The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03
PROFITS OF SIN.
The Sensational SanbOrn Will Case on Trial
at Exeter, N. III.

the sensational Sanborn will case was opened.
The effort is made on behalf Of the trustees of
Dartmouth College to break the will left by Ed
ward S. Sanborn, which bears date of 1883, the
claim being advanced that Sanborn at that time
was of unsonnd mind New England society
has not for many years possessed sensation
which compares for contradictory features with
the singular dual life history of Sanborn. His
native town was Kingston, where his highly re-
spected ancestors lived for many generations
One of his sisters married the late DR.. Bartlett
grandson Of Governor Bartlett. sgner
of the Declaration Of Independence. In
September last, at the age of sixty-seven
years. Sanborn died in Boston, and then, for
the first time, the unknown side of his career
leaked out To the people of his native town he
was known only as a most liberal philanthropist
in educational and religious matters Nothing
OF special public interest was preached which he
did not heartily indorse and freely aid. On
various occasions his purse had been literally
placed at the disposal Of all the church organiza
tions, and they naturally accepted his gifts with
open arms. He made no pretensions whatever
to Christianity, and was thought to be somewhat
tinctured with infdelity. But he supported Sun
oay-schools because he believed them necessary
to Keep the boys and girls out of deviltry. In
short, while he was regarded as somewhat eccen-
tic in many ways. the citizens highly esteemed
him for his liberal public spirit and felt CRATE
ful for his many benefactions He had rep
resented his township for term In the New
his last will he leaves hand
some fund, the bulk of $250,000, to en-
dow the Sanborn seminary. While Sanborn
had nominally kept up his citizenship at Kings
ton, the greater part of his time was spent in
Boston. On the death of his father about
twenty-five years ago, Sanbern fell heir to $751;
600 as his share of the patrimony. and soon en-
barked in the business of running houses of
prostitution for profit His record in Boston for
nearly twenty years has been that of libertine
OF the most dangerous and inscriptions charac
ter The profits OF the nefarions business, being
large, enabled him to increase the attractions of
these haunts of vice. For nearly all this length
of time he had Julia Ann Hilton who figures as
the mistress of his career, Ter partner. He
met her seventeen years ago. when she was
handsome girl of eighteen, who came from the
tewn Of Wells, Me-, to lead life of prostitution.
There seems to have grown up a genuine affec
and trusted ADVISER in his nefarious
money getting enterprises. He was pro-
prietor of the house, 20 Lyman
street, of which she was the manager, and they
lived long together though never married, and
here he died in September last Their property
interests, which had grown quite large were
kept separate. In 1878 she made will whereby
she left, after few trif1ing requests to her rel
atives the bulk of her fortune, nearly $780, 600 to
her paramount, Sanbcrn. She died in April last.
Her relatives in Maine propose to contest this
will on the ground Of undue influence by San
born, and this will bring out the same history
the trial which opened yesterday. About five
years ago. it is understood, Sanborn began to
consider plansfor dispesing of his wealth. At
that time he made a will bequeathins $4,000 to
Dartmouth College. and made his sisters. their
children, and son of Ex-Governor Noyes of
Ohio his residuary legatees Not long after that
chosen heirs.
including some Of the Dartmouth authorities, had
denounced the style of his life and ex
pressed doubts about the propriety
of touching money obtained in such
a business The old man became furious and
announced that all mention of them should be
stricken from his will The thought seemed to
grow upon him, and aspirit of vindictiveness add
ed to his extreme parsmony. He would avoid the
most necessary outlay. such as car-fare, in order
to leave q larger hoard for other benefeiaries to
enjoy. His plans, as remodeled, became ripe in
1883. He d.c;ded to found and handsomely
endow sem Try at his native town of Kings
ton, which should perpetuate the memory of his
beloved mistress as we'll as mis- own. 1t was his
wish that they should be linked intact as well as
in name after DEATH for he had erected tail white
marble monument In the village cemetery, on
one side of which appears his own name, with
that of Julia Ann Hilton on the reverse. Miss
Hilton however, was buried by her relatives in
Maine, during Sanborn's last illness. Sanborn,
| in 1883, bought fine site Of several acres near
the center of Kingston and proceeded to build
upon it large brick and granite eGifce
for the purposes of seminary. It is elabo-
rately built and far superior to any structure Of
the kind for many miles around. Over the
arched gateway ''Sanborn Seminary is in
scribed. 1t was finished about year ago, but
has not yet been occupied because of the con-
tested will On tablet in the wall the library is
set down as the gift of Julia Ann Hilton, and in
| the room designed for it is placed a life-sized
bust of the mistress, which represents her as a
| woman of rare beauty and classical refinement.
| Sanborns bust reposes in niche between the
stairways In case the last will should be set
aside, Dartmouth will come in for the original
bequest, AID the now vacant seminary at Kings
ton will remain without fund. A large num-
Der of Boston and Kingston witnesses were
present at the hearing yesterday. Harrison NJ.
Hutchinson and w. FL. Greenleaf, of Boston,
were the only witnesses examined. They testi-
| fed to having seen Sanborn sign his last will
and considered him to be of perfectly sound
| mind at the time.