The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-05
HORACE GREELEY's WILL.


Mr.. Whitelaw Reid's Letter TO MI.
Charles Storrs ON Behalf OF Miss Gree
Icy.
DEAR Mr. SToRRs:-
You asked me to bear from yourself and associ-
ate executors under Mr.. Greeley's will OF 1871 q
message to Miss Ida L. Greeley, proposing COM
promise which should prevent litigation. She &C
cepted In substance, and proceeded In good faith
to carry each item In IL; but the litigation and
unseemly scandal go on. No true friend ofMr Gree
hey. no one who honors his memory or wishes to
befriend his family can regard the procedure with
any other feeling than one Of profound regret.
Miss Greeley now authorizes me to propose on her
part and to entreat your acceptance OF an arrange
ment to stop IT.
own motion. She never saw 1t, never heard or 1t
until after IL was written 1t was the natural I'm
pulse OF man who found his estate impaired a TO
and when he wrote IL, and Tor some days alter
ward he was in such mental condition as to be
writing editorials for the Tribune, which any Of us
who left would gladly give our right hands to be
able to equal. But Miss Greeley understands you
to think this last will ought not to be allowed to
stand-frst, because 1t does not sufficiently assure
to her younger sister One-half the property;
second, because 1t does not properly provide
for the other heirs: third because, under It, the set
tlement OF the estate would probably be lett to Miss
Greeley, whom you consider unequal TO the man
agement OF the property; and, iourth because the
guardianship OF her sister might also be left with
her, or In other hands which you would regard as
unsafe.
Miss Greeley authorizes me, as a final effort to
avoid the further scandal OF this needless contest,
to offer to meet absolutely and fully each OF your
objections as folOws:-
l. She will execute to her sister any absolute
title to One-haf the entire property, which any re-
putable lawyers may devise.
2. She offers the absolute release OF all claims Dy
the other heirs under the Will or 1871 the declara-
ton of the Secretary OF the Children's Aid Society
that they have nothing to do with the contest, ana
the resolution they have adopted to take no part In
1t in the future.
8. She will accept yourself as an associate In the
execution OF the will, or any business man CHOSEN
by the editors Of the HERALD World and Tribune;
or she will leave it entirely to any two business
men whom they may select.
4. She will accept Mr. John E. Williams as the
guardian for her sister, or any guardian whom the
This seems to meet every objection that has been
raised In q manner with Which 1t Is hard to con-
ceive that a fair-minded man can find fault. What
can possibly be left to continue the scandal OF a
ready, and Is seriously Affecting Miss Greeley g
health. Her case seems the harder when 1t Is re-
membered that the contest ia kept up with her by
executors under q former will, one OF whom is a
bankrupt debtor to the estate under very unfcr-
tunate circumstances and Is managed by lawyer
who Is likewise indebted to it.
Speaking solely as one who honors Mr.. Greeley IS
memory, and believes that his children have right
to the undisturbed enjoyment OF the remnants OF
his property Iappeal to you, as one surely cherish
era offers Of his daughter and close this unseemly
contest Miss Greeley asks me to request the favor
OF an answer in writing before any further inter-
views with her on the subject Very truly yours,
WHITELAW REID.
CHAs. STORRS, Esq.
P. s.-A copy Of this letter will be forwarded to
Mr.. Manning w. r.
The TRIBUNE OFFICE, Jan. 80, 1879