Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-08-18
MAY GET THE FORTUNE.
BrattlebOrO's Interest in the
Thompson Will

AppeBrs 60 Better Advantage Upon EX-
animation Eatate Amounts TO
$1,000, 900 - Judge waternan's In-
vesiigatIOn.
Brattleboro will do her part toward Sc
curing for the poor seamstresses, needle
women and shop-girls of the town the
money to which they are entitled under
the will of the late Thomas Thompson,
the philanthropist. Three of the towns
leading citizens, appointed a committee by
the townspeople and having the sanction
of the selectmen, are already at work to
bring about fulflment of the provisions
of tie will, at least with respect to the
Brattleboro beneficiaries.
A public meeting of the citizens of the
town was held In Festival hall Saturday
night to take action with regard to the set
tling of the Thompson estate, and it is
probable that such measures as are taken
by Brattleboro will be taken by Rhinebeck,
n. Y, the poor seamstresses needle-wom-
en- and shop girls of which town are joint
heirs under the will with the similar peo-
pie of Bratteboro. The two towns may
act together. Col. George w. Hooker
was elected chairman of the meeting and
Walter A. Gilbert, secretary. The chair
man then read the following resolution:
Resolued, That the people of Bratteboro highly
appreciate the noble and generous motives that
prompted Thomas Thompson, deceased, in so
literally providing for the poor seamstresses
needle women and shop-girls Of Brattleboro and
Rhinebeck, and
Whereas, There are now In Brattleboro many
worthV seamstresses, needle women and shop
girls who are fairly entitled to the benefits of the
Legacy in the said Thompson will, therefore be 1t
further
Resolved, That a committee of three be appoint
ed by the presiding officer to repre- sent the Brat
Flsufa lnFNa
Thompson, aud we pledge ourselves TO support
the action Of said committee in defraying the
necessary expenses that may be incurred. up TO
the limit to which we may individually subscribe
On motion of DR.. H. D. Holton the res
olution was adopted. The chairman then
appointed Judge Z. L. Waterman, DR.. H.
D. Holton and Lawyer G. c. Fits a COM
mittee under the resolution. Col. II. E.
Taylor was appointed TO secure subscrip-
tions TO defray the expenses incurred by
the committee, and the meeting was ad-
journed.
Judge Waterman went to Boston on
the early train Tuesday morning to look
up the records of the probate court con-
cerning the Thompson estate. He found
that Thomas Thompson's will was probat-
ed in 1869, as has previously been pub
lished. At that time the heirs contested
the will on the ground of testamentary in
| capacity because of insanity. The court
allowed the will to stand and the contest
ants appealed, but the higher court sus-
tained the judgment of the probate court.
The contestants have now set up claim
that the provision of the will relating TO
Brattleboro and Rhinebeck is void because
of its indehniteness, and they have retain
| ed ex-Mayor Nathan Matthews of Boston
to fight the case. The provision which
| they claim Is void reads as follows:
"And after the decease of my said wife,
to apply the net income of the trust fund,
after making the deductions aforesaid for
or toward the relief and support of poor
seamstresses, needle women and shop girls
who may be in temporary need from want
of employment, sickness or misfortune, in
the towns of Brattleboro, VT, and Rhine
heck, Dutchess county, New York, the
amount being equally divided between the
two towns. And l direct and empower
my said trustees to employ from time 10
time such agents as they may judge best
for the practical application of the income
of the trust fund, whether town of.
ficials of said towns, or corporations, as
sociations or individuals resident in SAID
town or elsewhere, it being my wish that
such agents shall be selected, If practicable,
as will serve gratultously. And l empower
my said trustees, If the whole income ap-
propriated to either one of said towns is
not needed for the relief of the class OF
persons above named in that town for one
year, to apply the surplus to the relief OF
the same class in the other town If needed,
and If not apply such surplus to such kin
drek charitable purposes in said towns OF
elsewhere, but not, however in the city OF
| han ha Aafa paA hvr caid
trustees, or in their discretion TO be added
to the capital"
1t is hard TO see just where the indenfiite
ness comes in. There are certainly needy
women in Brattleboro of the class describ
ed in the will, and If there were none the
town would be entitled to half the income
of the estate under the clause ''kindreC
charitable purposes" That clause is very
broad and covers such institutions as the
Home for the Aged and Disabled, the
hospital which it has been proposed Il
build in BrattleboIo and whose need has
been felt for years, and any other charity
whose object Is the alienation of wan
and suffering
The Samuel j. Tilden will was broker
because of its indefiniteness. That will
bequeathed the estate to the executors to
dispose of as in their judgement it seemed
best. In the Thompson will definite
object is specified, and BrattlebOro anC
Rhinebeck are given preference through
out the document The more the matter
is investigated the more clearly it appears
that the Brattleboro benefciaries are en-.
titled to the amount devised to them
This is the opinion of Judge Waterman
also of William Minot, jr., of Boston, who
is now the sole trustee of the will. The
matter will come before the court in few
days, at which time the committee appoint
ed by our citizens will be present, having
the authority not only of the citizens and
selectmen, but of the beneiciaries them
selves. The Thomas Thompson estate
as 1t is now appraised, amounts to abou
$1,600,000, and it includes some of the
best business blocks in Boston. The rea
estate has increased in value since tn,
appraisal was made, so that the estate
probably amounts to not far from 1000,
600.
The probating of Mrs. Thompson's will
in Stamford, Conn.,, Wednesday had moth
ing to do with the Thompson estate il
which the people of Brattleboro are in
terested. The will amounts to nothing
moreover, as the estate was willed to Mrs