St. Landry democrat., 1886-08-21
TILDEN'S WILL.

The Private Beneficiaries of the Dead
Statesman Not at all Pleased With the
Disposition of His Millions - Hints of
Contest-Mr. Bigelow's Literary Task
Dull Days at Greystone.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-THE will OF Sam
uel J. Tilden will be offered for probate
at White Plains this morning by Lawyer
James C. Carter, who is counsel for the
executors. This step was not determine
ed upon until late yesterday evening, aft
er long consultation among the execu-
tors. Mr.. Andrew II. Green said last
evening that he knew nothing about any
proposed contest by any Of the heirs.
While he would not say that he expected
any such trouble, it was to be in
ferred that he would not be surprised by
it's occurrence. 1t was announced in an
evening paper yesterday that Geo. A. Til
den intended to oppose the probation of
the will OF the ground that it IS illegal,
the supposition being that it is against
the law for a man to leave three-fOurthS
of his property to the public and only
ST. 100000 to his nephews and nieces.
Mr.. Jas. C. Carter will doubtless defend
the will in case Of contest, and it is said
that Aaron j Fanderpoel and Homer a.
Nelson will appear for the contestants.
To Mr.. George A. Tllden was left the in
come OH 100000. He will forfeit this
entirely in the event of non-succeSs in his
effort to break the will.
Mr.. Andrew H. Green, one of the eX-
ecutors, LETT Greystone for New York on
the eight O'Clock train yesterday morn
ing. His purpose was to visit the Third
National Bank, where Mr.. Tilden's stocks
and bonds were deposited, and see ii
they tailed with the list that the dead
statesman left Mr.. Green returned to
Greystone late in the afternoon. EXecu-
tor John BigeloW had several engage
ments in the city, but deferred them in
order to gather up Mr.. Tilden's
correspondence, in which work he
was assisted by Mr.. Smith, the
dead statesman's private secre-
tary, whose intimate acquaintance with
the subject was Invaluable. From early
morning to late in the evening the two
executors were occupied with their
labors. Well as they knew Mr.. Tilden,
they were surprised to see the perfect
system with which his correspondence
was arranged. From the time he was
elected Governor his CORRESPONDENCE
was very large. particularly during the
period preceding and succeeding Noyem.
Der, 1876.
All his letters, and the majority of them
were from men of National reputation,
we've carefully preserved and systematic
allv arranged. 4 week is expected TO be
consumed i'll finishing up this matter.
Mr. Bigelow, whose publication of Mr..
Tilden's writings and speeches met with
large sale and the commentator OF the
dead statesman, is regarded as the lit
erary executor, and one of his chief
duties will be to write a life OF Mr..
Tilden. For several months Mr..
Bigelow has been compiling ma
terial to that end, and now,
it is understood, he is thoroughly pre-
pared for the work. He will start as
soon as the correspondence has been all
gathered, and will supply the publisher
with copy by January. The work will
consist of two volumes, and is expected
to be ready for the public by next March
or April. They will be uniform with the
two volumes already published. Much
of the contents will consist of letters
from the public men with whom Mr.. Til
den correspondent during his public life.
1t is expected to be one of the finest and
most valuable Oh American StdleSmcu
biographies.
1t was a dull day at Greystone. The
five ladies vino have been keeping house
there since Mr.. Tilden died were not dis
turbed by many callers. They had the
lower part of the house to themselves,
while Mr.. Bigelow and Private Secretary
Smith were closeted in Mr.. Tilden's
office. Mr.. Bigelow denied himself to all
callers. The contents of the will were as
much disappointment to the people OF
Yonkers as to the family. All his
neigtbors expected Mr.. Tildea to
deal handsomely by all his relatives.
That he did not do so was matter Of
much gossip and speculation. One OF
the expectations was that Miss Ruby
Tilden was to receive Greystone and that
the members of the family were to have
been sufficiently remembered to permit
of their all living together there with
legacies ilarge enough to keep the estab-
lishment-up. Politicians are surprised
that ''the old man," as Mr.. Tilden was
termed, did not do better by "Young
Sam" He was the only person who
bore his distinguished uncle's name, and
great things were expected on that ac-
count. But ''Young Sam" was Jumped
together with all the rest of the relatives
and shares no better than the others.