The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-04
PETER R0BINsON's WIDOW.
The Great Merchant Left Her Not n
Cent of His S6,OOO,OOO.
From the New York SUI


London, Nov. 30.-There died the o+bor
day a man whose name, Peter Robinson
is probably more familiar than any other
in London to every American woman who
ever visited this city. He was the .
T. Stewart of London, proprietor of the
English Bon Marche He was not nror,
inent socially, of course, as it is impossi-
bic for any vulgar tradesman to Obtain
any position in the society of this effafe
monarchy. But he was successful mer-
chant whose name has been almost a
household word in two continents. and he
left fortune of more than 5000 600 His
funeral was the most imposing, both in
the number who attended and IN the dis.
play of all the paraphernala of grief
Funerals quietly conducted by Peter
Robinson" has indeed been a prominent
standing advertisement in all the Lonloa
newspapers for years. 1t was hitting,
therefore, that his obsequies should ia
a credit to the great establishment of
which he for many years has been the
The funeral was, however. in one re-
spect peculiar. The place of the widow
and family was taken by a woman and
hef children who do not bear Mr.. Robin
sons name. They were the chief mourn
ers also at the grave, where the body
was laid with the most solemn ceremO-
NAL, and the space around was covered
with costly floral tokens of respect Al
ter the great cortege had departed an
other carriage entered the cemetery alone
A pale, sad-faced woman in black alight-
ed, picked her way among the magnh-
cent noWefS which covered the ground
and placed upon the head the head OF the
grave a simple wreath. She bent over
ii moment and then slowly went back
TO the carriage and drove away. The
woman was the widow of Peter Robin
son. Next day the dead mans will was
offered for probate. and the London news
papers printed brief paragraphs Saying
that the testator left $4,000 to each Of
4 Al
specific requests, devised the residue.
about $5,OOOO00, in trust for his other
children" This statement has called
forth, this week, from Mr. John letter
Robinson, the eldest son of the deceased
man, one of the most remarkable letters
ever made public by the son of a proini-
nent man.
After referring to the misleading re-
port above mentioned, young Mr.. Robin
son writes:
4 enclose an extract from the will.
from which it will. be seen that the tes-
tator leaves $4,000 each and no more 10
myself and my two brothers, who are his
only lawful surviving children; and after
certain pecuniary legacies, amounting to
about $4,000 the testator devises the resi-
due of his estate, upward of 100000, TO
trustees, TO pay an annuity of $500 TO
Kate Alice Eagle, who resided with the
testator, in addition to specific devises OF
property to her and the ultimate residue
to her children, described in the will as
ms reputed children.
we desire the correction because the
error has led to inquiries respecting our
brothers and sisters, and as we are the
only lawful surviving children, the OK
preston his other children refers to
persons who are strangers to us, and also
because the expression as to giving of GER
tain specific legacies and annuities has led
TO the impression that my mother, the
widow, is benefited by the WILL which Is
contrary to the fact.
i am, OF course, aware that every man
competent to make a will is entitled TO
bequeath his property as he pleases, but
we ask that any statement published
should be correct, and not be so worded
as to lead the public to suppose that the
persons benefited are members of the tes-
tators family"
1t is not necessary further to expose the
private life of this great merchant beyond
contrasting the operation of the English
and American law in such cases. Mr..
Robinson cut off his lawful wife without
a penny of his immense fortune. and IT
would probably be useless for her to pro-
test. The English law provides no right
OF dover. In almost any American state
Mrs. Robinson would be entitled to f2,0V0.-
900, or one-third of her husbands estate,
irrespective of the provisions of the Will
1t is said that she will attempt to break
the will on the ground of undue infu-
ence.
The separation between husband and
Wife took place twenty years ago. Alr.
Robinson endeavored to get his wife 10
divorce him i'll order that he might mar
ry his mistress. She refused to gratIF
the pair by thus making ii possible 10
legltImatize their union.