Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-12-17
THE STATE AT LARGE.
The Newberry Millions.

A Detroit evening paper gives the following
account of the famous Newberry fortune, the
division OF which has been made necessary by
the death Of Julia Butler Newbery in Paris a
few DAYS ago:
The value of the estate Is yariously estimated
at from -, 00O,0 900 to $40, 900. One half Of
this goes to the city of Chicago for the purpose
of foun ling a public library. A large part OF
the other hall comes to Detroit to be divided
among a number of Newberrys and syndicate
composed of Senator Palmer, Ashley, Pond
and VIM. A. Moore.
Walter L. Newberry, who left the millions,
went from Detroit to Chicago in 1884. The
place was then little more than settlement
on the prairie. For mere song he bought 40
acres some distance from the town limits. The
marvellous development OF Chicago soon made
Newberry's tract OF land part OF the city,
and its owner became millionaire. In 1865
lie died, leaving wife and two daughters. dis
children survived him only a few years. This
left the widow standing between the millions
and the numerous other heirs Mr.. Newberry's
will provided that no division OF his estate
should be made until the death Of his widow.
In the meantime Mrs. Newberry was to receive
$4,000 per year.
Every legal method was made by the heirs
10 break the provision of he win delaying their
inheritance. The case was tried in the Illinois
courts and resulted In sustaining tho will.
During the struggle among the heirs, Mrs.
NcMDtrry REMOVER 10 dDOul
20 years of age she was hale and hearty, and
gave every indication OF living to be centen-
arian.
The most novel feature connected with the
Detroit heirs is the rich speculation which sew
cral capitalists have made Warner Newberry
was at one time Il leading wholesale grocer In
Detroit. His fortune left him, however, and
he found himself at an advanced age with no
means of supporting himself and family.
Under his uncle's will he would re-
ceiye about half Il million dollars, but
as this was conditional on the death OF
the hale and hearty Paris widow, IL gave him
little aid In his extremity. He applied TO his
wealthy relative, John :. Newberry, for
situation as clerk, but was told that the civil
service reform rules applied In that gentleman's
numerous factories and that clerks were pro-
NOTED to fill vacancies. Warner Newberry
thereupon offered his large prospective Tor
tune for sale. Few Were willing to specu-
iatc on it, as there could be no legal contract
made binding Newherry 10 transfer the
millions when they came. syndicate was
finally formed to take an interest IN Warner
Newberrys share. Senator Palmer, Ashley
Pond and VIM. A. Moore contracted to
pay Mr.. Newberry $1,000 per year Us long as
he lived, prior to the death Of the
nris widow. In return they were 10 re-
ceive Sl,000000, or about 0ne-Iourlh OF
Warner Newberry's share. The contract was
made about four years ago. Mr.. Newberry
has since been made comfortable 10y his regular
annuity. Outside spectators thought that
this syndicate would lose money in the end
owing to the long lease OF life which the widow
seemed to have. BY her unexpected death,
the Detroit Spectators received SlOO,OOJ in
cash for their investment OF about $4,000.
Messrs. Palmer, Pond and Moore each receive
S33, 1913 on an investment of S3,333 or profit
of LOCO per cent.
The other Detroit heirs are Mrs. Fannie
Edgerton who receives S325,0 700; aud Mrs.
Ladue, Wa ter, Charles r., William N, Edward,
Frederick, John S. and Henry w. Newbery,
each of whom receives about $l75,0O0 War
ner Newberry will still have about $500, 900
alter paving the Detroit syndicate SlQO. 900.