The Battle for the Harmon Estate

E. C. McClanahan, guardian of the person and estate of Mrs. Jane Harmon, brought suit yesterday in the superior court to set aside a deed of property to Catherine Smith and William J. Smith, made on November 5, 1891. He alleges that there was no consideration for the transfer of the property, which is worth probably $10,000, and that it was brought about by false and fraudulent representations by Mr. and Mrs. Smith and a pretended agreement for the future care and support of Mrs. Harmon. He claims further that Catherine Smith, who pretends to be the niece of Mrs. Harmon, is, in fact, wholly unknown to her. He asks that the deed be declared void and that the defendants be decreed to reconvey it.

The disposition of the estate of Jane Harmon and the question of the state of her mind brought about an interesting legal light last November. Mrs. Harmon’s daughter was the divorced wife of the late George M. Boman; at the time of the separation, the wife was granted the property at the corner of Fourth and Battery streets in North Seattle. She eventually married McClanahan, and her mother, Jane Harmon, lived with them for years. Before the daughter’s death in 1888, she conveyed the property to her mother. The latter grew weaker and more childish after her daughter's death. She continued to live with her son-in-law, McClanahan, who cared for her and looked after the property.

Last fall, William J. Smith and his wife, Catherine Smith, came to Seattle from Tennessee. Catherine claimed to be a niece of the old lady. On the day after their arrival, they enticed the mother away from the house and induced her to make a deed of all the property to Catherine Smith in consideration of 'love and affection.' Judge Lichtenberg previously declared Mrs. Harmon to be of unsound mind and appointed McClanahan her guardian; he is now endeavoring to have the deed set aside.