Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-22
NEWS: WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER o. 1885,
Ex-President Tilden's VIII.

There Is apparently room to believe that
Mr.. Tilden's will won't be probated and
executed without contest. Tits not dis
puted now that Greystone was the scene
OF a little scene some three weeks ago
when Trustee Green went down to close
the house and virtually asked the nieces
OF the testator to vaoate the premises.
The trustee, it appears, thought he was
obliged to close the house because the will
did not provide fund for keeping it
open, and the nieces OF the late owner, who
had been making their home at Grey
stone for some time, thought his action
was not in accordance with propriety,
If, indeed, it was necessary in order to
prevent the expenses of maintaining the
place from being charged to himself indi-
vidually. The young ladies were spirit
ed and Mr.. Green firm, and hence some
rather sharp words we're passed, and
while the tenants by sufferance were not
forcibly elected, they left the country seat
of their late distinguished relative feeling
that they had been harshly treated.
If the published statements respecting
Mr.. Tilden's will are correct, tRe young
ladies may be said to have been cut off
with shilling. In fact, they get but
small legacies in comparison with those
of the nephews, who also appear to think
they were very badly treated, and there
is an attempt being made to create SYM
patty with the relatives by commentin e
on the smallness Of the requests to them,
when compared with the magnitude Of
the decedent's wealth.
1t will be easier to contest the will, how
ever, than to break it. 1t Is not likely
that it can be made to appear that Mr..
Tilden was not In "sOund and disposing
mind and memory" when he signed the
instrument. Whatever his bodily infirmi-
ties may have been his intellect was re-
markedly acute even down to the very
moment OF his death. He was not only
very able lawyer himself, but he was ad-
vised and assisted by other very able
lawyers In arranging for the carrying out
of the great bequest he made to the peo-
pie of New York city. The Wills OF all
sorts of monomaniacs and cranks have
been sustained by the courts, and Mr..
Tilden was neither q monomaniac nor a
crank.
There are, perhaps, no good reasons
why the general public should svmpa-
thize with the nieoes and nephews in this
matter. The incomes settled on them are,
doubtless, sufficient to cover auy debts of
affection or gratitude that may have been
due them. 1t was hardly to be expected
that the "great commoner." whose life's
best services had been given to
the public, and who, perhaps, only
regarded the wealth that seemed to
flow spontaneously into his Golfers, as a
trust that should be dedicated to some
great and meritorious public use. The
provision he made for his relatives is suf-
ficient to support them in comfort, though
not in luxury, and it seems that they
ought to be satisfied with it. Probably
their grief ON account of his death would
be more intense, if not more sincere, Il he
had left them nothing but his blessing.
If the disappointed relatives are wise
and properly advised they will keep out
OF contest in which they can reasona-
bly, hope to gain nothing but unenviable
notorietv.