The Washington times., 1922-11-12
KINSMENF|GHT
TO BREAK WILL
! Of OFJ.E.HUCHES
Serve Notice OF Contest for
100000 Estate Of
John E. Hughes.
ATTORNEYS ARE LINED UP
Attack orphanage 6equest.
Alleging Deoedent Men
tally incompetent.

The long expected opening OF the
fight to break the will of the late
John E. Hughes, wealthy local
tobacco man, who died last
spring, leaving an estate OF
$4,000, 900, the bulk of which
was bequeathed to charity, has
been witnessed here with the
serving of notice that the next
of kin will institute suit unless
some form of compromise can be
reached with the executors.
All of the beneficiaries under
the will, as we'll as the executors,
have received a lengthy letter
from attorneys retained by the
brothers., sister and nieces and
nephews of the sdecedent, calling
attention to the fact that such a
suit is in prospect and asking the
executors to arrange a CONFER
ence, if they feel SO disposed,
with a view to some amicable ad-
justment.
Long Fight Forecast.
It may be said on the authority Oh
counsel for Mr.. Hughes that no com
promise will be considered, ana " 10
already a foregone conclusion tna'
Danville Is to be the scene OF Tor
ensic legal display rarely, II ever.
equaled here. There will be large
array of Virginia's most noted tai
ent and conservative lawyers say
that II will take between twenty anu
thirty days to put the case before the
jury and will. in almost any event.
effectually tie up the property Ior
three or four years.
Hughes was a man of humble be.
ginnings, but his natural aptitude IN
tobacco and a largely developed FOR
eign trade resulted in the accumula-
ton of a fortune which has been ap-
praised at $2.325.121.91. This Is con-
sidered actually below the real value
OF the estate. Mr.. Hughes will was
signed November 26, 1920. He made
comparatively meager bequests to
his several next of kin. He left
3250,000 for the Danville General
Hospital and $2.00O,000 to the
deacons of the First Presbyterian
Church, who, under the terms OF the
testament, were to launch an or
phanage for white children" of Vir-
ginia and North Carolina, this to be
built on his large rural domain not
fAr from this city.
kinsmen Unite in Attack.
All Of the kinsmen have Joined In
the proposed attack on the will which
will be made on the alleged fact that
when he signed his will Mr.. Hughes
was mentally incompetent to dispose
of his property in legal way.
Those presenting a solid front to
break the will are Miss Elizabeth
Boyd Roberts, of Chase City; Frank
r. Roberts, Mary s. Roberts, John
Hughes Roberts, Eleanor l.. Roberts,
jamie c. Roberts, nieces and nephews
of Mr.. Hughes; A. c. Hughes and w.
4. Hughes, his brothers, and Mrs.
Fannie Hughes Pruden, sister.
In the lengthy letter written by
their attorneys and directed to the
executors of the will, Julian Meade.
w. d. Powell, w. c. Thomas. all of
Danville: the First National Bank of
Danville and the First National
Bank Of Richmond, 1t is set forth
that Nv. have made a very careful
and diligent investigation OF all OF
the facts. including Mr.. Hughes
mental and physical condition prior
to, at the time of and subsequent to
the making Of the will, and we are
convinced that at the time Of the
execution of the will the testator did
not have that degree of testamentary
capacity required by law to give 1t
validity"
In a further clause the allegation
II made that the provision for the
two million dollar orphanage Is
vague. It Is made clear. however.
that the next Of kin to Mr.. Hughes
intend to allow the quarter of a mil.
lion bequest to the hospital to stand
and also several minor bequests made
TO faithful employees OF the deceased.
In other words, IL the will Is broken
or II II Is sustained, these sums will
be paid. This has had the effect OF
centering the fight on the orphanage
question. and there is every reason
TO believe that the First Presbyterian
Church will not consider a comprom.
tse.. but will seek to sustain the will.
Attorneys In Case.
The will will be defended by Julian
Meade, Malcolm Kerr Harris and
Judge e. J. Harvey. Of the Danville
bar, while the plaintiffs have retain.
ed attorneys whose names are promt.
nent in the State, Harry Smith, of
Richmond: John w. Carter and Judge
r. Walton Brown. of Danville, and
John L. Lee. of Lynchburg.
The defense will be that Mr..
Hughes was sane when he made his
will and that on the day he executed
Il he mentioned the fact that he ex
pected his relatives would be sur.
prised when they heard It's terms.
There will also be evidence to show
that four years before Mr.. Hugh, g
was taken III he was considering the
orphanaee, and at one time had
taken steps toward launching II dur.
ing his lifetime. On the other hand.
Il 10 expected that renowned spe.
cialists who examined Mr.. Hughes,
including DR.. Francis X. Dercum,
who attended Woodrow Wilson dur.
a. A. his aorio,,e ilinaso xnyiii ,-o,,a n hnro