The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-22

Theodore Burmester'S will. which
was filed for probate yesterday, was
characteristic of the man who drew it.
1t was short and to the point. It read
just as the dead attorney would have
told it had he been alive. There was
no useless verbiage in its construc-
ton; everything was stated briefly.
Nothing in its language partook of the
legal forms which are so common.
The testatOr did not state that the
document was drawn sin the name OF
God. Amen" or anything Of that sort.
Neither did he allege that ne was OF
sound and disposing mind and free
from any duress, restrain, or undue
influence" On the contrary, there
was nothing of the sort.
Despite the apparent ruggedness OF
the man there was a soft place in his
composition, revealed by this will. AL
though he was apparently stern and
commonplace, he had a heart filled
with poetry. The closing words OF
the viii show that he was more or
less child of nature. "Pansies love
most" are the closing words of this
strange document. 1t requires small
power of discernment to note that this
rough old fellow was at one time a,
bright little chap. roaming over the
hills and through the valleys of the
AeNA CIV cl9 DUO THIS. through WHICH
rolls the clear waters of the silverv
Susquehanna, where all love pansies.
And although the years which have
interviewed were dark and full OF
trouble and disappointment. when at
last deaths grey shadow fell athWart
the threshold of life, memory carried
him back to the hemlock glades and
howery banks beautiful under the
summer sunshine
That he had faith in human nature
is evidenced by the pathetic appeal,
not cOuched in direct terms, but inn
piled, to his creditors to be merciful to
the widow and the fatherless.
The will is short as stated It COW
ers one page of note paper Of the or
binary kind. 1t is not witnessed by
anyone and simply bears the signature
of the deceased. A copy is as fol-
lows:
Il, Theodore Burmester. of Salt Lake
city, Utah territory, do hereby make my
last will and bequeath all my estate,
real and personal, in equal parts. share
and share alike, to my wife, Marion
Finch, and her five children, minors,
Mamie. Henry Finch, Wilhelmina. Theo-
dore and Louisa, and my other two chill
dren, Frank Theodore and Mildred Ara
minta Burmester. that is to say. my es-
tate shall be divided into eight equal
parts.
name and ask that they act for my
wife and children as executors without
bonds, Boyd Park, jeweler, G. W. Morse,
attorney and my son Frank Theodore
Burmester and hope that they will so
interest themselves in my estate as to
make it realize, if possible, something
near its value. Among my creditors Z
feel sure there are those who will ITEM
per the wind to the shorn lamb and
forbear pressing their claims till times
improve and a fair price can be realized
for my estate.
I want my debts paid in full and only
ask for favor as to time to realize as
have plenty for all some day and also
for my family.
A most inexpensive funeral is my wish.
No foolshness, no Grape, simply soma
flowers, pansies / love most.
Done March 10, 1885, Witness my hand
THEODORE BURMESTER.
Accompanying the will was a petition
from the three named executors, pray
ing for the admission of the same TO
probate. The petition sets up that the
estate consists of real property, all OF
which is mortgaged for nearly its fun
value, mining stocks and judgments OF
uncertain value. The probable value OF
the estate is alleged to be about $1,000.
Saturday November 2, was fixed as the
date of hearing the petition for probate.
Mrs. Burmester filed a petition praying
for appointment as guardians of Minnie,
Henry, Wilhelmina, Theodore and Louisa
Burmester, which was fixed for hearing
Oct. a.
Other orders were made as follows:
Estate of Caroline c. Donelson: order
made allowing administrator $3.50 COM
pensation.