The New York herald., 1921-08-04
FIGHT over DIVISION
OF STEVENS ESTATE
Sister of Recluse Who Left
81, 100000 Questions His
Daughters Share.
CITES WILL OF 1877
Contest Recalls Elopement
Of Dick Pagan, Student,
With Heiress.
100000 is AT ISSUE
Property in UndevelOped Real
Estate and Present Value
Is to Be Determined.
100000 is AT ISSUE

Mrs. Mary Grace Richardson, sister
of the late millionaire recluse, Calvin
Amory Stevens. and of the late Cath
crime Augusta Stevens, began an ac-
ton yesterday in the Supreme Court
to determine how much of a $1,000, 900
trust fund left by their father, Calvin
Stevens, is TO be turned over to Mrs.
Kate Stevens Fagan, nineteen -year-old
daughter of the recluse. who eloped
withN'Dick" Pagan, young Dartmouth
student soon after her fathers death
in his queer home in 39 Broad street on
March 20 last.
Her petition recites that the elder Mr.
Stevens. who died in 1877. left his per-
sonal property and about twenty par
cells of real estate in lower Manhattan.
the total value of which approximates
S1,200,000. as a trust fund.- The income
of this was to be divided equally among
the three children-herself. her sister
who died unmarried in 1918. and c.
Amory Stevens-and on their deaths
their one-third share in the principal
OF them died without issue, his or her
share was to be divided evenly between
the remaining two and pass on to their
children.
Under this arrangement the share OF
the sister Catherine was divided between
c. Amory Stevens and Mrs. Richardson.
c. Amory Steyenss share. now one-half
the principal. would therefore go to his
daughter. Kate.
Mrs. Fn2an's Share 100000.
But it Is the contention of Mrs.
Richardson that the xepress provision in
old Calvin Stevens's will directing that
the principal eventually go to his grand
children is an invalid limitation" She
asks the court to render constructor
Of the will to the effect that the
childrens share of the trust fund be
held to be "intestate estate. passing to
heirs at law and next OF kim
In the event that such a construction
Is upheld by the court. Mrs. Richardson.
as the sole surviving heir of her father,
would have the entire income from the
s1,200.000 trust fund. the principal to
be bequeathed on her own death to her
own heirs and next OF kin. and Kate
Stevens Fagan would get nothing. II
of the will. the young Mrs. Fagan Is
entitled to 100000 principal
Mrs. Richardson states in her petition
that 'as she Is informed and verify be-
feves," her brother died intestate. At
the time OF his death in the top floor
room OF four story building In the
"wealthiest block in America" Calvin
Amory Stevens was said to have left
an estate estimated all the way from
living there. apart from his wife. Mrs.
Jessie ]. Stevens, who with their daugh-
ter. Kate. was living in Brooklyn. A
thorough search was made for his will
but none was found. Mrs Stevens petit
toned the Surrogates Court in Brook
lyn and obtained a $4,000 yearly al
lowance for the care of their daughter
pending settlement OF the refuses pre-
sumabiy vast estate.
Value of Estate I'm Doubt.
Her petition stated Mr.. Stevens $
wealth rested largely in undeveloped
real estate. a lot of which he inherited
from his father. whose will Is now in
question. Since letters OF administration
were granted her this spring Mrs
Stevens has made no report to the Sur
rogate that would indicate the exact
size OF the recluse's estate, nor has an
appraisal been filed by the State Trans
fer Tax Appraiser.
Mrs. Richardson's action for an inter-
pretation of her fathers will Is Joined
In by the Fifth Avenue Bank and Will
lam c. Orr, whom she had appointed
as trustees with her OF her fathers fund
on the death OF her brother and sister
Named as defendants are Kate Stevens
Pagan. Mrs. Jessie /. Stevens as ad-
ministratrix of the estate of Calvin
Amory Stevens. and the executors OF
the estate OF Catherine Augusta Stevens