Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1921-03-03
IRoNTON MO. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 192l.


action to secure for the ten alleged
cousins of Simon Durand the remain
der of the estate, valued at perhaps
more than $15, 100000.
The plaintiffs at the hearing before
Judge Pirtle yesterday produced al
most countless birth certificates, par
ish records and court records from
France, supported by affidavits OF
French officials and American Consuls
purporting to establish the genine-
ness of the Durand family tree which
was also offered.
1t developed that Durand had told
Mr.. Damron and Mr.. King the maiden
name of his mother and that this in
formation corresponded with the
French records. Durand had also
told these men of the date of his birth
and that corresponded to day with
the certificate of birth received from
the parish records of the place where
he was born. 1t developed that Du-
rand's alleged grandfather and father
were named Simon, which was urged
as a significant fact. Durand, at the
time of his death had in his posses
sion photograph of young French
priest whom he told Mr.. Damron was
named Brunt and that this Brunt was
a nephew. The family tree and the
French records show that Durand did
have nephew by that name but that
he died in 1900.
Mr.. Damron, as attorney for the
administrators, Messrs. John Chap
man and Sam King, urged that the
plaintiffs be required by the court TO
go further into their proof of heir
ship before the administrators turned
over any funds. Mr.. Damron was
not disposed to dispute the kinship OF
these persons named in Mr.. Cahoon's
petition, but he urged that there may
be other heirs, as yet unknown, and
who might later come in for share
of the estate. He pointed out that
the family tree showed stop of one
particular branch with the death OF
the priest Brunt. Being unmarried
he would have no children, but Mr.
Damron suggested the strong pos
sibllity of his having brothers or sis
| ters.
Still another interesting develop
ment in connection with the disposi-
tion of the estate was limited at by
Mr.. Damron. Shortly after the death
OF Simon Durand, a lady named White
came here from Iron county and
claimed the estate on the ground that
she was a relative of Durand on her
mothers side. She claimed that her
mother came to this country from
France by way of Novia Scotia and
that she was closely related to Du
rand. Mrs. Whites information was
somewhat limited though she gave
Mr.. Damron number of names oi
French persons and places which
were intimately connected with the
family. At the time her claims wer'
not taken seriously, but since tht
documents have been secured from
France by Mr.. Cahoon and Davis &
Davis, her story is found to cor
respond with the facts therein Sc
out. Mr.. Damron limited that he ex
pected her to produce strong. proc
of her claim to a large share O
the property.
J, It is understood that Mrs. Whit
some time ago employed 0. L. Nun
ger of Piedmont to press her clair
and that Chas. M. Hays law firm ha
become interested in the case. 4
few weeks ago representative o
Hays firm spent some time herr
looking into the facts and interview
ing interested persons.
Judge Pirtle took the whole mat te
under advisement, and it is altogethe
likely that several more court ses
sions will be held before the matte
is definitely disposed Of.
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