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(10) not to make his death public (no obituary or publicity) and
not tell anyone of his death--especially the media; (11) not to
obtain a headstone or “stainless steel cross” for decedent to
mark his death; (12) the family, and no one else, should gather
at the Big House after his death, except grandson Lars who could
come only if Jo predeceased decedent--otherwise he was not
permitted on Hundred Acres. Decedent directed Bar to use Mr.
Newman because decedent trusted Mr. Newman.
On April 7, 1988, Mr. Newman wrote a letter to decedent.
Enclosed with the letter were two certified copies of the Order
of Adoption of Barney. Mr. Newman also apprised decedent that he
had had an additional opportunity to examine the estate tax
situation; however, in order to reduce the taxes Mr. Newman
advised decedent that he (decedent) was going to have to divest
himself of control over his property. Mr. Newman also informed
decedent that he could make gifts in the amount of $10,000-per-
year to reduce his estate, but “we get back to the same problem
that you must give up control. Basically the amount of the tax
is the cost of this control.”
On April 9, 1988, decedent wrote a letter to Mr. Newman. He
thanked Mr. Newman for the copies of Barney’s adoption papers.
Decedent further wrote:
Yeah. I know all about $10,000 to a slew of
folks, no gift tax and it saves me taxes. I have a
one-word response to that and it has only four letters,
the first two are n u and the last two are t s. I’m
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