The Reverend’s Estate: A Seattle Administrator Accused of Paying Himself First

Judge Langley had the case up for hearing yesterday. The general reason for excepting to the report is that Parker asks credit for many disbursements which he made without authority of the court and for which vouchers have not been produced to show that the payments had ever been made. It is further alleged by the special administrator that Parker has made excessive charges against the estate which the court should not allow. He has credited himself with about $2,300, which he claims to have expended in improving the Green Lake property of the estate, when it is alleged by the special administrator that the cost did not come near that amount. The special administrator also alleges that Parker should be charged with six months' rent, he having lived in the Green Lake residence for that length of time.

Parker credits himself 'by mortgage turned over to him by Fred S. Brown and George T. Sherman' with $1,500, when it is alleged that the facts are that the note and mortgage as received by Parker has not been surrendered, in obedience to the order of the court to his successor, Mr. Clise, but has been appropriated to his own use by transfer and delivery to his brother, Richard Parker, of Lynn, Ontario, Canada, in part payment of Parker's individual debt to the brother. For that reason the special administrator thinks the item should not be allowed.

In another part of his account Parker credits himself 'by household goods not appraised, estimated at $600.' The special administrator contends that not more than $100 worth of household goods have been surrendered. Parker wants the court to credit him with $255 which was allowed J. H. Cannon for legal services, but the services, according to the special administrator, were not worth more than $75. Parker credits himself with $2,222, with interest, allowed A. M. Brookes on a note, when the truth is, the special administrator says, that the amount is false for the reason that it embraces sixty days' more interest than was allowed by the court.

Lawyer Cannon, who enlarged the estate for legal services, was on the witness stand during the afternoon. Mr. Stephen, counsel for the special administrator, asked him to tell what services he had rendered. He told of having taken charge of the estate, and of his subsequent legal work. It was necessary to correspond with people in Hartford, Conn., to secure the appointment of an administrator for the estate there. Consultations were had with Mrs. Isabella Parker, mother of the deceased. There was also considerable work before the King county superior court. Suits came up against the estate, and it was necessary to look after them. The witness admitted that he had not figured in what he called 'the Building and Loan Association case,' neither had he done much work in a case referred to as 'the Filley case.' The witness said that he had received his $255 from Mr. Parker in cash.

D. D. Harger, a lawyer who has an office in the Bailey building and who was employed by Parker for a time, made an interesting witness, admitting that he had charged Parker $200 for professional services and said that he had appeared for Parker personally and for him as administrator in the Filley suit, which involved valuable land in Chehalis county. 'Did you receive $300 in cash?' inquired Lawyer Stephen. 'In cash and mutual accommodation,' answered the witness. 'What part was cash and what part mutual accommodation?' 'That's a confidential matter between Mr. Parker and myself, and I won't answer it unless directed to do so by the court.' Judge Langley admitted the question over the objection of Parker's counsel, who claimed that it was a matter between attorney and client and therefore confidential. Then Harger told of his connection with the Filley case. Parker had induced him to enter it, and the agreed fee was $200. The witness rendered extensive services and a Chehalis firm also assisted. That firm was to receive $50 of the $200. Parker, the witness said, had come to him later and asked him for a receipt. The witness had received about $25 in cash and Parker had furnished him office space. The receipt was given to Parker by the witness on his agreeing to pay the Chehalis firm the $50. The receipt was given to Parker individually and not as administrator.

Parker, who had been on the stand for a short time during the morning, was called after Harger finished his testimony and continued his testimony. The case was not finished when court adjourned at 5 o'clock, and will be continued this morning.