Williams' executor deals blow to cremation hopes

INVERNESS -- The executor of Ted Williams' estate tried to halt the court battle over the baseball legend's remains Thursday, but his oldest daughter said she won't concede the fight.

Al Cassidy, representative for Williams' estate, withdrew a request for a court to help resolve the dispute over Williams' body. Cassidy's filing said he is now convinced Williams wanted to be cryonically frozen after his death.

The move effectively stops the proceedings that began shortly after Williams' death July 5.

"This ends this legal action," said Chip Tuttle, a spokesman for the estate. "Whether or not there's going to be any further legal action is something I don't want to speculate about."

Cassidy's filing dealt a blow to Bobby-Jo Williams Ferrell, who is feuding with her half-siblings over the remains. Ferrell maintains her father wanted to be cremated after his death with his ashes spread over the coast of Florida, as stated in his will.

John-Henry and Claudia Williams say their father changed his mind after drafting the 1996 will and entered into a pact with them to be frozen after their deaths. Williams' body is believed to be in a cryonics lab in Arizona.

In a statement Thursday, Cassidy said he withdrew his petition because he had no doubts as to the authenticity of the handwritten pact, allegedly signed in November 2000 while Williams was a patient at a Gainesville hospital.

He cited as evidence a report by a forensic handwriting expert attesting to the authenticity of Ted Williams' signature on the pact and an affidavit signed by Claudia Williams. Both were also submitted to the court Thursday.

"I am completely confident that Ted's last wishes have been honored and, in turn, I have no additional responsibility with regard to Ted's remains," Cassidy said.

But Ferrell's lawyer, Richard Fitzpatrick, said the report conducted by Miami forensic handwriting expert Linda Hart raised more questions than it answered. John-Henry Williams said the handwritten note, which has been folded and ripped, was stored in his car after it was signed.

"We are distressed that the personal representative who is presumably independent from the other parties in the case would dismiss the petition when there are so many unanswered questions," Fitzpatrick said.

He plans to file a petition next week asking Circuit Judge Patricia Thomas to direct Cassidy to follow the wishes stated in Williams' will.

The fight has gone beyond just his client, Fitzpatrick added.

"Ted Williams was an American treasure. Maybe the American people have a right to know what has happened to him," he said.

Ferrell's husband, Mark, swore Thursday he and his wife would not give up.

"We're just going to keep on keeping on," Mark Ferrell pledged from his home. "My wife is very determined to see her father restored to some dignity instead of what John-Henry has done, made him the joke of the Leno show."

-- Times staff writer Alex Leary contributed to this report.

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