New-York tribune., 1896-09-01
DID MRS. FOUNTAINS LEAVE A WILT
AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT LEADS SOME
OF THE HEIRS AND LEGATEES
TO SUPPOSE so

The interest in the estate Of Mrs Katherine Leo
Livingston Youmans. which aroused at the
time of her death two years is recalled by the
following personal. which appeared in New-York
paper yesterday:
If John Bigeow executor; Charles Dudley War
ner Charles Bellamy Culver. Clara Field daughter
Of Of Henry NJ Field: Pierre Van Alstyns. Abram
Hampton Institute Of Virginia, the Womans Ex-
fnapge and other heirs and iegatees $40 Of the late
they may hear of something to their advantage.
Mrs Youmans. who was brilliant woman and
famous for her beauty. died August %. 1894. at
the Lee House in Ridgefeld. Conn. leaving
estate which has been variously estimated worth
from $4,000 to s5,000O0. 1t had to her from
her first husband William Lee "a Harvard grad
uate. and Chancellor of the Hawaiian Islands under
Kamehameha). whom she took trip across the
continent to marry. Later Mrs. Lee married
10 Edward Livingston Youmans. Editor of THE
Popular Science Monthly" and the personal friend
of number Of eminent scientists Her house be-
came celebrated for the brilliant Americans who
gathered there. Edwin Booth. Charles Dudley War
ner. Mark Twain Oliver Wendell Holmes. Bayard
Taylor. Emerson. Whittier and Longfellow. among
others
After Mr.. Lees death his widow had lived almost
alone with her servants In the historic house which
had witnessed the battle Of Ridgefeld in the last
century and surrounded by wealth Of curious
and antique furniture. This furniture, which in
cluded the dressng-case of Marie Antonette and
a part of the Duke of Hamilton's collection OF
ivories was sold auction last year at the Ameri-
can Art Galleries.
When she died. the prospective heirs. to the num-
ber OF fifty or thereabouts gathered to receive the
legacies they had been told to expect. and
were much disappointed when search for the will
failed TO produce IT, few months later James l..
Newton an uncle of Mrs. Youman's. eighty-nine
years old and Mrs. Lucy Ladd an aunt. ninety
years old came on from Cleveland where they had
been living and claimed the estate. contest In
the Surrogate's Court of this State followed. but
they proved their relationship and were put in
possession. They are now living Ridgefed.
The personal quoted above leads some to be-
ljeye that will has at last been found, and tina.
the promises which Mrs. Youmans made to many
of her friends are to be redeemed MI Cui-
YER who is a connection of Mrs. Youmans. named
in the advertisement legatee is inclined to be-
lieye so at any, rate. "She told number Of us
that we were to receive legacies." he said yester-
day II shall not advertise however. until l
see what the executor will do the subject. The
estate is worth between 100000 and 100000
believe
pierre Van Alstyne. Of No. 100 Nassau-st.. who
was appointed administrator of the estate at the
time of the contest aud bore the expenses Of the
search said yesterday that he was going to take
every possible means to discover who and what
were back Of the advertisement. my mother aun was
hsTy s'sT Of beore her deah MRS.
a letter saying that If she should die tomorrow
most OF aes sI orr % er he Which to
same thing The estate was valued at between
$4,000 and 10000 when the contest h vas Gn mon ama
The search for the will was conducted undeT my
charge and certainly thorough: t emp,oySSa ySa
furniture exploring many secret drawers. lnere
were sixty OF them in one desk: IN Inc @ persons vn'
might expect to find In her Will could name Ln.
fifty persons who are willing TO swear tnat nI tney m
have hea rd her say she had made Will Inc per
son who writes the advertisement Is not actins ~,
a STRAIGHTFORWARD manner. think The VIII n' ougn,
Mr. Bigelow was Highland Falls n IL; yes
terday It was said at his office at NO 80 Mifai ~ III
ST. that Mr. Bigeow probably knew ho'hihs u '"e