Interesting stuff--just what I was looking for after having come across this at a Bible Student site and feeling curious about it:
Before Pastor Russel's death, the Pastor had dismissed Rutherford from Bethel and provided him with funds for a new start in California. When Pastor Russell died, Rutherford was working as a floorwalker in a department store. Upon hearing of the Pastor's death, he telegraphed Bethel and told them to hold everything until he arrived. At the time of his death, Pastor Russell was in process of making several changes in the Bethel family, and evidently had not yet updated the members of the board of directors. Since he no longer wanted Rutherford at Bethel, it is doubtful that he wanted him on the board of directors in event of his death.
~Merry