The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-02
THE OSBORNE WILL.
Story Of the Man Who Left
Property to Seattle.
JUDGE HALLS "REMINISCENCES.
one OF the Deceased Lawyers Latest
otories-How Seattle II to
Obtain City He'll.

then enter into negotiations with the city
OF Seattle as to the sale of his interest in
the late James Osborne's estate. 1t was by
Osborne's will that property was left the
city which. upon certain conditions, could
be used to erect . city hall.
James Osborne died March 3, 1892. be-
queaihing to the city of Seattle property
then valued at $4,000. He named his
friends A. C. Anderson, Charles Mcdonald
and Henry Atkins as executors and
trustees. The property consisted Of a
small amount of money in bank, life in
surance policy for $4,000, a half interest in
his saloon business. which was sold for
$1,5O0 or 81, 900, and of real estate, business
and residence property and some acreage
on Lake Washington. The conditions of
this oequest were that whenever the city
OF Seattle shall furnish an equal amount
OF money the estate shall be converted
into cash and the entire fund shall be ex-
pended in the erection of public hall.
The site is to be selected by a committee
composed of the executors and q commit
tee representing the city, the site to be the
property of the city. A suitable inscrip-
ton is to be placed on the building com.
memorating the donation, and the plans
OF the building are to be acceptable to the
executors. On the death of Henry At.
kins his stepson, E. s. Osborne was named
to succeed him as executor.
AT various times pieces Of the real es-
tate have been sold and the proceeds, now
amounting to about $40. 600, are invested in
interest-bearing securities. There are sew
eral pieces of valuable property still be-
longing to the estate, and the whole of it
Is now estimated as worth from SOC, 600 to
500, 900. 1t will thus be seen that should
the city now decide to avail itself Of this
donation it will have to furnish site and
about 500. 600 in cash for the building, and
as the donation grows larger every year
SO will the amount required of the city be-
come greater.
There were other peculiar features in
Osborne's will. In it he forbade any pray
ers or religious ceremonies at his funeral,
and requested his friend. Judge I. NJ. Hall,
to deliver the funeral Grafton. leaving him
fee of 500 for the service. and in case
Judge Hall could not or would not de-
liver the Grafton he requested that some
other competent freethinker be employed
for the purpose. preferring Thomas Burke
or William II. White. And yet the very
first words of the will, which was drawn
by Judge Hall. we're: 'In the name of
God, amen"
HIS remains wefe buried by the A. o.
U. W., of which he was q member, and
Judge Isaac NJ. Hail delivered the funeral
grafton in the old pavilion which stood at
the corner OF Front and Cherry streets.
Osborne was a common sailor when he
came TO Port Gamble in 1859 on a lumber
trading vessel, and for over twenty years
he was one of the characters on Puget
sound. He was finely built man, strong
and athletic. and never ran away from a
fight. although not quarreIsome. He was
about 40 years of age and unmarried, when
he died suddenly Of aneurism of the aorta
in San Francisco, whittier he had gone to
be treated.
After working as a stevedore at Port
Gamble for q few years he came to Seattle
and went into the saloon business with A.
c. Anderson. They ran the Gem saloon,
which was located on Yesler avenue,
where Schwabacher Bros block now
stands. Here they maintained . reputa-
BILE resort, remarkable for its high tone
and the quality of goods dispensed. Their
bar was patronized by those of the best
citizens who patronized any saloon.
While a saloon keeper. Osborne was a
great reader, and the character of his read
ing greatly influenced his religious opin-
ions. He was fond Of infidel literature,
and had read everything printed in English
attacking the established creeds. He was
also well posted in American history. Al
though not a temperate man, he was very
thrifty and yet was reputed as being a
man of business integrity. His Old friend,
the late Judge Hall, said of him few days
before his death:
He was a very peculiar man. 1t would take q
man perhaps two years TO get acquainted with
him, but when one gos to Know him he would
find him an extraordinary character. with a
strong nature and remarkable mental capacity
for q wholly uneducated man. He had a strong
love OF fair play, aud was s,eadfast in his friend.
ships as we'll Is his dislikes. He was a native
OF Yonkers, n. Y, and had been ill-treated by
his family, an injury which he never forgave.
He hal become a sailor when boy, and during
a cruise on tle Mediterranean his father died
His family never apprised him OF the loss, and
when be returned he found that they had
divided up his fathers estate, counting him
out They refused to refund him his share, and,
in addition. kicked him out of doors. He de-
clined TO go to law about the matter, but vowed
that nothing he might ever own should ever
inure TO their benefit These were the reasons
he gave me for bequeathing his property to the
city of Seattle When he started for san Fran.
cisco urged him to make visit back to his old
home and find out vi neither his relatives had
altered their sentiments toward him. He finally
consented 70 go back there ana see the old place
ON the sly, Dut before he could do SO he died
suddenly.
Ia regard 10 the language of the will where IL
says "a public hall" think his idea was what
is meant by city hall: that is. q building con.
tanning the Offices OF the city officials aud al as
rsmbly room for the city council
Speaking OF Osborne's love Of Justice, will
relate d story about him which Will illustrate
this. When Jim was q stevedo-s 81 Port
Gamble he had partner named Black, and one
time they went up to Sesbees to load foreign
vessel with large cargo The WORK took quite
a while, ana when tEa Job was sdons they
owed quite board bill at the hotel where they
were stopping The morning after they were
ready To leave for Gamble. ] II aud Black were
lying awake IN bed Just of TIE dining room
sad separated from tt by q thin partition. A
Chinese had been cooking al the hotel fOy
some time aud wanted to quit, much to the
landlords chagtin They were talking about
the matter IN the dining room in a loud tome
The Chinese was determined to leave, however
aud demanded the wages due him. amounting
20 q couple of hundred dollars or -. Alter
looking over the Chinamsas bill the land
lord said:
THAT'S al right: now I'll give you my bill"
With this be proceeded TO narra,e instances OF
unfortunate happenings in the hotel ana Iaxei
the Chinese n nne for each Casualty. For
instance, he would ssy: You rsco!lecs on
such date two men came in late one evening
and got no supper. So / have charged YOU So
on such date, and tAs bosriers 81: noue for
,%.fp e,-rs - prx{ E.,