New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-05
THE SYMS WILL CONTEST.
MRS. sERRILL's UNEXPECTED ACTIoN-DELAY'
ING WORK on THE OPERATING THEATRE.

MRS. sERRILL's UNEXPECTED ACTION-DELAf
ING WORK on THE OPERATING THEATRE.
The announcement that the will of William J.
svms was 10 be contested by his sister. Mrs. Mary T.
scrru of IIobokcn y. J.. has occasioned much sur
i IN circles where the Intentions Of Mr.. Syms with
rc,r IN ,he disposal Of his fortune had been know1
previously 10 his death. The legal year after his
death had almost expired, and work had been begun
nm the great charitable institution winch for years 10
had meant 10 erect without the slightest ntimation
from any onartcr that the carry out Of the pro-
visions Of hi, will to be implied. In fact most
Of the lccatees had expressed their belief In the fair
80 and uberalitv Of the will with reference 10 the
dnosition of the money to relatives of the family ana
onc those who expressed this opinion was the con
,estant. Mrs serr. The legal year expired on April
oo 1soo and the protest against the Will
was filed in the suTogate's Office only one day pre-
vious. on April 81 The protest was entered on the
ground that the Will had been drawn under influence
unduy exercised by his third wife.
W + syms was a member Of the firm OF Blunt d
svns gun manufacturers. Abont three years Deforc
his death he married, as MS tiird "Ie' MIS- ha'e
Gorham lie at that time about sixty -hve years
old and his wife was about twenty years younger
ror at cast ten years before he died, II was well
known among hi, family and friends that he meant
to give part Of his fortune, which amounted 10 ABOUT
81 400 900 10 some charitable object AT Irst ne
thought of founding new hospital to bear Ills NAME
Int he finally decided that lie could use his money
fo better advantage by enlarglng some Institution
already established By the advice OF his friend, d.
Charles NcBurey visiting surgeon OF Roosevelt HOS
naI no decided erect what should be known ~ the
svms GENERATING Theatre as an adjunct Ia that lnstlu
ion lie Thought II beginning the wOfk during MS
lfetime and even had plans drawn ny. which lie ap.
urovcd some time before his death lie intended mat
th facilities afforded By ID should be equal TO any IN
Tho world and by his will he provided r36O0oO for
tho nurnn.e George q. DE Witt, ir., of the law nrl
~ ne Nit Lochman a. De Witt, drew the WILL when
VA. signrd on November l. l--r, and named a.
cxccutnrs Mrs, -vms, samuel y. Syms, his brother ,
nr tharc, McIurncy and Henry &. Tinker Mr:
svms eu o hi. brother Samuel r. syms. president "l
he Uohoken National Bank, and John J. Syms, and
Ia nj, sister Nrs scrrill, the sum of 100000 each
r, ms adopfed daughter, Frances Mary syms, Na
live Of hi- second wife, he left s2Oo,oOO Among
other relatives and friends he distributed 10000, IN
Guiding slO 900 10 his nephew, DR.. Parker sym> and
thc rest amounting 10 about SboO,Ob, was lcft to
his wife Tho will prObatcd without objections.
martial division Of the property was made early la~t
winter bv tire consent Of the l"RntceS. Ground was
broken for the work at the hospital ms spring. a,
thcr,. was anticipation of "A contest winch would
prevent the distribution of the property after April
b. when the legal wear expired. but the uhcN
pr(Acd contest entered into at the eleventh hpur ma.
stopped all operations. which will have 10 hc de Erred
mill the matter is finally settled. Tie citations are
rcturrabe In July. Although tho protest i made by
Mr., >errill the grounds that her brother was ot
uu~ouud mind when he made his VIII ana h" va,
Iuduy and Illegally Influenced. some Of The executors
and their counsel believe there Is not the slightest
hope that the protest Will be sustained.