New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-19
Son-in-Law of Former In.
terborough Chief Says
Effort Was Made to In
duce Secret Settlement
Widow Denies Deception
Mrs. Thomas Breaks ST.
lence; Says Furniture in
Flat Belongs to Her

Surrogate Fowler reserved decision
a motion to remove Mrs. Milla D.
Shonts as temporary executrix of the
estate of her husband, Theodore P,
Shonts. former president OF the Inter
borough. The removal was asked by
Delaney Nicoll, one of the executors,
on the ground that in obtaining hex
letters Mrs. Shonts had deceived the
court.
In reserving decision and asking for
hriefs Surrogate Fowler intimated it
would not be necessary for him to
remove Mrs. Shonts on these grounds.
However, the court will consider in
reaching his conclusion whether the
executors under the last will of Mr..
Shonts should take precedence in tn .
management of the estate. The execu-
TORS beside Mr.. Nicoll are E. ]. Ber-
wind. chairman of the board of the
marlborough, and the Guaranty Trust
Company.
Cornelius j. Sullivan attorney for
he executors, told Surrogate Fowler
Mr.. Nico' and Mr.. Berwind did not
care whether or not they remained as
cxecu,ors ana much rather would have
ne trust company designated to act
alone in handling the estate. John w.
iriggs. former United States Attorney
ieneral. attornel for Mrs. Shonts.
argued against this plan or any that
vould remove the widow OF the dead
abroad man as Administrative. Mrs.
FONTS denied the charges OF Mr..
coll. Her fight is against the last
ii of her husband. in which he left
residue Of his 100000 estate to
sv friend Mrs. Amanda c. Thomas
Charges of Looting Denied
One of the DEVELOPMENTS of the case
IS a letter from Mrs. Thomas TO her
torney, former Justice Clarence J.
earn, denying the apartment of MIR.
nonts at $50 Park Avenue. in which
residence on his Pennsy lvania farm
"a been looted. as charged by attor
rs for Mrs. Shonts.
This letter is the first word from
Is Thomas since the bitter litigation
rer the onts estate was begun.
"A large part OF the furnishings OF
oth places" she wrote, was owned
= me long before | ever met Mr..
Snonts, and was taken out of storage
I'D lent to him. The rest, with the
eXception of certain articles bought
ma uHlQ IDE UE NE ana lOI WHICH L
hold receipts, Mr. Shonts had often told
ne, and had declared to his friends. it
vas his wish that | should have in the
vent OF hNs death"
Mrs. Thomas also said in her tct-
-er. In June of this year Mr. Shonts
aad a complete inventory Of these
furnishings made and executed and de-
vered to me formal transfer of title.
% insure, as he said, they should not
al into the hands of those who hsd
ruined his life. Upon his death had
ne farm furnishings transferred to
g storage warehouse in this city. and
SO stored there a large part of the
partment furnishings.
go rvch fcr the tale Of footing
which Mrs. Shonts's lawyers have
-pread in the newspapers. However
CIV there is to be contest. and this
narge has been made. do not wish to
iicles pending determination of title
nd am transferring ali Of the remain
~ articles TO the storage warehouse
sether bought b me or otherwise
nose thinos arc mine and | shall
.aiHta.n my title. Pending such de
house receipts, which l hand to you
herewith, to be delivered to the eXecu-