The New York herald., 1878-09-15
MORE CONTESTED MILLIONS.
GREAT SURPRISE TO THE wHIrrAKER FAMILY
At PHILADgLPHrA--A LAWYER PRODUCES A
WILL IN HIS OWN HANDWRITING.

GREAT SURPRISE TO THE wHIrrAKER FAMILY
AT PHILApELPHrA--A LAWYER PRODUCES
WILL IN HIS OWN HANDWRITING.
lBY TELEe GRAPH ro THE HERALD.
PnILADELpnIA. Sept II, 1875
very remarkable and Interesting contest Is
about 10 take place before the Register OF
Wills in this city. II illustrates again the
lesson taught by the cases OF Cornelius Van
derbilt, Alexander Stewart and others, still fresh
In the public memory On August "a last Robert
Whitaker, an eldorly gentleman, and very wealthy
retired woolien manufacturer, was almost instantly
killed by being struck by Pennsylvania Rail-
road train at Tacony, near this city, through
the earelessnsss OF his coachman, who was driving
Mr. Whitaker In the family carriage at the ime OF
the accident Before his retirement from business
MI. Whitaker was one Of the largest wooilsn manu-
factursrs In the country. As was owner Of Whitts-
ksSviile, suburb Of this city which grew around
the Whitaker Mills, which was also his exciusivs
property. he left estate valued at between
ST. 900 and 5000. OOO
MOVE.
The day after the fatal accident Mr. Neal, the Regis
ter Of Wills, received this tsssram:-
on Hi with ius' %,s w Hilf' "' WIIIiAa 6i6RsRsos
day two after the Register, whose oihcii
duties correspond TO those OF the Surrogate In Now
~
Mr.. Dicksrson 10 tho shape Of latter In which
alleged that tho writer had been Mr.. whitsaksr's
counsel Tor thirty years, and that he had In bis
possession Mr.. Whntaker's will, which ne uhs
writer had drawn up six or seven years ago. just
alter the second marriage OF the deceased. The
said he would with the viii, and wrote
the Register TO warn him not 10 give out letters OF
to forsssii tho action OF the
short alter this ,ne relatives OF the millionaire
Ia "a III
winch had been found In Its proper place among
the papers OF tho deceased. They were dumb
when tho Register showed tnem the istter sisned
Dickerson AMI all tho menberszof the family appear
Ia hava un,ted n declaring t O be ths OF
plot, which they denounced In vigorous terms. Their
Immediately issued notice TO tue Register
to gran, letters upon tho New York Will and an agent
was despatched TO New York 10 see Mr. Dickerson
who wanted 500 to guarantee his expenses bring
ing tho will to Pniladolphia and Claiming that
the will In his possession dated subsequent 10 the one
| found in PhladeIpha.
| STRANGE pRocgEDiSG.
Tho request for 500 was refused, 1t being thought
| strange Inat the lawyer should demand 1t when, II
the will he hold genuine, hv wou1 receive SIC 900
! ani an absoution from hrs debts to Mr. Whttuker's
| estate. Mr. Dicksrson has s,nce brought over and
| nled the will IN hts possession.
.... CONDITIONS or the WILL. .,4
THIS con tested VIII is quite curious and interest
ing document II purports 10 have been excepted on
srson il provides for The absolute sit o. The dwell
ing No. Green street, TO Mary G. Wnittaxcr the
% ns S as :Dd oi s
| brother and sister Also the gnt Of 500
| each tile household servants
his employ 1T the time Of h,s death. After the pri-
beqaess the esator gives So 900 70 the wardans
Of the oxord Church for tho endowment OF the
| "Robert Whitaker Repair Fund" and directs his
executors set aside the OF $50 900 to DO ap
piled to the purchase OF some lot or piece Of ground,
suitable The erection OF churcn structure within
| the city of Philadelphia, and TO erect thereon u
plain, substantial building Tor the holding OF free
religious services where Gospel sh AL be preached
| without money and without price, and which said
building shall be known as the "Whitaker Memorial
| Church."
| An EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GIRLS
The tesia,r directs thai all the rest VI his vast es
tate be held 10 by his executors Tor the follow
ing PURPOSES To be applied 10 the purchase OF
properly and the construction thereon OF plain and
substantial bailding suitable ior the purposes OF
be known as tue Whitaker Practical Institute, Tor
| the rearing and education OF orphan gris
In good plan Euglisn education, and practically in
such mechanical arts or trades US they may show
aptitude Tor 10 tho elevation OF womans labor. So
lar the education Is practical the executors ara u
r.cted 10 follow me ike INSTRUCTIONS Of the VIII VI
| Tho late Stephen G.rard.
The instrument states that the orphan girls 10 be
benefited by MS bequest must De subject IN all re-
spscis TO the same ike dreciion and discipline ~
pe0sass TO be- proviScd Tor snail 10 received
by girls only, and who must whon admitted.
bo least years old anu over ten aud they
required to stay 10 tho Institution until they
are twenty yesrs OF age During the iast our yosrs
OF Their res'aence IN the institution they shall DO
t,ught such arts and trauos thcy NAV seem best
adapted Tor Ia the opinion OF tho managers ana prn-
cipai Tine products OF their labor shall be period
really sold aud tho proceeds thereof be applied 10 tho
general income OF the iunds OF the home, so that
the orphan eiris In measure l,si that
they objects OF CHARITY, but that they have,
far they have bcen enabled TO 40 80 by tho irus
OF their labor, repaid the expenses OF ther educ on
ana uiaiD iDtenance.
~ also" continues the tesiator, "and for tho
reasIn that governed the said StopbeD Grard, direct
that the clause relating to religious aud ad.
mis- ion OF clergymen TO the grounds or into said
home shall be ken ard considered as part oi TINS.
nv Will"
THE EXECUTORS AND THEIR LEcAcigs.
Mr DIckcfson aifnits ne wrote tue viii. It's con-
clusion purp0rts 10 show ia bis Own handwriting tho
esteem which be was held by the testator. Tue
executors appointed, aud TO whom p!enary powers
(cvnditIouai only upon the advce aud consent of
OF the deceased Daniel Sheuz. 'my old trust, d
friend" aud Alexander Is. SeguA ln case of the
death OF one another is to be appointed with the
cuuse0t OF my old ana beloved counsellor, William L.
DicKerson' The executors are to receive slooeo
sncn ia lieu OF COMMISSION. And Ia naming this
r.uad SUM-" says tue deceased, IL am holding out TO
IN said executors the greatest inducomebt TO carry
out the prov isious OF thls my Will" Aud tEen B
nddod "a Mr. D.ckersons hiDdwrting. ~ nominate
and appcinl my old froLd anu counssior, Illam r.
Dckerson, as advisory council TO my said
cxeculers and desire and direct that no in
veslme mt of any kind shall be made by them with.
out hi consent and concurrence. And tor anything
uuder MS advice ur direction hereby cxonerate my
SAID executors aud "a compensation to the SAID Mr..
mis- services 10 this matter rnd also Tor
MS ma ny anu long services rendered. to mo or tho
period oi thirty years that We have been ihtimae,
ana In lieu OF ali ces heropy give ana bcq ueath 10
Inc said wiiiam X. Dicksrson tho sun OF $1,000,
anu also exoDeraie him IRON his indeUted.
ness to me.n fho Will IS Witnessed by Thomas
T. Rowlott anu Herman 4. RUE. Tue heirs not only
secured the auisst counsel but impressed into tLoir
country VINO to-day has busied hnsclf wth careful
comp son Of the signature TO the Will with thst
upvn n OF Mr. whitsEcr's cheeks. IL ~ declal sd by
TINS expert to bs not even clear limitation.