Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-28
- > ~ TIT. 80 - :
CURIOUS OLD WILLS.
How the Oddities CT Men Creep Ont
TheirLast Testamenrs

How the Oddities CT Men Creep Ont In
TheirLast Testamenrs.
Idiotic and eccentric legacies are,
next to the method of making a viii.
curious and interesting studies. Ii has
only been few years since two dozen
words written in a Grabbed uncertain
hand on the back of yellow envelope
by soldier while dying on u Southern
battlefield We're admitted to probate
as his will in the courts OF Pittsburgh.
One OF the most remarkable wills
ever written was that OF Joseph Cap
pur, man worth Il quarter of mil
llon- He was a wholesale grocer in
London. and had amassed fortune by
specializing in securities. His eccen-
trio habits of life first called attention
to his subsequent career. He lived at
one hotel for over twenty-five years,
and IN that time engaged his room and
board for only one day in advance.
de insisted on sitting in one certain
seat at the table, drinking out of the
same cup and using the same knife and
fork. He was the prototype of Julius
Ferne's Phineas FOgg, in that he ate,
slept and walked by an unvarying rule.
His sole amusement was that of killing
flies in the summer time. He died
suddenly when seyenty-seven years OF
age. His will was found at the bottom
OF box OF clothes. curiously worded
and written on the back of lot OF old
bank checks. He had de:eSted his poor
relations during his life. but by this
strange instrument of his devising,
save $4,000 which he gave to two
nephews.
Among the extraordinary conditions
imposed upon descendants. that of the
Duke of Nalmy. Marshal Kellerman and
General of the French Republic, stands
prominently in history. On the crest
OF hill just outside the village of st.
MenehOuld. in France. stands Il monll-
ment to mark the spot where the heart
OF kellerman. taken from his body after
death, disappeared in dust in the soil
of his beloved France. It was his will
that his heart might rest among his old
soldiers who had been slain in the bat
tie OF Valmy.
Matthew Robinson. Lord ROheby, a
prominent and peculiar Englishman of
the last century, nephew of Richard
Robinson. Archbishop of Armagh and
primate OF Ireland. became famous for
his long beard and his hatred for medi-
cal practitioners. In regard TO the
former, it is said that upon one occa-
stopped at an inn. where the country
people who had assembled for miles
around took him for Turk and nearly
worried my Lord 10 death. His dislike
of physicians was carried to such an
extent that he left cOdicil in his Will
disinheriting favOritc nephew if III his
Uord Rokeby's) last illness his SYM
pathies should be so excited that no
would call in a doctor to attend him.
The present Marquis OF Queensbury,
whose name as a patron OF pugilism
and pugili5tS is known wherever the
so-called science of soaring Gods
image in humanity is practiced, comes
by his sporting proclivties hOnOrably.
William Douglass. Duke of Queens
bury, was an old sport OF the last CEN
fury. who rode his own lace-hOrses and
performed other acts that set England
by the ears. 1t was he who originated
matches against time. Before discuss
ing his will. the famous match men,
toned may be described. Queensbury
made wager with Count Taafe that
he could put upon the road IL four
wheeled machine which should travel
nineteen miles in one hour. With the
aid of Mr.. Wright, IL designer. he had
built light carriage, to which. on the
on the day of the race, he harnessed
blOoded horses. driven by trained
grooms Vast sums of money changed
hands on the result. the Duke winning
handily. In his will. though he was
the king of the turf for half century,
he left various large sums to charities.
He pensiOncd several opera singers,
and gave $4,000 for widows and Or
phans of the British navy. This was
so wholly unexpected in man of his
characteristics that it OccasiOned great
talk for years overwhelmingly
Dispatch.