Encyclopedia Titanica

DEFICIT IN HARRIS ESTATE

New York Times

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Theatrical Manager Left $365,443, but Had Large Debts
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Henry B. Harris, the theatrical manager who lost his life in the Titanic disaster of April 15, 1912, left a gross estate of $365,443, according to an appraisal filed yesterday in the Surrogates' Court. The net estate was a deficit of $35,247, the debts and administration expenses of the estate amounting to $400,690. Mr. Harris provided in his will for bequests of $5,000 each to the Hebrew Infant Asylum, the Blind Babies of the Sunshine Society, and the Actors' Fund of America. He directed that the residue of his estate should go to Irene W. Harris, his wife.

Mr. Harris's assets were made up as follows: Equity in the Hudson and Harris theatres, $190,824;. bank accounts, $44,095; loans, $16,723; uncashed American Express orders, $1,000; stocks and bonds, $64,613; interest in various theatrical enterprises, $23,526; scenery and properties, $24,559.

The Hudson Theatre, in West Forty-fourth Street, was appraised at $600,000, but the mortgages on the property amounted to $515,289. The Harris Theatre, in West Forty-second street, appraised at $370,000, was mortgaged for $201,767.

Mr. Harris had made cash loans at various times without security. Among these loans appear $250 to Frank Reicher, $1,000 to Robert Edeson, and $418 to Elsie Ferguson. The money due from Charles Frohman as his share of the loss incurred in running the Hudson Theatre is put down as $9,071.

The stocks and bonds were $100 bond of the Elysium Club of Boston, 83 shares of Commercial Trust Company stock, 2,000 shares Manhattan Transit Company, 115 shares Astoria Improvement Company, 1,000 shares Butte-New York Copper Company, 200 shares New York Theatre Company, 33 shares Empire Theatre Company of Syracuse, 12 shares Blackstone Theatre Company of New Jersey, 250 shares Amusement Company of Illinois, 45 shares Clear Felt Hat Company.

The theatrical enterprises in which Mr. Harris had an interest were: "The Quaker Girl," $5,000; "Maggie Pepper," $2,883; The Traveling Salesman," $1,500; "The Talker," $1,875; lease of the Grand Opera House in New Haven, $6,666; lease of the Orpheum Theatre in Altoona, Penn., $2,000; half interest in the H. Robert Law Scenic Studios Corporation, $3,651. Mr. Harris's interest in stock plays and in scenery and properties was appraised at $24,559.

The deductions from the gross estate were mainly for debts. These amounted to $387,001, out of total deductions of $400,690. The expenses of administering the estate amounted to $6,000. Among the debts were the following: Edgar Selwyn, $10,337; William Harris, $172,387; Charles Klein, $630; Rose Stahl, $18,967; Irene W. Harris, $3.000; Ruth St. Denis, $6,701, and Klaw & Erlanger, $3,343.

It is said that Mr. Harris's losses in connection with the Folies Bergère were between $340,000 and $360,000.

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Mark Baber, USA

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Encyclopedia Titanica (2006) DEFICIT IN HARRIS ESTATE (New York Times, Thursday 2nd July 1914, ref: #5067, published 8 May 2006, generated 3rd July 2024 09:43:16 PM); URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/deficit-harris-estate.html