The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-11-10
A RICH MANS RItu WIDOW.
Some Facts and Rocoileclions OF Mrs. AIe,sn
der r.. Stewart.

der II. stewart.
Mrs. Stewart always called her hus-
band "Honey" and he always called her
''NIy dear"
Now that the millionaire aud his
widow have passed from earth it is said
they never spoke harshly to each other,
but always lived a devoted and happy
pair.
Mrs. Stewart survived her husband
ten years and six months. Her death
was comparatively painless. The funer-
al took place Thursday. NJ one o'clock
there WAS a private service at the bcautl-
full marble palace. The remains were
taken TO Garden City and the services
were held in the Cathedral of the Incar-
nation which was erected through Mrs.
Stewards munificcnce. After tho ser
vices the remains were deposited in the
crypt under the altar and elaborate pre-
cautions will be taken to guard against 4
desecration of the grave.
The death of Mrs. Stewart ousc a
fresh interest in the husband. one OF
the remarkable things about Alexander
i. Stewart was the brevity OF his will,
1t would occupy only four or FIVE inches
and he disposed of fifty OF sixty million
dollars in less than five lines. Said he:
"First-An my property and estate,
Of any and every kind OF descriptions,
and wherever situated, | give and devise
and bcqueath to my dear wife, Cornclia
NJ. Stewart, her heirs and assigns for
ever"
After appointing Judge Henry Hilton
his executor and directing him briefly
about the affairs of the estate he added:
"For which service, rs 4 mark OF my re
gard, / give to said Henry Hilton ST.
600, 0OO.f
There were a number Of lcgacics to
various friends, employees and servants
in the household.
When the death OF Mr.. Stewart was
made public Mrs. Stewart was consid-
cred the richest woman in the United
States. When the bcquost OF all her
husbands property to her was published
in the daily papers the enormous burden
put on her aged shoulders was universal
~ believed to be greater than she could
sustain. Fortune favored her, however,
and She sold to Henry Hilton Ill her
right and title in the business OF 4. f..
Stewart and Co., for the sum OF 81 ,OJo,-
600 cash, which slim had been bcqucath-
cd to Henry Hilton by her husband.
Whether this was in accordance with .
misunderstanding of Mr.. Stewart de
sic was never tuDiClN tApIAlLtI,
though it was an open secret that such
was the fact, But that fact in nowisc
altered the legal aspect OF the case. She
was the absolute .lcgatee and could have
done with the property precisely as slc
pleased. That her action i'll parting wijh
a business believed to be worth Iyum
twenty to thirty millions Of dollars Tor
the comparative triiling sum OF one mil
lion, and that a gilt, vas the sensation
Of the day and excited widespread COM
mcut.
The theft OF Stewart body is Still a
mystery. Since the theft various cxpia-
nations have at different times been AS
serted, the most frequent statement being
that the body had been privately rccoy-
cred by Judge Hilton and placed il tile
mausoleum AT Garden City, but no state,
ment has been authorized and supported
by any show of proof, and the whcr,
abouts of the body Is still a secret, which
the death OF Mrs. Stewart may finally
open the door to disclosing.