The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-08
GAVE ALL He COULD.
Munson'S Death Makes Salvation
Army $4,000 Richer.
ECCENTRIC BUT KlND-HEARTED.
Home for Disabled officers to Be Built
Out of the Proceeds of
the Estate.

When Captain ]. W. Munson died at Homo
lulu last May 9, the salvation Army of Seattle
lost faithful friend, but gained in property
worth all OF $4,000. Munson was one of the
pioneer residents of the sound country. He
came TO Seattle fifteen years ago, and took up
two filings near the navy yard site in Kitsap
county, which aggregate $50 acres, 100 OF which
is now one of the finest marsh meadow farms in
the Northwest Afterward he invested in q
three-acre tract on Lake Washington and a five
acre tract FIVE miles south OF town. Besides
this he held mortgages for $500 on good prop
erty.
Munson is described by his friends as being
rather eccentric old man, with peculiar notions
OF charity. He was an Episcopalian formerly,
but took good deal of interest in the work of
the Salvation Army and the Y. NJ. C. A. Ordi-
nary methods were not his. Ii is said OF him
that he constantly sought in strange places to
do good by strange methods, in which he could
brook no interference He made great many
friends, to all of whom, however, he was merely
the mysterious Mr.. Munson. He spoke of hav-
ing few relatives and of being a bachelor, and
when he heard that the Salvation Army desired
to build home of refuge, promised that he
would help them.
1t was in October that Munson went to the
office OF Attorney Everett Smith aud outlined
his will. 1t is now on file in the probate court,
and the main paragraph is as follows:
l give, bequeath, and devise to my executors
all OF my property, real, persona! or mixed, of
whatever description, within the state of Wash
ington, in trust for the following purpose; My
executors shall proceed at once to convert the
property into money and shall then expend the
same for a home for sick and disabled or a train
ing home for officers of the salvation Army as
may seem best to my executors. The intention
of my will is that the proceeds OF the sale shall
be used by my executors as trustees for the
benefit of the officers of the Salvation Army
For this reason, and to economize expense, /
empower my executors TO sell, convey, encum-
Der and in every way dispose of, control and
manage my estate during the administration
thereof, without any order or authority from
any court, or any bond or securityi in connection
Herewith, and without any confirmation or ap-
prevail of their acts from any court whatsoever.
Everett Smith and A. J. Smith are named as
executors and all proceedings are waived except
to admit the will to probate and record.
When the will was drawn Munson signed it
with steady hand. A few days afterward he
left for New Zealand on visit to a brother who
is merchant in Duaedin, and is reported to be
quite wealthy. He told A. J. Smith the day be-
fore he left that he would surely come back to
Seattle in short time, as his only reason for
leaving was TO take sea voyage for his health.
"He didn't have any more idea of dying than
have" Mr.. Smith said in relating the eircum-
stance. "That goes TO show the uncertainty of
life He promised to do something for the
army before he died, but death was too quick
for him."
The affairs of the estate are in good shape, but
the property will be disposed of at the leisure OF
the trustees and in the way best calculated 10
bring its iuil value. The army intends to build
a home such as is spoken of in the will. 1t will
be located at Creswell, on the property decided
to the organization short time ago by Captain
Creswell, of the steamer Lena There is an in
stitution exactly similar in its aims at Sausalito,
Cal, which has heretofore done service for the
whole Pacific coast, but the army has increased
numerically ever since ii was first constructed,
and the army of the Northwest now feels that it
needs an institution OF the kind of its own.
The news Of Munson's death was discredited