The Ghost of a $30,000 Debt
A bitter court battle over a disputed promissory note reveals the messy financial dealings of the deceased.
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The claim against the Kenyon estate for a $30,000 note, allegedly held by John Moore, continued to occupy the court's attention. Testimony focused on the methodical habits of the dead man, Kenyon, and the improbability of his giving a $30,000 note without leaving any trace of it among his papers or mentioning it to his administrators. Defense witnesses suggested Moore was a 'shady lawyer' known for borrowing small sums from acquaintances and failing to pay them back. Banker and business associates testified that Kenyon's estate was always high in value and that it would have been uncharacteristic for Kenyon to act in such a way, or for Moore to have held such a valuable note without attempting to discount it or mention it to others. The trial highlighted the chaotic personal and financial entanglement of men in the city, with the court tasked with deciding if the note was a legitimate debt or a fabricated claim.
“Kenyon's estate was high at all times in the last years and he had no need to make such a note good.”
Probate and estate disputes remain a fixture of Seattle's courts, though modern digital trails have replaced the reliance on physical paper trails and expert handwriting analysis. The suspicion cast upon the character of the claimant echoes how contemporary litigation often hinges on the reputation of the individuals involved.
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