New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-15
FRANRLiY'S FUND FOR MECHANICS.
A SUIT TO HAVE 1T DIVIDED AMONG HIS HEIRS
living DESCENDANTS OF THE
PHILOSOPHER

PHILADELPHIA July Ii Specta).-The decision Of the
Supreme Court on Wednesday, dismtsng the petition
OF Elizabeth n. Gillespie and Albert Duane Bache to
set aside the legacy the city Of Philadelphia made
by the will Of benjamin Franklin ends suit OF long
standing The first notice served against the Franklin
Fund by the rrsduary lcgatees was On October 4,
$500. The fund originally amounted TO 1000,
but with IN. Accommodations mp 10 F"bruary !.
1890. there total Of s3os.7A. 1t was originally
designed Ia bench, young mechanics apprentices. but
when the reached the amount where II could be
uulibd the apprenticeship system had been almost
done away with ard II wa proposed 10 use the
fund for some other purpose. II upon this account
that thu helr brought the suit they contendng that
the fund had been diverted from he objects for which
Il was designed by the tes'aor. The provision OF
the Will 81 Dr. Franklin. relating 10 this fund. was
that Il should In leaned out Ia small sums nj ; per
cent interest. and Or. Franklin estimated that the
fund would incrense 200 times In 100 years amount
10 g. 10000 at the end OF that period. II was pro
vded thai then 100000 should be expended on
public works md tho remainder be- put on interest for
enOther hundred years.
Mrs. Gillespie one OF the petitioners. IL the widow
Of Archibald Gillespie aud great granddaughter OF
Dr. Franklin. She has long been a recognized leader
OF society In this ely and her pretty house IN SouthJ
Twenty ar,-t,st Is IN the centre Of the fashionable
quarter OF Philadelphia. The other petitioner. A. ID.
Iache, IS II pay-lnspsctor In the Navy and son Of
OF tho Baches with the Franklins dates back to Oc
tober 90. 1907 when Sarah. the only daughter OF
benjamin Franklin. married to Richari Bache.
who later. In 1870 appointed Postmaster General
by the Continental Congress. From the marriage
sprang Ben jamln Franklin Bnche who following the
example OF his father and grandfather. turned t0
politics and became party leader during the hot
campaign OF Jefferson. lie died however, nj al early
age. Richard Bache died In 1911. three years after
the death OF his wife. and the estate divided into
seven paft.-sx going 10 the Children then living and
tho seventh being set aside for the Children Of Henjo
min Franklin Bachc. FmnklIn, OF benjamin
Franklin Bache died interstate In 1854, leaving four
children. Of whom paynnder Iache Is one.
Charles Melgs Dache, brother Of the paymaser,
died In Francisco on April II. 1890 after passing
nearly half century IN the Coast Survey. His chief
work was the typographical survey Of the NewJersey
coast from Cape May to sandy Hook. Three Of his
children will take OF bis share OF the Franklin
Fund II IT. Is divided. Dr. y. Ilcwson Bachc. OF this
city, Is another brother. The fourth IhO-
fe-sor Alexander BaChc. lcides Mrs Gillespie and
the male representatives OF the Bache family the other
claimants for the Franklin Fund Mrs. Perry JaIes
Duane, tho Rev. DR.. Duane. Richard Norris Williams,
Mrs Sophia Irwin and more thar four score others.
10 + probable that another suit VIII be brought 10
determine whether the legacy bestowed upon poor
mechanics Of Boston and Philadelphia shall be dis
II lbutcd to the rcidnary legatees OF Dr. Fmnkin.