Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-26
EDWIN FORREST'S WILL.
The Claims Of the Alleged Heir Who
Seeks to Sit it Aside.
New York Worl(

New York World
Within the last few days man who
claims to be the nephew of the great
tragedian, Edwin Forrest,-William B.
Forrest, of Boston, HAS begun an ac-
ton of ejectment against the Forrest
Home and others The property di-
rectly involved is at and near Yonkers.
in Westchester county, and the object
of the plaintiff is to test the validity of
Edwin FORESTS will, by which his prop
erty WAS left to found and maintain a
home for actors and actresses. The de-
PENDANTS, through their lawyers. |. p.
O'Neill & John McCrane, say that he is
Il pretender and the claim is without
foundation, while Mr.. John Towns end
counsel for the plaintiff, is confident OF
5 Saturday Justice Pratt granted an order
removing the cause from the Supreme
Court to the United States Court of the
southern District
The will of Edwin Forrest was dated
April 5, 1866, and contained provision,
for his sisters, which became inopera-
tive, their death having occurred before
his The trustees were James Oaken, OF
Boston /; James Samson, Of New York,
and Daniel Dougherty, of Philadelphia
The will directed the sale of all pro Der
ty except Spring Brook, in Pennsylva-
mia, which WAS fixed as the location Of
the Forrest Home. The will also gave
FORESTS library to the Home, and "
picture-galIery for the preservation OF
his collection, besides Il neat theatre
for private exhibitions and training, to
which pupils should be admitted. Lee
lures on science, literature and the arts
we're provided for, as we'll as celebra-
tions OF the Fourth of July and Shake
speare's birthday.
The codicils Of the will gave an annu-
ity of $500 to James Cakes aud be-
quests of 5000 each to james Samson
and Daniel Doughelty, $4,000 to Miss
Eliz lbeth Welsh, daughter of John r.
Welsh 5000 to S. 5. Smith, of Gin
cinnati, and 5000 to the Actors Order
of Friendship, of Philadelphia.
In view of the coming trial, II reporter
of the IVoHi called upon Mr. Towns
bend, plaintiff counsel, yesterday, who
give the following version of the case :
" AS my client WilIilm B. Forrest, has
been styled pretender, | am glad you
have called, rs desire to inform all in
terested that he IS RESI- ectlble mer-
h INT doing business In the city of Bos-
ton, Mass, and also that the representa-
| tlves o. the Forces est,te do not dou Ut
his relationship to the late Edwin For
rest. 1t is true that biographers of the
deceased have hazarded the statement
that when his body was consigned to
the earth, there was buried the last of
the Forrest race, and although he was
accustomed to tell his friends that he
had no living relatives, he well knew
to the contrary, an had even exhibited
an interest in them, manifested by his
seeking them out and bestowing Lres-
ents upon them during his visit to Scot
land, III 1868. Tnele was, for Instance
the case of one female member of the
family who, having received a sum of
money, invested it in Bible, in which
is written the name Of the donor. 1t
has been carefully cherished. | will
give you some of the Forrest genealo-
gy. John Forrest, who died in 1903 at
the age Of seventy-three years. in Dunn
trlesshire. Scotland, had nine children,
among whom was William, born in
1903, and who came t. America III the
early part Of the present century, and
was 1T one time runner for the United
States Bank in Philadelphia He mar
rled Rebecca Lewman, their fan lily con-
slsting Of five children, of whom Edwin
was one, born March 6, 1906 All the
children died before Edwin, unmarried
chlldless, and interstate. Another son
Of the Forrest of Dumfriesshire men
toned before, John, left a son of the
same name, who left an heir William,
who lett three sons, one being the pres
ent claimant, William B. Forrest. This
shows that the grandfather of e Twin
Forrest WAS the great grandfather of
the one now claiming the estate as
heir. should not have stated all this
but that wish to place my client in
the proper light. The trustees of the
will have in effect conceded the inval-
idity Of the document by asking the
Legislature in 1874 to release to them
the right of the estate by escheat."