The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16

AFTER n Bifs Or Raruiuaopiousness. ne rs - IAe
Beneath . enc, 200 Monunent.

ENout TIE Hartford TYp,es.
In the Senate, on Wednesday. final action was
taken on one of the most curious measures
passed upon during the session.
Lucas Douglas. who died about two years ago,
was the owner of a small farm in the Warren
willie section Of the town of Ashford, In the hills
Of Windham county. He was a bachelor, and
eccentric in his later years. His farm was q
poor one, but he was parsimonious In the eE-
tremc, and saved money. In 1870, when his
fortune reached the modest sum Of about 5000.
he made q will leaving all OF his es.
tote, after paying funeral expenses and
just debts, to DO used in erecting a costly
monument In his burial lot. At this time his
nearest relatives were two sisters, then married,
and in new better circumstances than he
was. Therefore he did not think IL necessary to
leave them anything by his will. and there were
no other relatives for whom he had any particu.
lar regard. He lived wholly alone most of the
time, doing his own homework until the later
years of his life, when no employed a widow
living In the neighborhood, to whom he paid
small wages.
A { the time OF his death. about two years ago.
1t was found that he had mover changed his will
Of 1879. although both sisters had in the mean
other would have been greatly benefited by re,
ground on which n will made so many years ago
could be disturbed. and there was no choice for
the Town Clerk Of Ashford, but to see that It's
provisions were carried out; to pay the few
estate, which had then reached a valuation of
the Ghis grave cot Of Douglas Doe Sfe' in the OF Wes %S%a@ eemet eTsr
found in the little i ine sSr"st a cheap ,Ss mo monu% nneDt
and two headstones. Clearly there was no room
more. Mr.. Baker found that he lacked author
ity to Pmy q larger lot and remove the remains;
Tor authority. The matter WAS Fefarrah IN the
Judiciary Committee, and. after hearing the
executors and others interested, the committee
made a majority report recommending q resolu-
suitable lot in the wcstford Cemetery, 10. re.
erect on the lot the monument provided for by
the will. An adverse report was made by Sen
House passed the resolution after an interesting
debate, and the Senate concurred on Wednes-
day, although Senator Warner endeavored to
Heargued that, as the will provided that the
monument should DO erected on the Douglas
of the document IL the monument was erected
elsewhere. II the executor claimed. as he did.
large monument. then he should go to the courts
for a construction Of the will. and il the courts
form an impossibility. that 10, to place a monu-
ment on a place where there was no room for it,
will, and the estate would 60 to the support Of
the surviving sister Of the deceased and the ne
c~essitous and dependent children OF the deceased
However. the Senate failed to be convinced by
this argument.
SO the last wishes of Lucas Douglas will now
be carried out to the letter, and this humble
farmer, after a life of scrimping economy and
loneliness. will rest beneath what will probably
be the most expensive monument in the little
rural cemetery. 1t is understood that several
members of the Judiciary ommitt would
have been glad to have been able to see their
way clear to legislation under which a more
modest stone could hage been placed oyer the
TO the benefit of his aged sister. But the will
was explicit in its terms: 1t could not be dis.
t tbe reau and; 81 thf ere nx.c III Eniy yh ren Sn 10 70 s1Igs grant
to buy a suitable lot on which to place 80 ex-
pensive a stone as he to purchase.