The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-19
THE DOCTORS LUCK.
A Dentist Who Cast His Bread Upon the
Waters to Good Purpose.

Dentist Who Cast His Bread Upon the
Waters to Good Purpose.
Philadelphia Press.
Dr. Thomas G. Ste'lwagen, whose office is on
Chestnut street. below Seventeenth, this city.
also professor in the Philadelphia Dental College,
at l08 North Tenth street. and whose residence
is in Media, has recently been left fortune by
an aunt and the means that brought his good
luck about and cut the other relations off with
out penny are extremely novel. The result
will probably be that the will will be taken into
the courts.
Mrs. Dickey, for that was the rich old lady's
name, was the widow of the late DR.. Dickey,
and her home was in Atlanta, Ga. One year
ago. so the story goes. after having been lost to
the memory of her Northern relatives, she saw
that her days on this earth were not many and,
with the wisdom of Solomon, sat down and wrote
to many of her nearest kin in this city, Media
and Baltimore, the same words-that she was
very old now that she was very destitute, too,
and would so much like to make them visit.
One of those letters reached DR.. Stellwagen, and
no one of her relatives knew that another had
received her plea for help.
After her task was finished Mrs DR.. Dickey
folded her hands and waited.
To some of the letters no answers came One
two. it is said, replied CURLY. and one lady,
wrote: Really it would not be convenient to
have you visit me. for at the time you name L
expect to have house full of company" Among
the first letters she received, however. uas one
from DR.. Stellwagen, and inclosed was check
for $50 He wrote her that he hoped his small
contribution would help her, and that he would
be pleased to have her as an inmate of his pretty
Northern home on the outskirts of Media.
A month or two after that another demand for
help reached the Doctor. and his second check
for $50 went South, with renewal of the invi-
tation for his old aunt to visit him. Up to three
months ago he heard nothing from her, and then
he received letter saying: "Come. | am very
sick" DR.. Stellwagen obeyed the summons. and
when he reached Atlanta was dumbfounded to
find that Mrs Dickey was living elegantly, and
that she was wealthy. She told him that she
wouldn't live long; that she wanted to go home
with him. and it is said, decided verything over
to him, and made him present of all her house
hold furniture silverware and jewels 1t took
two cars to carry the latter, and it is said that
the Professor left behind him in the Southern
city a row Of handsome dwelling houses.
Two days after reaching the Doctors home in
Media Mrs DickeY died, and then it was found
that in addition to the deed, which gave her
nephew everything. she had left will made be-
fore she wrote those letters testing the affection
of her relations which divided her property
among several of them. On that ground it is
claimed that the disappointed people will contest
the case in court. A number of pieces of Mrs
Dickey's sllverware and some jewels have been
placed by the Doctor in a trust deposit com
panys vault in this CITY.
The relatives are all at sea as to the extent of
the eccentric old ladys wealth, and it is said
her heir gives them no satisfaction whatever.
The Baltimore kin, his cousins. of whom there
are several. are the most aggrieved. and if any
legal action is taken it will probably start from
that direction Another rumor is that the Doc
tor has promised to make some sort of a settle
ment by which the nearest blood will inherit
some of the estate. With his fortune the Doc
tor inherited an addition to his family. dark
haired Southern girl, an adopted child of the
late Mrs. Dickey, with picture of a face. we'll
educated and attractive. Strange enough the
old lady left her penniless, but obtained prom
Use from her heir on her death-bed that ne would
always provide for her-live with him as one of
his family-for she said. Thomas, love her
dearly" The young lady is seventeen years DID,
and has made host of friends for herself in
Media 1t is said that the story of her own life
is a romance in itself All dreamy Media is
talking about the affair, and the high standing
of the families involved makes it choice morsel
for gossip