The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-26
A WILL ROMANCE.
Why Mrs Bourne Gave A. Thorn
dyke Rice $500 600.

Newport, r. l., February A..
Thtrs appssrs to be a very fair pros
pect for bitter litigation over the will
of the late Mrs. NJ. A. Bourne, of
Boston and New York. who owned a
cottage here. and who proba bly, en-
tertained during the season more
people of literary distinction than all
the cot.sgers put together. 1t will be
remembered by the readers of the
World that Mrs. Bourne bequesthed
to her young relative, Mr..
Allen Thorndike Rice, the sum
of 100000. beside one
third interest in the residue of
the estate, each part of which is
valued at about the same amount as
the bequest to the young editor.
The circumstances which brought
about the bequest are quite interest
ing. the following being the main
points: Mrs. Bourne was, previous
to her marriage with Mr.. Bourne, q
widow named Thorndike. By her
fret husband she hsd three daugh-
ters, two of whom survive her and
are now sbroGd, beth having married
sliens-one the Count de Sartiges,
formerly French Minister at WASH
ipgton, and the other NJ. De Banue-
los. The third daughter was the
mother of Mr.. Allen Thorndike Rice,
and died soOn afte- bis birth. In the
course of time Mrs. Thornkike be-
came a widow, and subsequently
married Mr.. Bourne. a wealthy bach
elor of Boston. To this proposed
union Mrs. Thorndike's two daughters
were violently opposed. Their ex-
postulations were, however, in vain.
Alter the marriage of their mother
to Mr.. Bourne their treatment Of
that gentleman was anything but OF
flial character. They sEubbed
him upon every possible occasion,
and it became evident to Mr.. Bourne's
friends that he was much panied
thereet. But the affection which
they lacked for him was more than
made up by the devotion Of Mr..
Alien Thorndike Rice, who treated
the old gentleman with marked re-
spect and disinterested affection. This
was not lost upon Mr.. Bourne, who
frequently, in conversation with hiA
wife, expressed a determination to do
something for his youpgiiriend. He
did not do so directly, however, but
left i: to Mrs. Bourne. At his death
his property, valued at about half q
million, was left to Mrs. Bourne.
That lady. desiring to carry out the
wishes OF her husband, left to young
; Rice the value OF the estate left her
by Mr.. Bourne, and in dividing her
own property gave her two surviving
daughters one-third, ard to Mr. A.
T. Rice she bequeathed the other
share, which would have been his
mothers had she lived.
It is therefore apparent that the
two surviving daughters have not
been dealt with upjustly and there is
good reason for believing that they
Themselves are OF that opinion, but
the real pinch GENES from the fact
that Mrs. Bourne stipulated IN her
will that her sons-in.law were not to
have any hand in the management oil
her estate because she bad not faith
in foreigners. 1t is generally believed
that the greatopposition to tie will vii
arise from the sons-in law. The ceun'
sci for the daughters have not re
ceived, as yet. positive instruction
form them. they being now in
, Europe, but it is believed that there
; will be a bitter contest, the result oil
which it is impossible to foretell'
These are the main facts in the case,