Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-29
FRAUD CLAN Ed IN
REAL ESTATE TRANSFER
Mrs. Eliza ZOttman, Surprised
to Learn That She Has No In
terest in Wizards Ledge,
Seeks to Recover Property
Decided in 1913

Eliza A. zottman of Burlington. widow
of James Zottman and n daughter of the
late Guy N. willard, has entered in
Chittenden county court through her
attorney, Martin S. Villas, a suit in chan
Gerry against ]. Frank Kdder, admins
trator of the estate of Frank j. Rafter.
According to the petition, the late Guy
n. Willard left as a part of his estate a
valuable lodge in the southern part of
the city, known as Wizards ledge,
which, with the buildings, stone crusher
and other things connected with it. is
valued at approximately $4,000. The
suit is in regard to this ledge, possession
of which, it is claimed, was fraudulently
secured by Frank Rafter. who died April
10, 1918.
According to the petition. the late Guy
y. Willard had three sons, but all died
before their fathers estate was settled
leaving the petitioner the only heir, with
the exception of Minnie Willard, the
widow of Horace willard In March
1912, Claude d. Grafton was appointed
administrator of the estate of Guy Will
lard, and n final settlement of the estate
was made some time later.
1t is claimed that the petitioner, being
in poor health and not understanding
matters of business, was party to the
conveyance by the administrator or
December 1, 1913 of parcel of land OF
about 30 acres on Shelburne road tc
4 Frank Rafter, for the sum of Sl7,150
Later. Rafter gave a mortgage to Johr
W. Coffey in the amount of $4,000. Al
the death of Rafter in April, 1919
j. Frank Kdder was appointed admin
istrator of his estate.
Now tbp claim ic forth that Mrs
Zottman. a woman SO years of age. die
not realize what she was doing wher
she decided the land to Rafter, that h,
| told her that he and she were to owl
the property jointly, and that she sup
! posed until about a month ago that shs
was the owner with him of the property
1t was only lately that she discovered tn,
deed of December. 1913, whereby she con
/ veyed her interest in the property t
| Rafter and mortgage deed in thu
| amount of $4,000. She claims that. sine,
! then. until his death, she was often re
| minded by Rafter that she was a join
/ owner of the property and she paid he
( part of the expense of maintenance. Al
that she ever received from the prop
erty in any way, she says. was $3.50 AM
/ a weekly income of $780, which was in
creased to &c sons weeks after Rafter
| death. She believes that her share o
the property should amount to betweel
$4,000 and $1,000. She also believes tina
| Mrs. Minnie Willard received the sun
of $4,000 from Claude d. Grafton, as he
share OF the Willard estate.
! For these reasons, Mrs. Iottman feel
that she has been defrauded in bein
left without income from this property
so the petition states. She asks that TIL
court compute what she may owe tn
estate of Frank Rafter, and make a
order allowing her to pay that amour
to his estate, and she asks that she b
given the title to the Willard estate, in
GLIDING all property originally belongin
to that estate. both real and personal.