FORTUNE AT STAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 3

FORTUNE AT STAKE.

UOMAVIU' STORY OK A IDST 11151 U IN' AM ISIUCA. New York, Ap>'il 1. .Mr. Frank i'. Smith, of To|»i-kii, Kansas, has sued ill's. Williiini K. Yanderbilt and Mrs. Herman Oelrieh* for a seventh pari of the estate of the late 111 tv,. Charles Fair, valued at mure tlmn C2,00(1,1HR1. .Mr. and Mi's. Fail' wore killed in a motoring accident in France in 11)1)2, and the suit brought by Mr. Smilh, who (•hums to he u hall-brother of Mi's. Fair, is based on tin- contention that she survived her husband for a few minute after the accident. Application iui r , been made for a commission to take evidence in France in to the death- of Mr. and Mrs. Fair. 11l her will Mrs. Fair left .Ci.Oill) lo Smith, whose residence was unknown when the will was admitted to probate. Smith left home at the age of eighteen, and after a lonj.'«earcli for him the C'ali- ' fornian court- decided thai his right to the legacy had lapsed because of his failure to appear to claim it. Smith says he was in Mexico at the time of llrs. Fair's death, and that although he read ol Hie tragedy in the newspapers he did not think she was his sister till long aftcrvards, when lie learned of llic death ol ill's. Nelson, .Mrs. Fair's mother. Smith claims to be the second .son of ills. .Nelson by her first husband, ill's, l-'air was ill's. Xelson' s daughter by her second marriage. Several members of tile Smith-Xclson family sued ill's, l'air's estate, but compromised for Uo.dDb each, this sum was oll'ereil to the present claimant, who refused it.