The sun., 1897-09-16

nrs or u slave Recalled In wm Case Vow OF
Trial.


Boston, Sept l5.-The will Of Nathan Spring
field, now on trial in the Supreme Court, brings
to light incidents in a career that was rcmarka-
Bile. The Boston Journal gives the following
account OF tho mans history: Nathan Spring
field was born in Virginia in 1872, n slave. On
Doc. l6, lS96, when nearly ~ years OF age. he
died, leaving property valued at between
$4,000 and $4,000.
In his youth Nathan acquired tho trade OF a
blacksmith. He was owned by Methodist min
lister. After attaining his majority Nathan bar
gained with his master to buy his own freedom
for $500. The pledge was given. and the youth
went to work with will. The young slave nc.
cumuated the sum and gave it to his owner as
a ransom for his freedom.
Tho clergyman took the money. but failed to
keep his agreement. Nathan remained slave
Later his master sold him to wealthy planter
Still nourishinS desire to be liberated, Nathan
made bargain with his second master. this
time Offering 800 rs ransom, Consent was
given, and the young man, after much labor,
procured the money. But ho was again dcs-
uneG TO disappointment. Tho second master
also kept both money and slave.
Exasperated by this treatment, Nathan dis
cardcd arbitration and resolved to gain his free
dom by flight. At the age Of 80 an opportunity
was afforded. ana he made his escape, coming
wife of the second master, knowing Of tho pre-
ylous negotiations. induced her husband to re-
lease the lonely wife who soon after royoined
her husband in Boston.
Nathan worked at b!acksmithng in and about
Boston Tor time. and later started pcddling
straw He was Industrious and saving, his
business grow rapidly, and within compare
lively short time he was tho proprietor OF u
business. At his death last December he owned
real estate in tho West End Cambridge, and
other other places, and had large deposits in various
Mr.. Springfield was an active church member.
being one OF the founders OF the Twelfth Baptist
thing that pertained to the advanc cctncnt and
uplifting IlP Of his race, He was twice married.
HIS nrst wife died while he was slave in Nir-
joined him in this city. He had twelve children
oy his second wife. all save two OF whom died
Theophiius Springfield. the only surviving
child Is now 40 years of age. He is married, but
Is under guard ianship as an insane person.
The second child. daughter married Thomas
SSesman. but she died before her fathers death.
its grandfather. but Frederick the second
grandChild. is living. and is now young man
about % years OF age.
Thus the only two heirs are Theophus Spring
neid and Frederick Scman. the grandson. who
with others had entered protest against the
OF the present case hangs.
@ The will as originally drawn bears the date Of
when he was about s8 years OF age. He be.
9ueathed a number OF legacics TO personal
itiehuh ana 10 institutions. ana provided for
those nearest in kin There is a provision in
the will which states that upon the death
OF the son and grandson the residue shall DO
divided among their children. two.thirds to go
to the sons children and one-third to the rhil.
dren OF the grandson. should neither have Off
spring the property shall be divided equally be-
tween the Twelfth Baptist Church and tho
Home for Aged Coored Women, both OF which
institutions received icgaCies.
1t is upon the third Codcil that the hitch
comes; This was made July L. ls96. This
Codici reduces the bequcSts TO the Twelfth Ba p-
tist Church and the Home for Aged Co!ored
Women from $500 10 $500. and it makes other
ra6icaI changes that tne heirs object to- The
the children OF his son and $500 annually to the
Offspring OF his grandson. Frederick Scman.
This must cease. however, when the children Ut
tain thcir majority.
Tho codiCil goes on TO state that the residue
should then be divided equally between the
Twelfth Baptist Church and the Home for Aged
Solored Women. but the property shall be
handled by Board of Trustees that II may
be managed outside of the institutions inv DIV cd.
The case Is still on trial.