Kuralt Trial Reveals

10/26/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

The longtime companion of the late CBS news personality Charles Kuralt had her day in court this week. Patricia Shannon, who revealed she had a nearly 30-year extramarital affair with Kuralt, petitioned a court in Montana to consider her claim on his estate. Shannon, who was not named in Kuralt's will, testified that the Sunday morning TV host promised her his 90-acre Montana estate. She revealed a letter from Kuralt in which he wrote "I'll have the lawyer visit the hospital to be sure you inherit the rest of the place in MT, if it comes to that." Kuralt's daughters from his marriage to Suzanne Baird Kuralt -- Susan Bowers and Lisa Bowers White -- did not appear in court. Kuralt, known for his "On the Road" reports, died in 1997. Following the death of his widow last year, Shannon stepped forward and revealed Kuralt's double life. After one day of testimony, District Judge John Christensen said he would rule within 30 days.