The New York herald., 1921-12-29
STEWART EXECUTOR
ACCUSES ASSOCIATE
Lindsren Says La Chance
Schemed to Control
Companies.

SPECIAL Dispatch TO THE NEW 1osK HERALD.
RrvERHEAD, l.. l., Dec. 2S-Philip G.
Lind0ren, private secretary to John Is.
Stewart. inventor and speedo,neter man
ufacturer, from 1913 until the latters
death in 1916. and then executor OF Mr..
Stewards will, testified to-day at a hear
ing before Surrogate Robert S. Pelle-
treau of Suffolk county that Leander II
La Chance had schemed to gain control
of the stock OF the Stewart Manufactur-
ing Company and the Stewart-Warner
Speedometer Corporation, and had
threatened to have him ousted as ad-
ministrator of Mr. Stewart-s will unless
he followed La Chances instructions.
The testimony was In contradiction OF
La Chances previous statements deny
ing he had attempted to gain control OF
these concerns through influence Of his
position as administrator with Martin
Taylor. an attorney of Manhattan, OF
the estate of Mrs. John X. Stewart.
Lindgren also charged that LaChance
had ordered him to sell $50 shares of
stock owned by the John r.. Stewart es-
tate to a syndicate at 1888 a share when
the market value was $1,000 a share.
Llndgren testified that LaCharce, O law
firm which was acting as counsel to one
OF the Stewart companies. and others
were interested in this syndicate. and
that some time prior TO this sale OF
stock LaChance had bought 100 shares
from J. c. e. Smith and had paid sL.200
a share.
The hearings before the Surrogate are
Ia the matter OF the petition of La
Chance and Taylor to be appointed ad-
minis traitors of the estate OF Jean Stew
art, daughter Of John X. Stewart, w'he
died in Chicago October 10 last at the
age of 10. The petition IL being opposed
by the only surviving child, Mrs. Robert
b. Honeyrnan, Jr., of Chicago, who asks
to have letters Of guardianship issued ir
1911 to La Chance and Taylor TO take
charge OF her own estate. revoked. OF
the ground that she IL now 20 years ole
and. under the laws OF Illinois. OF ags
TO possess property.
Mr.. Stewart died in Centerport, L. L.
June l, 1916. LaChance In now presl
dent OF the Stewart Manufacturing Cor
poration and chairman of the board o
the Stew'art-Wa-ner Speedometer Cor
poration. Lindgren sad that following
Mr. Stewards denth he assumed the ad
ministration Of the estate and received
$4,000 q year. A year later Mrs. Ella
X Stewart. widow of the inventor. die
at Aiken, S. c.. and LaChonce. with tbs
administration OF her estate In his hands
according TO Lindgren, began to displa,
O. lively interest in gaining control of th'
Stewart corporations. The estate of Mr.
Stewart was valued at S5.000.000.
One Of the first Indications OF Ii
Chances attitude, Lindgrer testified
was q threat that his (Lindgren's) sal
airy would be cut unless he followt.
instructions given him by la Chanct
without question. Before Mrs. Stewart
death. the witness said. La Chance made
repeated attempts 20 have her use he
influence to elevate him to the head o
the Stewart corporations. but on thest
occasions. Lindgren said, he advisct
Mrs. Stewart not to let the stock out o
her control. saying she had no right &
sell il to La Chance.
During their subsequent relations
Lindgren said he performed some ser
vices for La Chance. one being to assis
him in 1917 to obtain a loan of $1I0.00'
from the Merchants Loan and Trus
Company Of Chicago. which he testife,
was for the purpose OF aiding in th'
acquisition of the stock in the Stewsr
concerns.
As La Chances grip on the stock o
both corporations Increased Lindgrei
said that he found himself more ant
more in disfavor. His salary was Gu
repeatedly anu HudiaE WIS loNU "
$4,000 a year. He still held his posi-
tion az administrator with the will an
nsxed, but when. as he charged. Ii
Chance forced his salary down to s2.40t
year he resigned his Office.
The syndicate mentioned in Lind
gren's testimony, IL appeared later dur
/, ing the examination. included LaChance
| John y. Black and men named Otis anC
Smith. tho former a vlce-president o.
the Central Trust Company OF Illinois.
Lindgren testified that he held tn
home OF AIr. Stewart In Chicago at
valuation OF S316.Oo0. but IL was sol,
| for $4,000 to club. the president o
which was member of Mr. Black,
law firm.
John J. Curtin. an attorney. OF %:
Broadway appeared to observe the cas,
in the interests OF Catherine. John an,
David o'Brien Of Nashua. n. H.. who al
lese that John *. Stewart was thei
! brother. Terence O'Brien, and that h
changed his name while n young man
This claim is supported by La Chance
and Taylor and their counsel. John u
Black OF Chicago. Mr.. Black wac at
torney for Mr.. Stewart up TO the tim,