The New York herald., 1922-01-17
STEWART ESTATE
GUARDIANS OUSTED
Mrs. r. B. Honeyman, Jr., Is
Granted Entire Control
Of Property.

Immediately after the announcement
in Riverhead. l.. l.. yesterday OF a de-
cision by Surrogate Robert S. Pelletreau
granting the petition of Mrs. Robert b.
Honeyman. Jr.. for the removal of her
guardians. Martin Taylor of 60 Wall
street. Manhattan. and Leander H. La
Chance of Chicago, Mr.. Taylor said that
the case would be appealed.
Mrs. Honeyman, who is 20. Is the sur
viving daughter OF the late John X.
Stewart. speedometer inventor and man
ufacturer. who died Juno /. 1916. at
Huntington. t. l., leaving $6,000,00o
Surrogate Pelletreau did not 60 into the
charges of misconduct which Mrs.
Honeyman made against her guardians,
ruling that his action in ordering their
removal rendered such a proceeding un-
necessary. They are ordered to turn
over to Mrs. Honeyman her sisters es-
tate and to render an accounting Of their
guardianship.
Taylor and La Chance were appointed
guardians of Mrs. Honeyman and her
sister, Jean Stewart, in 1917. following
their mothers death at Aiken, S. c. At
that time Mrs. Honeyman was still
Marian Stewart and was Is years old.
Jean, who died In Chicago October 10
last, was then about 5. Last April
Marian married Robert B. Honeyman.
Jr.. son OF Robert 3. Honeyman, a law
YER who lives in 36 Montgomery place,
Brooklyn.
In her petition Mrs. Honeyman
claimed she was a resident Of Illinois
o,.I &I1a+ f,r 30 haf m "a
she became of full age when she reached
ner eighteenth birthday. Therefore, she
argued, she was entitled to full control
of her property. 1t was also asserted
by Mrs Honeyman that the estate had
been mismanaged by Taylor and La
Chance and that they had used their
guardianship for their own advantage.
After the death of Jean Stewart Tay-
lor and La Chance applied to the Surro-
gate Of Suffolk county, n. Y. for let
ters of administration of her estate
which was valued at about $4,000, 600.
Surrogate Pelletreau yesterday denied
their application and, in their stead. ap-
pointed Robert B. Honeyman. father-in-
law of Mrs. Robert b. Honeyman, Jr.,
and the Suffolk County National Bank OF
Riverhead.
The Surrogate held that the right OF
Taylor and La Chance to be appointed
administrators rested solely upon their
guardianship of Mrs. Honeyman, and
that it consequently failed if it was de-
creed they were no longer her guardians
Mrs. Honeyman is next to kin and heir
at law to jeans property. With refer
ence to Mrs. Honeyman the opinion
said:
Considerable testimony has been
taken as to the place of her residence
before and since her marriage, some o1
1t conflicting, but this court is of the
opinion and definitely concludes that the
said Marian Stewart Honeyman has ar
actual domcile in the State OF Illinois
and is bona fide resident of that state
Since her marriage her husband became
n resident OF Illinois. being employed
there, and with his wife hires and oc'
cupies an apartment in Chicago. They
have no other home.
IT ann of the opinion and conclude tina!
the petitioner Is entitled to a decree
that her guardianship In NeW York ter
minated when she became or ful agt
under the laws of Illinois. the State Of
her domicile: that the letters be revoked
as terminated. the guardians account
and tn, funds forthwith returned to
her. Taking tho view as above ex-
pressed. do not deem 1t necessary to
pass upon the charges of misconduct
made against the guardians and have
not done So
Mr.. La Chance is Mr.. froneyman's
cousin and is president of the Stewart
Manufacturing Corporation and chair-
man of the board of tho Stewart-War-
ner Speedometer Corporation. both OF
Chicago and both organized by the late
John X. Stewart. 1t was contended by
La Chance and Taylor that Mrs. Honey
man was resident OF New York and
therefore would not become of age until
she was q.
In commenting upon the decision las
night Mr.. Taylor said that it sought 10
set up novel points OF law and that
an appeal would at once be taken.