The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-03-05

ST. PAUL.-Today the throne OF
the Northwest Empire, the miracle
achievement Of James j. HILL is
shaken In bitter conflict among the
children OF the founder While the
legal battle now wagcd between the
nine H'll heirs, with five sisters ana
two brothers opposed to one brother
and a sister, on It's face IL TO deter
mine which of the two groups shall
administer the Sl2,000,00Q estate left
by their mother, who died last au-
tumn. beneath RACES a fight for su,
premacy in the management OF all
the Hill properties.
The struggle had been brewing for
many years II simmered during the
lifetime Of James j. Hill. became
more apparent after his death and
came TO a climax when his widow
died
Neither Mr.. Hin nor his widow
left a will Friends and Intimate
business associates OF the family
knew OF the friction existing among
the children and endeavored to avert
an open clash by an amicable set
tlement OF the disagree ment over the
selection OF the administrator for
Mrs. Hilrs estate. But the battle is
on and n finish fight has been prom
ised.
Louis W. Hin OF st. Paul. second
son, is the center of the attack OF
seven opposing brothers and sisters.
Mrs. Mary II. Hll, eldest daughter,
wife OF Samuel Hin OF Washington,
| D. c., Is supporting Louis In his APP
/ pllcation to the Ramsey county pro-
| bate court for appointment as ad-
mlnlstrator of their mothers estate
| She is virtually an invalid and has
not given testimony either In person
or by deposition. one OF her letters,
| however, has played an important
part In Louis case.
Nearly All Against Louis.
Against Louis. who for some time
/ before his fathers death and since
| had been the leader in the manage
ment Of the Hill family properties,
are aligned Mrs. Ruth Beard. Mrs
Charlotte Slade. Mrs. Rachel Boeck-
mann, Mrs. Clara II. Uindley, Mrs
Gertrude Garvin, Walter J. Illll and
/ James n. Hill.
James, the eldest son, who left
| home about twenty years ago, is
| leading the opposition and his testi-
mony has disclosed his enmity to-
ward Louis. As a multimilllonaire
/ director in the Texas oil company
the Northern Pacific railway, the
| Chase National bank OF New York. a
trustee OF the Great Northern iron
ore properties and interests In minor
/ organizations. James, who lives in
| New York, has business standing
| of importance. He is married but
has no children.
After joining the objections to
: o. ~
youngest son. sailed for Europe and
now is in Scotland. He has been en-
gagged in large stock-raislng enter
prises for many years, for a time
managing dairy cattle projects initl-
ated by his father. He has a small
daughter, but is divorced.
Five sons-in-law, husbands OF the
sisters opposing Louis, are involved
/ in the fight by reason OF their active
support of their wives. Col. George
| T. Slade, former vice president OF the
/ Northern Pacific, now heading an oil
land development subsidiary OF that
/ company. and former director OF OPP
Grafton of the American railways in
France for the A. f.. F.. and his wife
claim residence at White Bear Lake,
near ST. Paul, but have New York
home.
Anson McCook Beard is n New
York attorney DR.. Egil Boeckmann
is a prominent st. Paul physician,
and Michael Gavin Is a New York
business man. Erasmus c. Llndley
of st. Paul, is vice president and
general counsel of the Great North
ern railway and Is attorney for his
wife in the probate proceedings.
Louis Succeeded His Father.
For a decade before James ]. HIS
death in 1915. Louis was recognized
generally as his intended successor
in the management of the properties.
Louis worked actively in the various
organizations and was closely asso-
ciated with his father in executive
capacities. While the father was
chairman of the Great Northern
railway. Louis was made president.
and on his fathers death was made
chairman, which position he still
holds, James meanwhile devoted
himself largely TO his separate inter-
ests, maintaining headquarters in the
east.
An estrangement of years. stand
ing, and often the subject of inside"
comment in business circles, between
James and Louis was further EN-