The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-25
MEMS AND MOMENTS WILLS.
THOSE that Are Probated in Court, and
the Romances They Reveal.
Living a Double Life for Half a Century
Canon Farrar and Two other Noted
Northumberland Notes.
Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW York, Oct. 22-An intense interest at
taches to nearly ali proceedings in the Probate
Court. 1t is always a dispute about money. 1t
is a probing of affection. There is a romance in
every case, almost. 1t is no mere sordid issue,
like the humdrum suits on commercial paper for
goods sold and delivered, or horse-trade disputes.
1t always involves the relations of families. 1t
takes the roof off from the house and invites the
public to look down into the home-circle and
witness the dragging from the closet OF the long
concealed skeleton.
The most curious cases that ever come before
the New York Surrogate are those in which the
head of the family has lived a dual life-appear-
ing under one identity to his wife and children
and domestic friends and under another to the
rest of his acquaintance. Sometimes this dual
life continues for many years-sometimes for
scores of ~years-the man who is known as Smith
to his family and relatives being known at
his Office or his store as Jones. One would sup
pose that such cases must be exceedingly rare;
but my observation leads ME to believe them
common and numerous. The fact that
within the last three years at least
three such instances have come before
dhe Surrogate implies that there must be hun
dreds of men living in this city under a double
identity to-day. should think it would make a
man nervous not to know whether the next man
ne meets will recognize him as Smith or Jones,
Or whether he may not encounter two men, one
of whom will salute him as Smith and the other
as Jones.
Philip Schuyler, the railroad millionaire of
4ranFu wo ono nf ITHACA fw0-facpd
persons.
"Why, Bob Spicer, how came you to know
that mani l didn't know as you knew him"
said a young fellow to his companion and school
fellow as they passed a handsome gentleman on
Broadway, and to whom they both bowed.
swell. yes; I know him slightly" said young
Spicer sarcastically. '.Why shouldn't I know
him, seeing that he is my father"
Your father!n exclaimed the other, with a
laugh; mo much. You're not a wise boy; that's
Philip Schuyler"
"Tain't either!!' answered the other e~xcitedly.
'Don't l know my owr fatherl What are you
talking about? Haven't I seen him every day
ever since I could remember"
But, have you generally seen him evenings,
Bob9"
mo; he works down town, evenings"
"Worksi l tell you he's a Fifth-avenue swell,
Schuyler is, and he goes to all the Patriarch
Clubs parties and balls; and he is a bachelor, and
he is sweet on my Aunt Emma; and he plays bill
iards at our house every few evenings. They
say he's awful rich"
"See here" said Bob Spicer, sole mnly, to his
companion; "we can't be friends any more if you
talk that way. Talk is cheap. Come home with
me at 5 o'clock. and see what mother and sisters
say about it. Father will be there. I'll bet
you -
The boys parted without having made a wager,
but Bob investigated, and he found that his
known on the Stock Exchange, and at No. 10
Broad street, and up town as the railroad mag
nate and bachelor millionaire Philip Schuyler.
The New York papers of this morning turn
off in ten lines the will contest of Winnifred
Austin, before the Surrogate, though under that
contest lies masked a most strange family histo-
~. The money now grappled for was earned by
O man who illustrated in a most remarkable de
gree the possibility of living two lives, absolute
ly separated from each other, IN one city on this
Qittie planet.
The will now in contest is that of the widow of
an old Scotch importer of linens, who accumu-
dated a considerable fortune in that business, and
then augmented it by shaving notes; the name
of the ~testator is Winnlfred Austin. The i'm
porter died in 1875, leaving to her personal prop
erty to the amount of $500, 900 and a house on
West Twenty-third street, In which he had lived
for many years, and had reared a large family.
A1pNh Wv vi OSNIsS UuANOVs "hOAS hO ACA MO
Office, he was known as William Hutchinson.
None of his business acquaintance suspected
him of being married. nor of having a family.
He was regarded as a rich, thrifty old bachelor
by all his business acquaintance. On West
Twenty-third street, where he long resided with
his family, he was known as William Austin.
In church he was known as Austin; on the stock
board as Hutchinson. He travelled with his fam
Hutchinson. His family moved modestly in
society, and he with them, and everywhere he
was known socially as Misunderstanding at the
club, where he was Hutchinson.
THIS remarkable issembler died ten years ago,
1T the age of seventy-hve, leaving a million OF
money. a widow, five sons and a daughter. His
will was presented for probate early in 1875. and
1t devised and bequeathed the estate ito Winni.
fred Austin, who resides at my house, No. -
TwentY-third street, in this city" to be held in
trust for her during her life, the income to be
applied to the use of herself and her children,
sand on her death the property shall be divided
among her five sons and her daughter" in such
proportions as she might by will designate. This
will was dated April 4, 1871.
Early in 1874 he executed a codicil, and his
attorney, who had served him professionally for
many years, then learned for the first time the
true relation of the parties. The codicil read,
s"Whereas, | have named as sole executrix of
my last will and testament Mrs. Winnifred
Austin, l now wish to declare that she is and
has been, ever since our cohabitation, my true
and lawful wife, and the six children named in
my Will are my lawful children, Inc name
tAustin' having been retained for reasons of our
own
By this codicial a son and grandson were given
d Interstate in the shares devised TO them, the
property 10 go to the children on their death.
These parties contested the will; but it was over
whelmingly shown that the ~testator was uninfu-
enced and of a sound mind, and the will was ad-
mitted to probate.
Last summer the widow died, having, like the
children, retained the name of Austin. BY the
power of appointment given her by Mr. Hutch
Jason, she willed one-half of the property to the
daughter, and distributed the rest, in fractions,
among the more or less worthless sons. They
contested it, and it is this contest that is pend
Ing.
The most remarkable fact connected with this
case is that Hutchinson lived this double life in
this city undiscovered for more than half a cen
fury. When he died his Oldest son was ffty-one
years old. and the next was forty-six; but