Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-27
The Strange Features Of Ben
Trimble's Will Cause
Trouble in Court.
MUST PROVE CHARACTER.
A Fortune for the Two Sons if They
Gecame Good Citizens.
M'KENNA BOUGHT THEIR SHARES
And Must Now Show Good Records Before
He Can Collect,
HOW THE WEALTH WAS ACCUMULATED

Magistrate McKenna will be obliged tt
bring into court number of witnesses tt
testify to the good character and citizen
ship of the late John Trimble and brother
BENJAMIN Trimble, Jr., also deceased, be-
fore he can secure the two purchased inter
ests in the estate of Ben Trimble, the vet,
eran hotelman and vaudeville promoter
who died some u years ago.
Judge Hawkins, of the Orphans Court,
Yesterday rendered decree of distribution
of funds now in the hands of trustees of the
estate of Ben Trimble. The decree is inter
esting, not only on account of the promi-
nence of the old Snowman among men about
town in Pittsburg and Allegheny, but also
on account of some peculiar legal questions
ruled upon.
Ben TIimble's will was an eccentric docu-
ment, and was Characteristic of the man.
In it he bequeathed fortune of $50, 900 to
his immediate family, then consisting OF
his wife, two sons, John and Ben, Jr., and
three daughters. Mrs TTimble was to re-
ceive three-eighths and the children to re-
ceive one-eighth EACH The property was
not to be distributed until the death of the
testator's widow, which occurred some six
months ago. Another point was to the
effect that the sons were to forfeit their
rights TO the estate, and this would revert
to their wives and daughters, if they were
not good, sober and law-abiding citizens.
Must ] rove Good Character for the Sons
Magistrate McKenna purchased the in
terests of the two boys, some two years ago,
and paid them 81, 600 each. At the time of
the courts ruling Yesterday the attorneys
for McKenna contended that they were not
obliged to produce evidence of the heirs,
good character, but rather that it was the
place of anyone contending the bequests to
show to the contrary. Judge Hawkins
overruled this, however, and refused to
sanction the position, and in consequence
Magistrate McKenna will be obliged to go
through the formalities of law and produce
witnesses to prove or testify to the good
citizenship Of the two heirs of the estate.
Another ruling was in the matter OF the
claim of James Mckee, a son-in-law of
Trimble. His wife's share was one-eighth
The point at issue was, if the estate was to
be considered as realty Mckee would only
take life interest in one-third of his wife's
share, while if it was decided to be personal
property he would take it in fee The same
question was involved as to McKee's inher-
iting from his son, who would have been
entitled to portion of his mothers share.
McKee's attorney, J. E O'Donnell, con-
tended that the estate was to be considered
as personal and Mckee was to take it in fee.
The counsel was opposed by all the at
torneys for the others interested, but his
position was sustained by the Court and dis
tribution made to Mckee,. His share is
little over 5000.
Does Not Anticipate Any Trouble.
Magistrate McKenna was seen last night,
and said although the ruling of the court
would give him and his attorneys consider
able trouble, he did not apprehend any ad-
verse disposition of the case at the hearing
'It will not be hard &c prove the good char
acter of the two men, as they were both well
and favorably known. They were men of
simple habits. and were not disposed to the
rollIcking, rowing habits OF so many youths
of their day. Ben Trimble, Jr., served
throughout the war, and had most credit
able record.
'John Trimble, who died a short time
d
and was attached to his family. Neither of
the men mixed to any great extent in
public life, and while they were known in
the circles in which they moved, their
acquaintance was not as wide and extensive
as was their fathers.
"The latter was most peculiar and |
erratic man and had a violent and unbridled |
temper. He began life in a lowly sphere |
as tavern boy in some of the old inns and |
taverns of Western Pennsylvania and built
himself up until he was worth considerable |
property. For many years old Ben |
Trimble, as he was known in all parts of |
the country, was proprietor of the old |
American Hotel, that still stands at Eleventh |
and Liberty streets. Before the '5O's and until |
some time afterward the adjacent grounds |
were the stamping place for all the cir |
cuses, such people as Ben King and Dan |
Rice exhibiting their one-ringed circus with |
a gigantic aggregation of three or four |
animals to the country and town folks |
wondering gaze. Mixing in with the people |
OF the circus and small theatrical companies |
gave Old Ben the idea that he could go into |
the 'perfesh, as he called it, with chances |
OF fame and fortune well nigh assured.
How Ben Trimb'e Made Fortune.
"He had made money as hotel man and he |
built the Hamilton Hotel, now the Hotel |
Staley, on Penn avenue, near Sixth street. |
His original intentions were to merely run |
a ballroom, or dance hall, as it would be |
called to-day, and for the purpose |
he embarked in the vaudeville |
business along in 1854 He had some noted |
characters upon the stage there in his time,
and he eventually enlarged the building,
opened hotel and started vaudeville
company on the road. Those were the early
days of variety business and people did not
have as extensive acquaintance with the
business as they have to-day and Old Ben
prospered. His company of talented stars
as he billed them, proved drawing card in
the little hamlets and villages in which
they PLAYED, and, with increasing fortune,
the father of the idea extended his field, and
his troupe of performers played in many
cities whose population is over the 100, 600
mark at present.
'tBut throughout his entire life the un-
governable temper proved as dominating
as ever. He was particularly severe to his
boys If they did not bear the blows with
the stoical indifference he so greatly ad-
mired he would be the more severe
"1his accounts in all probability for the
taciturn disposition of the two sons, and
this fact will be one among others 1 shall
use to prove their sobriety and good citizen
ship" and the Magistrate turned away