Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-02
legal verbiage to try to reach tho purpose

! legal verbiage to try to reach the purpose
OF the testator.
The will Of DIR. Evans is a very elab-
| crate document. written In duplicate by
| himself in both French and English. and
each written In conformity with the laws
OF the nation whose language is employed.
Ii is reported as So circumstantial and
| minute in It's testamentary dispositions
as to cause a legal conflicts. and the
! most serious defect OF the will IL that
the residuary estate, estimated at about
$S.000,000 is devised TO an institution in
this city tina has no existence. The will
was written before he left rance for hia
last visit to this country, and doubtless
il was his intention while here TO maks
provision for the organization OF the
Thomas W. Evans Museum and Insti-
tute of Philadelphia" but for some reason
he failed TO do SO.
1t was common rumor that he was
much grieved because OF the discussion
OF his purposes by the public press OF thiz
country during his visit. and also by
the annoyance he doubtless suffered from
the opportunities of those who desired 10
obtain testamentary gifts for charitable.
educational, and other institutions.
Whatever may have led TO IL, he aid
not carry out what seems 20 have been
his purpose 70 organize the institute no
contemplated founding in his city. and
there will doubtless be dispute as TO the
disposition Of that portion of his estate.
II was commonly understood that DIR.
Evans meant 10 found in Philadelphia n
dental institute bearing his own name.
and in connection Herewith a museum
where he meant 10 deposit the many
magnificent presents he had received
from the crowned heads OF the world.
The details. as he wrote them. are not
given TO the public. and II would be I'M
fair 10 judge to what extent complisa-
tions may arise over this gift Of an inssi-
tuition that rs without existence. lie may
have provided for its organization, as II
is reported that il Philadelphia and POM
s~ylvania shall refuse to accept the con-
ditions under which the institute Is TO be
founded, the property shall go to his ex>-
cutors, who are entrusted with disete
tionary power to carry out his wishes as
they understand them in the matter Of
founding the institution he contemplated.
Another complication arises from the
will in the clause devising a large sum
TO his wife and directing that at her
death she shall duplicate the requests ne
has made TO numerous relatives. Mrs.
Evans died before the doctor, and died
intestate. 1t will doubtless be claimed by
the special l~egatees that their requests
should be doubled. inasmuch as no change
was made in his will after the death OF
his wife. Upon the whole. there Is every
indication of a protracted legal contest
that may require years to reach a final
determination in the courts of France.
and that invests with uncertainty the
founding of the great institution in this
city that DR. Evans contemplated.
There are six executors, three OF
whom-Messrs. Ely. Wilson. and Hab-
berton-are Americans. and three French
men-Messrs. Nalois, Crane. and Muller
and II is said hat the American execu-
tors have given powers Of attorney to
their coexecutors in France TO act Tor
them. at least in tho preliminary arrange
ments for the disposal Of the estate. I'm
less the circumstantlal reports We have
of the general features OF DR.. Evans's
will are misleading. IL Is evident that IL
will be many years before Philadelphia
can realize the fulflment OF the testa-
tors purpose to found a great dental in
stitution in this city.