" and permitting them
to Interfere with and to some extent
manage some portions or his business
He says that Paul demonstrated with his
father and as a result was discharged
from his fathers employment
In 1910, after the death OF b. F.
Keith's wife. the plaintiff says, he dis
cussed with Paul Keith and with MT.
Albee the possibility Of second mar
rage and "the danger Of Paurs being
largely IL not wholly disinherited." He
says Paul told him that his fathers In
come was $4,000 a week
~ II. Keith" the bill OF complaint
continues, was then 81. an invalid srf-
fering from complaints which resulted
In his death some three years later.
At times during this period he was
physically incapable of attending to busl-
ness, and while his mind was sound fis
mental vigor and his judgment were
somewhat impaired.
"Iu December, 1910, It was orally
agreed by and between the rlaintln and
Paul and Albee that II the plain II
would take Paurs interests In charge
and cooperate with them by proper
methods in attempting to obtain Tor
Paul his fathers business and affiliated
interests, including his control or the
United Booking offices. and in attempt
ing to prevent Paurs disinheritance
Paul would pay him literally for his
sery ices, and II they succeeded In OBJ
tanning for Paul his fathers business
such business should belong to the plain
tiff. Paul and Albee In equal shares. and
1 tnRt lnelt sHOuu 10 tohNty cu
interest therein 20 plaintiff.
"By reason Of the plaintiffs services
Paul was not disinherited, but obtained
substa ftially all Of his fathers property.
aggregating more than s15.o0o.o00 In
value"
The plaintiff then charges that acting
under the influence OF Albee. unduly and
selfshly exercised" Paul. after the ex-
ecution Of his fathers will, made n
codicil to his own will giving Albee most
( not all OF Pauls property.
He declares that Paul and Albee re-
fused to carry out the alleged oral agree
ment to give him one-third Of the estate
OF the property left by r. +. Keith and
refused TO accept his OFFER to take cash
consideration In lieu OF the one-third in
terest.
The'bnl says that shortly before Paul
Keith's death the plaintiff prepared a
bin in equity upon which Paul author
ized his attorneys to accept service. but
the day before the service was to be ac-
cepted. Paul died.
Mr.. Cronan asks for the specific per-
Torrance OF the alleged agreement and
seeks an accounting.