Evening star., 1938-11-01
Chewing Sues to Insure
$4,000 a Year From Couzens'
Court Gets PIeo
To Safeguard His
Interests
By WILLIAM A. MILLEN.

Dy fAs
William Jeffries Chewing, jr.,
of Fredericksburg, Va, former hus-
band Of the daughter OF Michigan's
wealthy Senator, the late James
Couzens, today had on file in Dis
trict Court q complaint asking the
tribunal to order the ancillary ad-
ministrator OF the estate to set aside
sufficient funds to insure his pay
ment of 5000 annually for the next
II years, in accordance with q writ.
ten agreement.
Further, Mr.. Chewing wants the
court to issue a declaratory judg-
ment to protect his interests.
District Court is informed that his
former wife, Mrs. Margaret G..
Chewing. now residing at Birming-
ham, Mich, on February II, 1896,
entered into written agreement
with him in return for his relin-
gushing any claim on her estate or
inheritance. to pay him $1,000 an
nually until their youngest child
reaches 81 or until he should re-
marry. They were divorced January
II, 1898.
The court is advised that the late
Senator and his son, Frank Couzens
of Detroit, agreed to guarantee Mr..
Chewing prompt payment of $1,000
annually
In 1886, Senator Couzens died, the
court is told, and his estate was
adjudicated in the Probate Court of
Wayne County, Mich, in December,
1896.
Assets Are Listed.
The court is told that the Couzens
estate in the District of Columbia
comprises less than 5000 in per-
sonal property and this real estate:
Lot 806, square 1915, valued at
$4,000; 143O K street NV, valued
at $250,000; 1850 Woodland drive,
worth 100000, and 1913 Sixteenth
street NV, valued at $4,000.
In Michigan, Mr.. Chewing de-
clares-the residence of the late
Republican Senator, who was a one
time partner of Henry Ford-the
assets are in excess of $1,000, 900 in
personal property and 100000 in
real estate.
Those defendants named in his
suit as administrators in Michigan
are qualified as ancillary admins
traitors here, Mr.. Chewing asserts.
The $4,000 is being paid, the
plalntlf1 says, and the agreement is
to continue for about II years, since
their youngest child, Margaret Ann
Couzens Chewing, was born july
II, 1884.
Mr.. Chewing contends that his
claim against the Couzens estate
will be substantially impaired by
removal Of the assets from the Dis
trict of Columbia or by any termi-
nation Of the administration cause
here.
Names Ancillary Administrator.
Mr.. Chewing maintains that the
ancillary administrator refused to
set aside from the assets of the
estate a fund sufficient to pay him
the $4,000 annually for the term of
the contract, in the event OF default
by Mrs. Margaret c. Chewing.
The late Senator. says the suit,
by agreement, bound himself, his
executors, his administrators or as
signs to secure to Mr.. Chewing
the payment provided.
Representing Mr.. Chewing are
Attorneys Alvin L. Newmyer and
Buford A. Lynch. Named as de-
PENDANTS in the suit are Frank
Couzens of Detroit, Mich; Clarence
E. Wilcox of Detroit and William j.
Norton of Pleasant Ridge, Mich
who are ancillary administrators of
the estate of James Couzens here
Mrs. Chewing, the plaintiffs former
wife and well-known Washington
society figure during her residence
here; Mrs. Margaret A. Couzens of
Oakland, Mich, the Senator's widow;
Mrs. Madeleine c. Yaw of Oakland,
another daughter, and Edith v.
Couzens, also of Oakland, another
daughter.