Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-23

lFFOm lne LOulsNlile COuftef-JO urnal.I
In 1858, DIR. |. NJ. Eyars, wel-known ply
stefan OF Louisville, moved from Philadelphia
10 Cincinnati, and there commenced the prac-
tice of his profession. Mrs. Evans, his wife,
had died few years previous, leaving two or
phan boys, John G. and George NJ. then only
six and four years old, These children were
left in Philadelphia, In the charge and under The
guardianship of their maiden greataunt, Miss
Mary Richards, Quakeress. This lady trained
the little ones during several years in paths of
virtue and honesty and usefulness Miss Rich
ards exercised and enforced her authority in
way peculiar to the genler sex, if not peculiar to
her religion In her pocket was a small paper box,
wrapped and concealed beneath several layers
of rags, tied and seWed together with great care,
The box, always about her person, contained Il
large cluster of costly and most beautiful Qiia-
monds. The lads sometimes became disobcdi-
ent and obsleperous; and, IN order to quiet
them and iuSdre their good behavior Miss
Richards would open TO their view these magnifi-
cent Jewels, saying at the same time, in QUA
ker style,
This is Tor thee, Johnny, and that is for
the Georgia, if thee both will be good, loving
and Obedient children"
DIR. |. NJ. Evans, the father, was, during these
pleasant years, in the lar-oli west. An accident
soon happened which second time bcreaved
the little boys of their best and dearest friend.
Johnny became sick one day, and Miss Rich
ards started to the drug store 10 procure medi,
cine. In going down the stairway she slipped,
and in the fall dslOeated her spine A few
days after she died, and the little orphans were
sent out west to their father. This occurred In
1860,
Dir. Evans continued his ORGANIZATIONS in
| the west, moving first 10 New Albany, then to
| Georgetown, XIV, afterwards to Memphis, Tenn,
| and finally 10 this place in 1868. His address
and whereabouts, and that of his two boys, were
| entirely unknown to any member Of his family
i'll Philadelphia. The boys grew up TO be
| young men; were appointed TO places of trust
by prominent merchants, both here and else
where
Miss Mary Richards, their great aunt some
time previous to her death, made her will and
bequeathed large fortune to Thomas l. Ev-
ans, in trust for Johnny and George. A pro-
Yiso was understood between the parties that
the legal6eE should not be informed Of Il legacy
until the younger should arrive at tho age Of
twenty-five.
Mr.. Thomas L. Evans took charge of the
funds. invested them safely in reliable securi-
ties, faithfully executed the trust, and accumu-
lated during his life time large sums Of money
in the way of dividends and interest, all of
which he reinVested and placed to the credit of
the absent beneticiarleS. The existence of the
trust was kept profound secret. His DEATH
however, which occurred in 1866, ten years al-
ter the date of the viii, under the circumstances
might have defeated the object of the will and
left in permanent poverty the youthful belefci-
aries.
Mr.. Charles Dgtilh, his administrator, found
some months later, among the papers of de-
ceased the will of Miss Mary Richards. Then for
the brSt time, hesGcret was made known to him
self, and to other members of the Evans family,
that John and George Evans were the dcyisees
OF their great amt. Dir, Dulilh commenced
search for them, addressing letters Of inquiry to
prominent men all over the country. The mem
bels of the family living IN Philadelphia
also engaged in the correspondence, which con