Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-10
COURT SAYS SHE IS
ENTITLED TO MONEY
Rules Favorably to Daughter Of Elk.
Governor Drake in Contest tor
Control of Millions Which Shonts
Sought to Will to Woman Friend
Couple Parted by Social Ambitions.

ton Company. Tho decision was
unanimous.
All the points presented on behalf
Of the widow by her attorneys are
reaf1rmed in an exhaustive opinion
filed by Justice Edgar s. X. Merrill
The court sets aside the order re-
moving Mrs. Shonts as administrator
made by Surrogate Fowler. Tho
court says the widow is the natural
administrator and that she presented
her case frankly to the surrogate.
She said there was a pretended Will
IN existence which she intended TO
contest II it was offered for probate.
This is the document by which Mr..
Shonts purported to leave his mil
lions TO my friend. Amanda c.
Thomas"
The opinion says that Surrogate
Fowler was fully advised by Mrs.
Shonts petition that there was a
pretended will which showed that
Mr. Shonts had attempted to leave
most Of his estate to Mrs. Thomas.
He had associated with this woman
and had been subjected to her influ-
ence.
Shonts Mentally Unfit.
Mrs. shonts' petition also sets
forth, Justice Merrill says. that
Shonts was mentally incompetent to
make a will. Tho court says the
widow very properly asked for tenn
porary administration. The law
gives her the freedom Of her hus-
bands household effects and personal
estate. Upon Mr.. Shonts' death such
property became the widows, and 1t
should be set apart for her.
The Guaranty Trust Company,
which has been acting as admins
traitor, will turn over everything in
, it's possession to Mrs. Shonts.
Began Life on Farm.
Theodore P. Shonts started the ca
reer that brought him international
prominence on an Iowa farm.
Born IN Crawford county, Pennsyl-
, ernentary education in Monmouth
I vania, May s, 1855, he received hts ell
College. His parents moved to Cen
terville. Iowa. when he was young
, After his graduation the young man
went back to Centerville. He became
an accountant, and in q short ttne
had gained local fame as an expert
He was employed by many national
banks in Iowa to simplify their book
keeping methods. later he took ur
} the study of law, and was admitted
10 the bar.
He BEGAN his practice in Center
villa. There he met Harriet Amelia
Drake, daughter Of Gen. Francis M
r Drake, 4 banker and railroad owner
and later governor Of Iowa.
y His marriage gave Mr.. Shonts hi
, first opportunity to avail himself Of I
, knowledge Of railroading. Under tn
! tutelegs Of his father in-law he man
sEsd some Of the Drake undertaking
:. and soon became known al q buildS
, Of roads.
= Mr.. shonts, then a young man. bull
and Nebraska, built and was control
. ing owner Of the Indiana, Illinois
- Iowa, and controlled the Toledo. 81
. Louis a Western. Of which he bsoan
! president.
:. Mr. shonts was selected BY Presi
dent Roosevelt az chairman Of tn
:. Ishmian canal commission. one Of tn
hardest jobs man ever tackled, an
= while he was formulating the pre-
lininAry work Of connecting the At
. lartic and Pacific oceans, Mrs. Shont
> and her two daughters attracted at
tention in the social circles Of Chi
cago. Later they moved to New Yor
= and became active in the fashionabl
- set.
Armed with the Shonts millions an
two manageable daughters, Thee
y dora and Marguerite, she set sail fo
Europe for the purpose Of layin
siege to the old families whose tradi
tons she strove to live up to. Sh
s. was presented to King Edward at tn
n court of st. James and accepted tn
q Queens invitation TO spend an aftel
noon at Buckingham Palace.
. In 1907 Mr.. Hhents resigned fro
the canal commission to accspt II
- presidency Of the Inter6croush oon
IL P.GJ az q sa.! .1..yr ssiiI 10 70 $1,000
~ year.
Marries Into Royalty.
While Mr.. Shonts wos still strivir
with the canal problem rumors fro,
Europe told Of an extension of h
:. wife's ambition. Emmanuel Thee
y, aors Bernard Marie d'AFbrst
:, Luynes HAlly Dur do CAaulnss
:. Pisquisny and Marquis q DanSsa
scion Of one Of the oldest families
~ France WAS to be bis son In -,
y Mr.. shonts frswasd. It was n.
Until 1S>s that hs haA been wsa ovs
- and Miss ThsoAora shonts was maj
.. ried to the Due de Chaulnes.
OF :ras d short-hved marriage. II
"a young duo died before tho birth I
70 his only son.
LIS shonts 10 Disturbed.
Mr.. shonts was disturbed at II
dispatches from France telling
the wide swath his wife was cuttir
q in European society. She took =
- her aboae with the duchess in
50 gorgeous Partisan apartment ar
l. Mr. shonts paid the bills. She r,
st fused to listen to his pleas that 81
a. return to the United States.
ID When, in 1911, II was rumored tn
ID. she was contemplating filing a b
70 for separate maintenance, Mr.. ghen
- wrote Z short letter. u said, "Yt
- have had your way long enough. 4
g I en supporting yeu and the A1dAs
u Am going = have s1nsShing . 4
about what yeu - AaA where n
I've" Mrs. Shont6 16mS AomA
e Mr.. 6honts admitted before { 81
- sts iry:st ,s.tlnf ssaieiss = =
~ q ~ Aa !!