Wife of Orleans minister restrained from disposing of property.

Son of Edward Raymon Sues.

Holds Mrs. Helen Raymon Kenyon Responsible for Disappearance of Thousands of Dollars

Special to the Grand Rapids Herald
Ionia, Mich. Jan 3 – What promises to be a sensational case is developed today in the Ionia circuit court in which the Michigan Trust Company of Grand Rapids, was granted a temporary injunction restraining Helen Raymon Kenyon, wife of a prominent Orleans Minister, from disposing of any part of the estate of her late uncle Edward A. Raymon, who died December 28, in the soldiers home in Grand Rapids.

The action is instituted by Edward Spain of York, Pa. Who claims to be the only son an heir of the deceased, who says something like $30,0000 or $40,000 of the estate is missing Allegations of fraud are freely made and the bill states that the old man gave Mrs. Kenyon $3,000 in cash at a meeting in Petoskey, a part of which she deposited in the Saranac bank; that he also willed her other property and that now only $400 can be found in the name of the old man.

It is also asserted that a deed made in Knoxville, Tenn., was a forgery and in it land of Raymer’s in Knoxville was deed by Emma to Helen Raymer of Saranac. Emma is the wife of the son who is here to fight the case.

Attorney R. A. Hawley says that anything that Mrs. Kenyon has done has been in good faith, and that the old man had mad his home with her father until her father died; then he had lived at her home.

The hearing in the Ionia circuit court is set for Jan 22, and it is understood the parties are also cited to appear in the Kent County probate court on Saturday.

The son says that some one got the old man to sign a paper making application to the Soldier’s home, and an affidavit that h had no near relatives and that he, the son, was notified to come to Michigan, reaching her in time to save his father from a pauper’s grave.

Soldier’s Home Inmate Kept His Secret to the Very Last

Arrests May Follow

Son Says He Believes Edward A. Raymor Knew of the Existence of Certain Papers

Few of the comrades of Edward A. Raymor, Who died at the Soldier’s Home hospital Friday Night, knew that back of the faltering speech of the old man and his evident attempts to make explanations as he lay on his death bed, there may lay a story which may land several behind bars, and for which several warrants for his own arrest were pending.

The arrival of a son, E. S. Raymor, and his wife, of York, Pa., yesterday morning, shed much light upon the history of the dead man, and started investigations which may lead to startling disclosures. The affair is now in the hands of the attorneys.

E. A. Raymor was admitted to the home September 26, and became an inmate in the hospital at once. It was found that he had suffered a paralytic stroke, from the result of which he was unable to speak plainly. Many times he seemed anxious to make some disclosures, but did not seem able to sufficiently rally his senses to make clear what was on his mind.

Safe From Prosecution

Shortly after his arrival, Chaplain Stark received a letter from a magistrate and another from his son, E. S. Raymor, asking how the old man had secured admission to the home and stating that he was still subject to arrest for several misdemeanors. Both letters were answered, and the information given that in his state of health it would be impossible to prosecute him.

His admission was perfectly legal, because he was a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Michigan, with a record of service from August 9, 1862 to July 4, 1865; and his admission blank had been properly made out by a friend from Petoskey, where he was then living. Accordingly his past life was no concern of the Soldier’s home authorities, and he was given all possible care from that time until his death Friday evening. On Thursday his son was summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.

Fortune is Missing

He immediately informed the authorities that the father should have papers showing the whereabouts of from $30,000 to $50,000 invested in real estate in various parts of the country. Search among his effects failed to give any tangible clue, but some memoranda were found which will assist in further search. Late in the day it was discovered that some of his papers had been deposited in one of the banks in this city but the disposal of his property is still shrouded in mystery. Under the theory that he had been the dupe of designing people who knew of his incompetency, all property found can be recovered by the son.

It is the belief of the son that for years his father had not been in his right mind. One of his peculiar beliefs was the horror of being sent to the poor house, and several times he went to different institutions of that nature to find out how much they would charge him for board. Later he purchased an annuity at the Battle Creek sanitarium and entered the institution last May, remaining only two weeks.

 Petoskey Man Claims to be Raymor’s Executor

Veteran Who Died in Soldier’s Home is Declared to Have Devised his Estate Before Death.

Several persons were brought into the local probate court and examined as to their knowledge of certain real estate and money of which the old man was supposed to have been possessed at the time of his death. Now Chillian Smith of Petoskey, one of the persons named who did not appear in court has filed an appeal from the decision of Judge Jewell in appointing an administrator.

Smith claims that the aged man was not a legal resident of this county when he died and that therefore the estate could not be touched by the local Probate court. He also claims that the veteran did not died intestate, but left a will, which made smith executor. This will, he says, has been filed in the Probate Court of Emmett County of which the veteran was resident at the time of his death. He claims the local court has no jurisdiction in the matter of the estate.