New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
total dealings to-day In
COLLEGE OR HOSPIT4LP
THE EXTENDED LITIGATION OVER THE WILL CO
SAMUEL wOoD-vALUE OF THE ESTATE.

THE EXTENDED LITIGATION OVER THE WILL CO
SAMUEL wooD-vALUE OF THE ESTATE.
The office of the estate of the late Samuel
Wood is In the Temple Court Building, Beekman aud
Nassau SITS. Two of the executors, Martin Wood and
Alfred L. S!monson, were met there yesterday by Q
TRIBUNE reporter. Abram Hewlett, another executor,
has never been qualified and between Dr. William
Elmer the fourth executor and the Others there has
the disagreement that has given rise TO the litigation
over the will. In regard TO this litigation Mr. Simon
son said:
There has been dissatisfaction with Dr. Elmer from
first, and has desire TO have him removed
of the executors but the proceedings have not
been investigates by by Mr.. Wood. The petition
for bis removal signed by Abram Hewlett and some
forty fifty others. nearly ALL think OF the legaees
by whom his methods have been regarded either
proper honest. They have approved management
on all occasions and have acted under their drec-
ton"
"si that the musical college Mr. Wood desired
to establish in the city likely be organizedp
THAT my opinion and is the opinion of the beat
lawyers whom 1 have consulted the subject. The
in this shape: BY his will Samuel Wood provided
explicitly for hospital to be named after him, and for
which he appointed three tru' ices, Martin Wood, Ed
ward +. schenck and myself In a codici he simply
says that this hospital shall be changed TO musical
college, following out the conditions provided IN tie
will but giving plan for the college, and If the con-
ditions are carried out a hospital not q college
are appointed. DIR. Elmer is of these and
E. r. schenck is left OUT but by tn
terms the will the also the trustees Of
the no spta the college, and cannot see by what
authority these other trustees appointed Mr. Wood
getting old ana DIR. Liner brought HE lawyer Titus
b. Edrdge, him make the cooei providing for the
college. prevailed Mr. Wood TO see Charles OConor
believing the best authority should be secured such
an OCCASION Mr.. O'Conor with all bis experience said
that he would not think OF drawing up such eodc
without some months consideration o. the subject but
Mr. Wood being i'll Dr. Elmer urged that Il should be
done at once and his lawyer drew up the code-not
MIR. O'Conor, as notice DIR. Elmer has said
"At what do you value the estael
AT the time OF Mr.. Woods death, IN March, 1875
placed the value OF the two brothers estates ut SliVo
900. They about evenly divided Receny
testified that Samuel Woods estate was worth between
six and hundred thousand dollars with debts that
reduced il to about 100000 II the codc Is found TO
be invalid as we hold the estate will then be dsrib-
uted as the will Indicated and hospital WIN be oult'
Toe codc has been sustained by the ana an
appeal was taken 70 the General Term b ~ na @ II 20
the Court Of Appeals and IN case tue decision IS sso
have it construed whether the codicil is valid
DR.. Elmer was called on at his home. No. 80 West
!" The Wood Musical College is not fiction" said he.
they who oppose it will find out before ting business
ment OF samuel Wood has been rascaly: &c IS not
plan developed and carried By me- but the steps Gr
Wood and under his personal directicr lie had nIss
Intended build and endow hospital Dut thls was no'
TO his satisfaction aud he asked NE 10 sigyest SOME
thing. did suggest several n psi' Kny.an3
who then had charge of the Academy OF Music MAS
talking with me and spoke OF MT wood ,hei sJnss'
tue man found u Musical College, sald hihgsshs'
suggested Mr.. Wood and he took tot AT ones,
although he was not musician. lie was pcasea MIN
the project ana determined on IT, IhrOLgh LIS cnorts
act incorporation passed by the Legislature
providing board OF nine trustees Another act vas
passed Oy the Legislature Ia 1879 securing Use sue
of college The hrst act was attended 10 ana urec
Henry stebbns, and the other ny Morgan L. Harris,
both acting directly under the instructions OF Mr. Wood
He paid their expenses and costs, amounting to Sloo
and nave charged with appropriahng the money
have never received dollar from the estate without
their assistance Mr. Wood would have had great
carried the OF counsel as anything more nan egt
mate obtaned was in the Central Para, ON the
Eighty st. Had he lived the college
would have been completed and In operation"
to endow the college ~
No; there Is of their msrepresen alton. Sam.
uel Wood had u control Of the property OF his deceased
brother AOram for more than ten years. IL did not
amount 10 so much his own which was largely Ia
NewYork City The cOdic provides hat the executors
make division Of the two properties such action
lie considered by them In the interest OF the egatees
10 asserted that such division has been made put
this pass either the college will claim its share OF the
property of ADram Wood"
what do you consider the value OF the total PROV
erty I"
II have the estimate OF Colonel Rusn Hawtns made
within the past month taat IL Is worth over @IoVo.vv
Toe will provides that the eGatees shall nrst "
paid the legacIes left them. and the remainder saAA
10 endow the Wood Musical College