Correspondence (outgoing), 1897 Jan-Aug

as in my judgement seems best and if money is not obtainable to pay the legatees in full and they are oppressive for ready money and disposed to bring suits in order to get their bequests, cannot property equal in value to their bequests be given them.

Also learn if I am obliged to give the choicest and most desirable of all the Estate property to the legatees who are few in proportion to those wh[o] have signed the agreement and will allow me time to pay their bequests.

The farms or properties which I desire to assign to the children of Charles Stanford who have not signed the agreement, and to Leland &

Lathrop, who desires to can cel his signature to the agreement after having signed it, are as follows and to be valued by the Courts.

Copeland Farm

Gwin

Stillman

McCoppin

Felt

Coon

Oakland Water front property

In case these farms or property fall short of the value named in the bequests, owing to any one of these legatees named, the estate will make up the balance the best it can in money or other property.

I also desire you to act in

your paper that a Guardian be appointed for my niece, Jennie S Lathrop and that whoever be appointed shall be asked to sign the agreement which, the majority of the legatees have so kindly signed.

Also inform the Guardian and the Judge of the Probate Court, Judge Coffee, that Jennie S. Lathrop is in my care and has been the past five years and a half. All her expenses including her schooling at Notre Dame College at San Jose the past three years is being paid by me and that she will probably live with me as long as I live.

She was twelve years old last January. It seems but just that she should be

(2) placed among these legatees who have considered it but fitting and right to claim but four per cent interest instead of seven, as the Estate's value in its present condition does not warrant it.

In July next there will be two hundred thousand dollars to distribute. This I want done in a way that will be most just to the legatees.

Some have received more than others and it would please me to even up the sums given and give to those who have the least.

I do not name chosen ones for the distribution but leave it to the good judgment of my brother, Charles G. Lathrop and yourself.

(2) placed among these legatees who have considered it but fitting and right to claim but four per cent interest instead of seven, as the Estate's value in its present condition does not warrant it.

In July next there will be two hundred thousand dollars to distribute. This I want done in a way that will be most just to the legatees.

Some have received more than others and it would please me to even up the sums given and give to those who have the least.

I do not name chosen ones for the distribution but leave it to the good judgment of my brother, Charles G. Lathrop and yourself.