Alice Thorn de Ferussac’s Inheritance Pt 2

I discovered a second report from the New York Herald on the matter of Alice (Thorn) de Ferussac’s inheritance. This one was dated in June, while the other was from April, 1913. Though most of the details are the same, it does mention Thorn’s run in with authorities for driving a coach and 8 horses.

The Herald’s special cable despatches have already reported briefly the following item from the New York Herald of June 13 :—

Mrs. Alice Mansfield, of London, England, has brought suit in the Supreme Court against Mr. Walter Mead, an aged lawyer, of 154 Hewes street, Brooklyn, for an accounting of $500,000, the estate of her mother, the late Comtesse Alice Thorn de Ferussac. Mr. Mead has been executor of the estate since February 27, 1884, and, according to the complaint, the income has been paid regularly until this year ; yet Mrs. Mansfield charges that Mr. Mead “has stated as a reason for his refusal to pay the income that the entire principal was lost by him many years ago.”

Last February, it is alleged, Mr. Mead refused to pay over the quarter of the income. The mystery surrounding this phase of the case has been increased by the explanation offered by Mr. Frank X. McCaffry, of Brooklyn, counsel for Mr. Mead, who has stated that all of Mr. Mead’s papers and legal documents were lost in a fire more than twenty years ago. Most of the estate is supposed to have been invested in bonds and mortgages. Details Not Given. Air. Irwin Untermyer, of Guggenheimer, Untermyer and Marshall, 37 Wall street, who have charge of the interests of Airs. Mansfield, said yesterday that he was not familiar with all the details of the case. Mrs. Mansfield, he said, was still in England.

According to the will of Comtesse de Ferussac, her entire estate was to be held in trust for the benefit of her four children. The income was to be equally divided among them. In her complaint Mrs. Mansfield says that Mr. Mead, as trustee, has received “large sums of money, both as principal of the estate and also as interest from the principal.” She not only asks for an accounting, but also petitions for the removal of Mr. Mlead as the trustee.

Comtesse de Ferussac was the daughter of the late Colonel Thorn, who was known on two continents seventy-five years ago as a sportsman, diplomatist and friend of royalty. From 1830 to 1844 his home in Paris was the gathering place of distinguished men of all countries. On one occasion he had a conflict with the authorities because he drove a carriage drawn by eight horses to visit the British Minister. This was regarded as a breach of Royal prerogative.

Well-known in Paris, at this time Miss Alice Thorn and her sisters were regarded as among the most beautiful women of Paris. After the marriage of Alice Thorn to Comte de Ferussac, another daughter was married to Baron de Pierres, another was married to Comte de Varennes, while another was one of the ladies of honor to the Empress Eugenie.

Two of Colonel Thorn’s daughters were married to Americans. In 1844, Colonel Thorn returned to New York and went to live at his country place near Pelham Park. At the time of her death, in November, 1874, Comtesse de Ferussac was living at the home of her brother, Mr. Eugene Thorn, at 5 East Thirtieth street.

Comte de Ferussac was in Paris at that time with two of his children. Two other children were with the countess. The countess had been noted as a singer and on several occasions sang as prima donna in amateur concerts given for charity. The countess died when she was forty-nine years old. The will of Comtesse de Ferussac was admitted to probate by Surrogate Hutchings in February, 1875. By the will John B. Stevens was appointed executor.

I also located this mention of real estate sold by Alice de Ferussac’s executer:

125 w Mercer st, three-story brick store and dwelling. John B. Stevens, exr. and trustee Alice de Ferussac, to Henry Brash. March 21.