Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-25
EX-JUDGE HILTON DEAD.
He Was Prominent In Connection
With Late A. T. Stewart.

Late "A. L. stewart.
| Ex-Judge Henry Hilton of New York died
| at 5:25 O'Clock yesterday afternoon at
| Woodlawn Park. Saratoga. N. Y, his coun-
! try seat. He had been in an unconscious
| state for several hours, and his last mo-
ments were without pain.
| At his bedside were Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
| B. Hilton, Mrs. Horace Russell. daughter
and the attending physician.
Although no definite arrangements have
yet been made in regard to the funeral it
| Is understood that the principal services
| Will be held in Saratoga. The judges body
will be buried in the family plot in Green
wood.
Henry Hilton was seventy-five years old
He always declined to discuss his early
life or to tell who his parents were 1t is
| probable that he was born in New York.
Some time before 1910 he was lad in the
law office of Campbell & Cleveland in
Grand street. New York. Campbell not
long afterward became a master in chan
Gerry ana register OF bankruptcy, in which
positions he found enough employment for
all his working hours. Young Hilton, their
managing clerk. found most of the business
OF the firm in his hands. He shrewd
and his capacity for work was enormous.
About this time Alexander r Stewart
used to call at the office to consult the law
yers. He found that they never advised
him on any matter until they had consulted
the some one was young Hilton. There
upon the merchant king engaged Henry
Hilton as his private counsel. About this
time Mr.. Hilton married a sister of James
n Banker. afterward president of the Bank
of New York
Henry Hilton was judge of the court
of common pleas from 1857 until 1863.
Later he was a park commissioner under
the Tweed regime. and was occupying that
Office when the ring was smashed.
Judge Hilton formed in 1869 the law firm
of Hilton, Campbell & Bell, which endured
until 1874. During this period he used to
spend two hours every afternoon at A. T.
Stewards store, and then go uptown to
dinner with him. After 1874 Judge Hilton
had no office save at Stewards store. For
years before that he had been Stewards
chief adviser From the developing and ex-
tension of his business to the planning of
great edffices. the splendid cathedral and
schools at Garden City. the hotel for wo
men. which is now the Park Avenue Hotel,
the dry goods millionaire did nothing with
out the advice of Judge Hilton. Stewart
believed in Hilton. trusting him. submit
ting to his judgment in everything.
A. Stewart died on April 10. 1876
When his will was opened it was an
nounced he had left specific bequest of
81 G1o.000 to Henry Hilton. Within short
time Henry Hilton appeared to be in alb
solute control of the great business of A.
Il. Stewart q Co.
Then began the long succession of as
saults against the estate and attempts TO
break the milionaires will. Persons crop
ped up in all quarters of the United States
TO lay claim to the Stewart fortune. 1t was
always Stewards boast that he was the
last surviving member of his branch of the
Stewards.
In all the suits to break the will Judge
Hilton was virtually defendant. 1t cost
him and the estate hundreds of thousands
of dollars to defend A. T. Stewards for
tune from dissipation. Claimants to rela-
tonship and the fortune came from all
parts of the world.
Stewards widow died. The next the
world knew was that Judge Hilton had in
his possession almost the entire fortune
left by A. T. Stewart. The Stewart dry
goods business was continued by Judge
Hilton's sons, and failed, with enormous
liabilities. and it is said the failure cost
the father 100000. He leaves three sons
and two daughters.