of December 29, 1927 reads as follows: START SULLIVAN ESTATE BATTLE Widow Taken from Home on Warrant Forcibly Remove Woman on Insanity Charge Following Funeral Declares Attorney A bitter legal struggle between Mrs. Timothy E. Sullivan, widow of the late pioneer millionaire and a relative of the deceased was indicated last night by Edward A. Brittan of the firm of Brittan and Brittan, attorneys for the widow, in connection with the application of Mary E. Sullivan, a sister of the late millionaire and aunt of Timothy E. Sullivan, 10-year old son of the decedent, for appointment as guardian of the son and heir, following the removal of his mother from her home on a charge of insanity, preferred by Thomas O’Brien. “The widow, Anna S. Sullivan, was forcibly taken from her home and is being held under an insanity charge preferred by Thomas O’Brien of Lebec,” said Attorney Brittan, “while the Sullivans, who came here from the north to attend the funeral have taken possession of her home. Mary E. Sullivan, an aunt of the boy, has applied for appointment as guardian of Timothy E. Sullivan, Jr.” “We have asked the Security Trust Company, named executor of the will, to immediately repossess the house,” said the attorney, “as it is the personal property of Mrs. Sullivan, to which they have no right of occupancy.” “The Security Trust Company has also been requested to apply for special letters of administration to protect the estate,” said the attorney. The action for appointment of a guardian for the boy and the granting of special letters of administration is being heard before Judge H. A. Peairs of the Superior court, proceedings being started yesterday. “The arrest of Mrs. Sullivan upon an insanity charge took place at her home on Tuesday afternoon, following the funeral of her husband in the morning,” said Mrs. Richard Apsley, a neighbor and friend of the family. “This action,” she said, “aroused much criticism in the neighborhood owing to the fact that it appears to be part of a plan to part the mother and her son.” “It seems as if a woman of such prominence, and known kindliness of character, would have been given more considerate treatment,” said Mrs. Apsley, “for she has been noted in this city for years for her charities, and sincere desire to serve the unfortunate.” “She has been a devoted wife and mother, and if through illness and strain she has broken it seems as if she should be given the same gentle consideration and kindly treatment that she has shown others,” said the friend. “Inside of half an hour after Mrs. Sullivan had been taken from her home by force relatives of Mr. Sullivan appeared and took possession. They discharged the household employees and Charles Hicks, who had been caretaker of the property and chauffeur, was required to give up keys to the garage and car,” said Mrs. Apsley, “and it is to be noted that the car and property are now being used by the Sullivans,” she said. “Timothy Sullivan, Jr., center of a legal battle for his guardianship, and heir to the bulk of the great estate, is stopping at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Swett, neighbors. Mrs. Sullivan is at Kern General Hospital where she was taken on Tuesday. “Mrs. Clara Peterson of San Francisco, an old-time friend of Mrs. Sullivan, who was herself formerly a nurse, was among the callers upon Mrs. Sullivan yesterday. She reported that the woman should be in her own home, with a private nurse,” stated Mrs. Apsley. Miss Peterson is one of the head nurses at the Southern Pacific hospital at San Francisco. Besides the sister, Mary E. Sullivan of San Jose, there are three brothers, John Sullivan of San Jose, Thomas Sullivan of Seattle, and Patrick Sullivan of Bakersfield. On the following day, December 30, 1927, the following article appeared on the front page of the Bakersfield Morning Echo: Security Bank to Administer Sullivan Estate Special Writ Handed Down in Will Case Administrator Ordered to Take Immediate Possession of Estate; Other Hearings Set Special letters of administration of the estate of the late Timothy E. Sullivan, valued at more than $200,000 in a will made in 1918, were granted the Security Bank and Trust Company yesterday by Judge E.W. Owen of Kern County superior court upon petition of Attorneys Harvey and Heard representing the bank. Under the terms of the will the bank was named as guardian of the estate and the person of the son. The hearing as to the guardianship of the bank was set by Judge H.A. Peairs for January 9 at 2 o’clock and the hearing on the application of Mary E. Sullivan, an aunt, for guardianship of the son Timothy E. J. Sullivan, Jr., was set for January 3. Hearing of insanity charges against Anna S. Sullivan, widow of the decedent, was set for Saturday before Judge Owens.… Under the terms of a codicil of the will, dated June 6, 1922, it was declared that substantial gifts had been made to the wife and the clause in the will leaving her the residue of the estate was revoked, and instead the son was made heir to the residue of the estate.… To the widow, Anna Sophia Sullivan the east half block of 430, together with the improvements, was bequeathed according to the terms of the will. The will also provided $35,000 in Liberty bonds and two 40-acre tracts and an 80-acre tract in Kern County as special bequests to the son T.E.J. Sullivan. Later in the codicil the residue of the estate was bequeathed to the son. In the will the estate was valued at more than $200,000 and in the codicil it was valued at more than $10.000 according to the documents filed with F.E. Smith, county clerk, in the probate proceedings. Anna Sullivan went to Los Angeles on December 30, 1927 and was admitted to a hospital under the care of Dr. Ross Moore. He stated in a letter dated January 28, 1928 to Oscar A. Swanson, relative of Anna, living in Chicago, that “Mrs. Anna Sophia Sullivan came under my professional care December 30th 1927. At that time she was very much exhausted from the long ambulance journey from Bakersfield to Los Angeles. This exhaustion was both physical and nervous. It manifested itself in great mental confusion and excitement. During the first few days her condition was quite precarious on account of this acute exhaustion. Then for two or three days her condition seemed to take a turn for the better. The nervous excitement subsided and she became mentally clear enough to talk with the nurses for a few minutes at a time about her son. This improvement was brought about by first class psychiatric nursing and the use of neutral baths to control nervousness and excitement. Mrs. Sullivan’s general physical condition was poor and had been so for some months previous to her death. The improvement which we succeeded in bringing about was therefore only temporary. She began to fail and died within a few days. Looking back over the case I am inclined to feel that nothing was left undone which might have brought about a different result.” Prior to receiving the above letter, Oscar A. Swanson had traveled to Bakersfield on January 7, 1927 to try and determine the circumstances regarding the estate and the insanity hearing for Anna. Arriving back in Los Angeles on the evening of the 7th it was too late to see Anna. She died early in the morning of the 8th before Oscar was able to see her. While in Bakersfield Oscar tried to find out as much as he could about the case. He was told that two hours after Mr. Sullivan’s funeral Anna was locked up on an insanity charge, and that immediately thereafter “Mary Sullivan and her gang took possession of the house and they immediately got good and drunk on T.E.S.’s private stock which all went.” Oscar talked to young Tim who asked him, “Who will get me if Mama dies?” Following his return to Chicago, Oscar Swanson received several letters from friends in Bakersfield keeping him posted on Tim’s situation. From a reading of several letters it appears that Mr. & Mrs. Karpe took care of Tim for a short time prior to the arrival of Tim’s cousin, Esther Sullivan Buty. Eva L. Schultz[13], one of the correspondents, reported that when Mrs. Buty “…and two little heathens arrived, the eldest greeted Mrs. Karpe with “This is our home. What are you doing here?” In that same letter, Mrs. Schultz indicated that Timothy had united with the Baptist Church on January 22nd and that he would be baptized the following Sunday. She said that Tim came forward of his own accord and presented himself. She hoped that Tim would become a minister. Writing to Oscar a few months later, Mrs. Schultz had a more favorable report, stating that Mrs. Buty seems to be very fond of Tim and that she wants to do the right thing by him. She felt that “Mrs. Buty had won over the folks around here.” She said that Tim had gained in weight and that he had more “child life than ever before.” Mrs. Schultz also indicated that Tim had been received into the Baptist Church and had been baptized and attended Sunday School and church. Timothy Eugene John Sullivan, I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Dr. Frank O. Belden Defend, O Lord, this Thy Child with Thy heavenly grace, that he may continue Thine for ever: and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more, until he come into Thy everlasting kingdon. Amen The Order of Confirmation Book of Common Prayer, 1549 In August of 1929, after Mrs. Buty had gone to Seattle with Tim and her own children, a friend of Oscar Swanson visited the Buty family and Tim. A good report was given, including the fact that Tim was attending a Baptist church in the Seattle area. The next we hear is a letter of May 13, 1930 from Matilda Smeitzer[14] to Oscar Swanson. She reported that Esther Buty had been removed from the guardianship of Tim because of charges of gross immorality brought by Dan Sullivan, Esther’s uncle. She was asked to resign, which she eventually did and she left Bakersfield. Eva Schultz, writing a few days later, informed Oscar that the judge planned to appoint a new guardian within a few days. It was at this point that George and Agnes Holmquist became responsible for Tim. The High School Years While attending Kern Cou
“We have asked the Security Trust Company, named executor of the will, to immediately repossess the house,” said the attorney, “as it is the personal property of Mrs. Sullivan, to which they have no right of occupancy.”
“The Security Trust Company has also been requested to apply for special letters of administration to protect the estate,” said the attorney.
The action for appointment of a guardian for the boy and the granting of special letters of administration is being heard before Judge H. A. Peairs of the Superior court, proceedings being started yesterday.
“The arrest of Mrs. Sullivan upon an insanity charge took place at her home on Tuesday afternoon, following the funeral of her husband in the morning,” said Mrs. Richard Apsley, a neighbor and friend of the family. “This action,” she said, “aroused much criticism in the neighborhood owing to the fact that it appears to be part of a plan to part the mother and her son.”
“It seems as if a woman of such prominence, and known kindliness of character, would have been given more considerate treatment,” said Mrs. Apsley, “for she has been noted in this city for years for her charities, and sincere desire to serve the unfortunate.”
“She has been a devoted wife and mother, and if through illness and strain she has broken it seems as if she should be given the same gentle consideration and kindly treatment that she has shown others,” said the friend.
“Inside of half an hour after Mrs. Sullivan had been taken from her home by force relatives of Mr. Sullivan appeared and took possession. They discharged the household employees and Charles Hicks, who had been caretaker of the property and chauffeur, was required to give up keys to the garage and car,” said Mrs. Apsley, “and it is to be noted that the car and property are now being used by the Sullivans,” she said.
“Timothy Sullivan, Jr., center of a legal battle for his guardianship, and heir to the bulk of the great estate, is stopping at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Swett, neighbors. Mrs. Sullivan is at Kern General Hospital where she was taken on Tuesday.
“Mrs. Clara Peterson of San Francisco, an old-time friend of Mrs. Sullivan, who was herself formerly a nurse, was among the callers upon Mrs. Sullivan yesterday. She reported that the woman should be in her own home, with a private nurse,” stated Mrs. Apsley. Miss Peterson is one of the head nurses at the Southern Pacific hospital at San Francisco.
Besides the sister, Mary E. Sullivan of San Jose, there are three brothers, John Sullivan of San Jose, Thomas Sullivan of Seattle, and Patrick Sullivan of Bakersfield.
On the following day, December 30, 1927, the following article appeared on the front page of the Bakersfield Morning Echo:
Security Bank to Administer Sullivan Estate
Special Writ Handed Down in Will Case
Administrator Ordered to Take Immediate Possession of Estate; Other Hearings Set
Special letters of administration of the estate of the late Timothy E. Sullivan, valued at more than $200,000 in a will made in 1918, were granted the Security Bank and Trust Company yesterday by Judge E.W. Owen of Kern County superior court upon petition of Attorneys Harvey and Heard representing the bank. Under the terms of the will the bank was named as guardian of the estate and the person of the son.
The hearing as to the guardianship of the bank was set by Judge H.A. Peairs for January 9 at 2 o’clock and the hearing on the application of Mary E. Sullivan, an aunt, for guardianship of the son Timothy E. J. Sullivan, Jr., was set for January 3.
Hearing of insanity charges against Anna S. Sullivan, widow of the decedent, was set for Saturday before Judge Owens.…
Under the terms of a codicil of the will, dated June 6, 1922, it was declared that substantial gifts had been made to the wife and the clause in the will leaving her the residue of the estate was revoked, and instead the son was made heir to the residue of the estate.…
To the widow, Anna Sophia Sullivan the east half block of 430, together with the improvements, was bequeathed according to the terms of the will.
The will also provided $35,000 in Liberty bonds and two 40-acre tracts and an 80-acre tract in Kern County as special bequests to the son T.E.J. Sullivan. Later in the codicil the residue of the estate was bequeathed to the son.
In the will the estate was valued at more than $200,000 and in the codicil it was valued at more than $10.000 according to the documents filed with F.E. Smith, county clerk, in the probate proceedings.
Anna Sullivan went to Los Angeles on December 30, 1927 and was admitted to a hospital under the care of Dr. Ross Moore. He stated in a letter dated January 28, 1928 to Oscar A. Swanson, relative of Anna, living in Chicago, that
“Mrs. Anna Sophia Sullivan came under my professional care December 30th 1927. At that time she was very much exhausted from the long ambulance journey from Bakersfield to Los Angeles. This exhaustion was both physical and nervous. It manifested itself in great mental confusion and excitement. During the first few days her condition was quite precarious on account of this acute exhaustion. Then for two or three days her condition seemed to take a turn for the better. The nervous excitement subsided and she became mentally clear enough to talk with the nurses for a few minutes at a time about her son. This improvement was brought about by first class psychiatric nursing and the use of neutral baths to control nervousness and excitement.
Mrs. Sullivan’s general physical condition was poor and had been so for some months previous to her death. The improvement which we succeeded in bringing about was therefore only temporary. She began to fail and died within a few days. Looking back over the case I am inclined to feel that nothing was left undone which might have brought about a different result.”
Prior to receiving the above letter, Oscar A. Swanson had traveled to Bakersfield on January 7, 1927 to try and determine the circumstances regarding the estate and the insanity hearing for Anna. Arriving back in Los Angeles on the evening of the 7th it was too late to see Anna. She died early in the morning of the 8th before Oscar was able to see her.