New-York tribune., 1919-11-12
Sllonts Home
Looted, Widow
Says i'm Court
Property Worth $4,000 Is
Gone From Apartment He
Occupied at Time Of His
Death, Surrogate Is Told

The charge was made in the Surro-
gates Court yesterday that the apart
ment maintained by Theodore P
Shonts: president OF the Interborough
after he and his wife separated had
been looted since his death. George
W. Files, attorney for Mrs. Milla D.
Shonts, made the assertion in the
course of the preliminary hearing be-
fore Surrogate Fowler Of an applica-
ton made by Delaney Nicoll, one of
the executors of hIr. Shonts. for the
removal OF the widow rs temporary ad-
ministratriX. Mr.. Files added that
Mrs. Shortss purpose in having her
self appointed BIZ the court was to take
steps for the recovery OF the property
which it is said has been taken from
the apartment of M Snonts. and on
which value OF $50 900 has been
placed by his widow
An adJournment OF a week vas taken
on this phase of the litigation that has
been started through the provision
made by Mr.. Shonts in his will for
my FRIEND" Mrs. Amanda C. Thomas.
to whom he left his residuarv estate.
The removal of Mrs. Shonts is asked
on the ground of alleged misrcprcsen-
tation, in that she knew when she ap-
pied Tor the letters that her husband
had left will and knew its contents.
Widow Denies Deception
1t is alleged also that size violated
an agreement in taking the action she
did to await the arrival of her daugh-
ter Theodore, Duchess dc Chaulnes
from Paris. When the matter again
comes up next Tuesday. it is likely
mt IA
tolney said in court that the only de-
ception and fraud was in the mind Of
the opposing counsel.
The much discussed separation agree
ment signed by Mr. and Mrs. Shonts
IN June. 1917, was made public vester-
day This document reveals that it's
signing was due to divers disputes"
between husband and wife. Mrs. Shonts
agreed for the considerations stipu-
lated to relinquish her dover interest
IN the estate of her husband and to
sign any deeds or other papers to pe~-
iect release of oil claims anainSt the
estate of Ny. Shonts. Mrs Shonts
agreed to allow her husband to live
his life "as if unmarried" and he
granted her the same freedom Of ac
tlon. The wife also bound herself NOT
to "harass, nolest or annoy Mr..
Snonts or his friends CT associ-
a'eS or prlng any KIND Of action
against him.
One consideration accepted by Mrs.
Shonts for atfixirg her signature to
this separation agreement was that her
husband pay her debts up to $4,000.
Mrs. Shonts agreed not to contract any
more debts in her husbands name.
Ailege Agreement Was Violated
In this connection. it is claimed bv
the attorneys for Mrs. Shonts. that
Mr.. Shonts violated the agreement bv
paying only $4,000 of her debts. NJ.
Shonts also bound himself 10 pav his
wife an annual allowance Of $4,000
during their joint lives. This pro-
Vision expired with the death OF Mr..
Shonts, who not only kept I'D these
payments, but paid his wife $4,000 a
year.
Alsc the agreement shows Mr.
Shonts created joint trust fund Of
100000 for his daughters, the Duchess
Of Chaulnes and Mrs. Rutherford Bing-
ham, to which he refers in his will
and Is independent of the 500 900
trust fund established by the will.
The principal of these trusts is to 90
70 the children Of Mr.. Shonts's daugh
terS,