Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-06

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and that Mr.. William Minot, the father of
William Minot, ir., both of Boston, had been
appointed in his place. An early opportti-
nifty was taken to call at the Office of the
Minots, who are men of great prominence
and of the highest responsibility in charge
of the financial trusts committed to them.
Mr. William Minot senior, answered with
great courtesy and with entire freedom
such questions as were asked i'm regard
to the estate. Some of the facts gath
cred are a repetition of those given in
the quotations already made, but we new
ertheless present the information substan-
TALLY as gathered from him. II appears
that the amount of the estate and its in
come has been somewhat overstated. At
the time of Mr.. Thompson's death in 1869
the estate which came into the hands of his
trustees for management amounted to
about S5OO,OOO This was very largely in
vested in Boston real estate which has
greatly appreciated in value and the
amount of the property at the present time
is about SSj0,000. The net income, after
paying all expenses, is from 4 to ~ per
cent, yielding total income of about S4O,-
600 a year. When it was suggested that
$50, 600 would be a very generous sum for
the aid of needy needle women and shop
girls in town so thrifty and so free from
restitution as is Brattleboro, Mr. Minot
said, with a quiet smile, that he should
think the tendency would be to increase
,-orv Ior tho nun,bor of s,,ch ,,aOpla
resident in the place.
The stroke of paralysis sustained by
Mrs. Thompson over two years ago serious
ly disabled her physically, and interferes
with her speech, but her mind remains
clear. While she is liable to further at
tack at any time she has a reasonable ex-
pectation of life and, at the age of TO-
there is no reason to anticipate her death
for several years to come. After her hus-
band died Mrs. Thompson spent much
time with different relatives, living for sew
eral years in Washington, d. C.. Since her
illness came upon her she has been with a
nephew in Connecticut where she still re-
mains. Mr.. Thompson was born in Bos-
ton, and inherited his fortune from his ia
ther. 1t is uncertain whether he ever
really entered upon the ministry after COM
pleting his studies for that profession. In
any case he did not remain long in the pro
fession. He was man of humane and be-
nevolent impulses, with his main idea CEN
tired on the help of poor and unfortunate
people. He gave literally to all cases of
u-itb
every such person. He was man of wide
learning and cultivation, both in books
and in pictures, and was himself an artist
of some attainment. He travelled much,
both before and after his marriage.
Enquiry as to why he chose Brattleboro
as one of the places to receive his benefi-
cence elected the fact, which has already
been suggested, that he was fond of car
riage driving through the state, and that
once, at least, he spent summer here,
probably in the old "water cure" times.
1t was from An impulse received in some
way like this that Brattleboro was includ-
ed in the provisions of his will. 1t was his
plan at one time to leave his fortune for
the benefit of distressed sewing women in
Boston, but he was greatly aggrieved at
what he considered the unjust taxation of
his property in that city, and he destroyed
the will which he had made, and removed
to New York.
While Mr. Thompson had no children
and no heirs of close kinship, it is well UNI
derstood that his heirs-at-law will, upon
Mrs. Thompson's death, contest the will
and set up a claim for the division of the
property among themselves. Several years
ago, soon after Mr.. Thompsons death, APP
plication was made by these heirs to the
court for list of such heirs to be put up
on record, and afIidavits were filed estab-
fishing the claims of the several indi-
viduals.
Mr.. Minot repeatedly assured us that
the people of Brattleboro need have. nc
doubt but that, upon the death of Mrs
Thompson, they would be formally mott
fed of their interest in the estate, with a
request to appear and be heard by counsel
No trustees, he said, would ever presume
to take any action toward division of the
estate without first applying to the supreme
court for full instructions as to how to pro
coed in the matter. When this is done the
whole case will come up, the contestants
will appear, and the matter will be decided
Whether Brattleboro will get the beneti
of the property to the amount of $4,000 &
year or of any other sum, remains to b.
seen The fact remains, however, that thu
will is in existence providing such an in
come for a certain portion of its people.
What would be the outcome of the lega
proceedings Mr.. MinOt did not venture al
opinion although he suggested that tn
courts were always disposed to be liberal il
their Interpretation of the provisions Of {
will and to carry out if possible the eviden
wish and intent of the testator.
The doubtful thing about the will, so ia
as its application to this town is concerned
is the very indefinite manner in which it /
drawn, providing simply, in rather vagu
way, that the income shall go "for o
toward the relief and support of poo
seamstresses, needle women and shop girl
who may be in temporary need, etc. III
possibilities for the town which tn
thought of such an income opens up ar
very great, and will readily suggest them
selves. 1t may be an open question whetl
er the money could not be so applied fO