, 1875-09-30
THE WARD WILL LITIGATION,

The tiercely ely-contested struggle to break tho
will left by the lato Capt. WAnp, of Detroit,
which is still pending in tho courts of that
city, is already marked by developments
which impars to tho proceedings tho interest
Of hjghly-vrouglt romance, md is nlready
as suggestive in material for tho aovelist aa
any Of tho occurrences in roal life from
which CHARLES READE or N1LK1E COLLINS
have drawn in tho construction Of their
works. Capt. WAnp, in his 1uo and business
theories and practice, waa tho very highest
Of ultra thrift mel, and ho know how
to utilize tho tariff for his pccuniary benefit
moro completely than almost my other busi-
ncss n,an in this country. Ho was man Of
immense executive ability md remarkable
grasp of dctnil, and BY tho mid Of these quail
ties lo not only advocated fca1fully high
tariff during the past fourteen years Of his
life. hut ho utilized It 80 completely by taking
advantage Of constnntly-incroasing tax upon
consumers an to roll mp n fortune Of over six
millions Of dollars, which was transferred
from tho pockets of consumers into his own.
Tho inventory Of that property has already
been printed in The Tn1prSE. It embraced
docks, mills. Tcssals, lumber, real estate, and
shares in iron mud stool companies md min-
ing companies, all over the United States and
CANADA, nggregating, on low cash valuation,
I'll, ,335, 040-an enormous result Of lifo's
work from Anancinl point Of viow.
With this magnificent fortune, Capt. Ward
might havo achieved great good, and tho
general public, unacQuainted with his :" true
inwardnesa," had every reason To expect that
man with Ais qualities Of character, hia
clear foresight, and llis practical application
TO tho Affairs Of life, would 80 direct aud
mango that fortune TINT after his death 1t
would do tho greatest good to tho greatest
possible number OF lis fel1ow-citizens, and
that itH benefits would return, In some shape,
for the blessing Of those out Of whose pockets
it came. This was not to be, however. With
oil his practical application to tho afaira of
life, and bis succesa in manipulating them
80 III to result in his constant i'd
vantage, reaching their climax In
colossal fortune, no had weak silo
to his mental md moral character. The
wcak side Of his mental character was his
prononoss to delusionB and superstition Of
his moral character, want Of conscience.
Tho latter drove him to tho most infamous
treatment Of his first vito. While yet mar
riel to ler, and from no fault or breach Of
faith upon her part, he became infatuated
with mother woman who managed him at
hor own will Tho relations OF theBe two,
aidcd by most tlastardly scheme Of their
concoction. led to divorce obtained by tho
first wife. The latter abandoned hcr homo
and died brokcn-hearted woman year af.
forwards, aud, within sixty dayH after tho de-
croo Of divorce was obtained, Capt. WAnp
Ind martial tie other woman. The pcculiari.
ty Of his mental character led him into
Spiritualism, which colorod his whole lito
in its minor details. In his business
interests he trusted to himself, but in almost
everything else he implicitly followed tho
guidance Of spiritual mediums. When IL
came to tho most important event Of 1lia life
tho making Of Lis will-he consulted these
mediums. notably ono in New York, In 1874,
under whose advice aud dictation DO left tho
great bulk Of this vast estate to tho second
wife, catting of tho children by the first wife
With tho paltry allowance Of $500 per month
to be paid at the pleasure OF the executors,
which is tantan1ount, considering his colossal
fortune, to disinheriting the children. 70
add to tho palpablo injustice OF this direction
Of tho property, the Trustees. with m oya to
their own interests, have secured for them.
selves salary Of $50, ,0o0 per year for admin
istering the estate
The contestants now come in aud seek to