The sun., 1895-05-09

A Revelation OF the Rich Type Founders
wIl-None OF the Estate for Her.

A Revelation OF thc Rtch Type Founders
wmNone OF the Estate for Her.
The will of David Wolfe Bruce, a cousin of
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe. who was one Of the
wealthest women in America, was filed for pro-
bate on May 9. Mr. Bruce left n large estate.
The beneticiares under tho will were the three
children Of David Bruce his cousin, who got sl5.-
600 each, and his sisters. Matilda Wolfe Bruce
and Catherine Wolfe Bruce. who live in the old
home of Sir Roderick Cameron at $40 Fifth ave-
nue.. They got tho residuary estate They were
named executors under the will. The filing Of
the will and its probate would have passed un-
noticed had it not been for the fact that the
counsel for the Bruce family. Dewitt. Lockrnan
& Dewitt. issued n citation to Catherine \.
Bruce. widow of David Wolfe Bruce"
Those who knew Mr.. Bruce almost without
exception supposed him to be an unmarried
man. Some thought he widower, but
they were very few He died on March g last.
and the obituaries that were printed at TINT
time contained no mention Of q widow and no
mention OF n marriage at any time. Mr.. Bruce
was 20 years old. and was eccentric. One of his
eccentricities came to light on March IS, 500.
when he was arrested in fiat at 23s Sixth
avenue presided over by a Mrs. Rciss. Ten
young women were arrested at the same
timo. 1t came out that Mr.. Bruce had
called regularly twice Il week at the house,
accompanied by his valet, who assisted him
up stairs. and that he was known there as
"Champagne Charley" a name he earned be-
cause of his liberality. DR.. John 7. Kennedy,
his physician, secured his release tile day fol-
lowing by certifying that Mr.. Bruce was in the
first stage of paresis.
The recollection of this experience and the
newspaper stories that followed II were perhaps
responsible yesterday for the stories about town
thnt II Mr.. Bruce was married he had probably
been duped into it, and. further, that contest
stories were not corroborated but, Gu
riously enough; it was %a,. not possible n1, to
Bruce tha1 is to saH from ay
authentic source. One man who claimed to be
a.friend of Bruce, said that he had married
lived with her Mt 80 East Twenty third street,
in the old Bruce homestead. The directories
for years back contained the names OF every
member OF the Bruce household, bu, OF no Mrs.
Another man. who said he was IN intimate
had been made for Mrs:Bruoe Cwho was not
mentioned in the Will before the will was
estate go AS willed in view Of the provision
made for her. and that she would neither con-
test the Will nor CLAIM dover in the realty.
Neither Of these men would permit the use Of
his name.
De Witt Lock- man 4 DE Witt. was one OF the
family. He declared that he, would say nothing
~ ne ge!
ever is on official record he said. lis true"
The official record contains the statement that
Catherince A. R-uce is the widow.
The stories that were being retailed about
town were repeated TO Mr.. pc Witt. He said
"Whatever you say. do not intimate that Mrs
Bruce is not honored wife. Further than
this | will not say.
The Misses Bruce. the executors Of the will,
were at $40 Fifth avenue, but they refused to
give in formation about the vii or the widow.
William A. Loney. whose family is related by
marriage 10 the Bruccs. said: Il am surprised
to learn that Mr.. Bruce had a wife. did not
know that he was married. and don't think it
was generally understood that there was Mrs.
David Wolfe Bruce"
DR.. Kennedy was even more mysterious than
the lawyer and the Misses Bruce. He knew. he
said. all about 1t. but his lips were sealed be
cause of his relations with the family. He did
not know whether there would be n contest Of
the will. but he didn't think there wou id be.
Mrs Reiss, who knew n great deal about Mr..
Bruce at the time Of the trouble had moved a
great many times since then and she was not
found.
There is very little probability of a contest Of
the will. II is said. because Mrs. Bruce has made
no response TO the citation OF the lawyers. Had
she intended n contest she would have appeared
and objected to the probate.