Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-06
Mr.. Tompkins' Will
Did the Spirits Garry Out the Wishes
Of the Dying Man9
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II never was what you may call SUI
perstitious," said lawyer from the |
country as he sat in the courtroom
awaiting the judge, but had an ex-
perience once that has ever since in
duced me not to scoff at what Is called |
the supernatural. MIR. Tompkins was
one of the FIRST clients my father, who
was lawyer, ever had. He was
wealthy and had, os was supposed,
never been married. He lived in an
old homestead not far from a well
known city up the state, and his wants
were attended to by an elderly house
keeper and several servants, male and
female. After | became lawyer it
was my duty TO see Mr. Tompkins
quite frequently in relation to his prop
erty and so forth He was kindly
man, somewhat reserved, and, when l
first knew him, probably Go years of
age. He had strong personality both
as to appearance and character. He
was over six feet and stout in proper
ton. His face was always clean shay
ed, and he wore his hair long. When
knew him, 1t had turned to gray, but
was as abundant as ever. His carriage
was erect, and his general appearance
was such as, II once Observed could
not well be forgotten.
"Mr. Tompkins was in the habit of
spending q good deal of time away
from home, and the impression of my
father and myself was that he was re-
cuperating in Florida. He went and
returned without notice, and his do
mestics, being used to his ways, never
troubled themselves ut his absence,
while at the same time they were eX-
ceedingly careful to have everything
ready for his reception whenever he
might return. Neither to me nor to my
father did he eyer utter any explana-
tion Of his absences from home or
make any allusion to them whatsoever.
"One day Mr.. Tompkns came to our
Office and asked for my father. He
was not in just then, and Mr.. Tomp-
kins sat down and tnlked with me. He
asked me how had spent my time at
college and about my associates and
my age and many other things. After
pause which lasted some moments
he said:
"'You have reached that age when
you should marry. The best thing in
the world for you Is to get wife as
soon as you can take care of one. A
man is safer when he marries early
81 looked ont of the window and saw
my father coming toward the office.
"'AIy father is coming | said.
"Mr. Tompkins arose and glanced to-
ward the street. Then he stepped to
one side and appeared TO me to be
brushing something Off his coat sleeve.
The next instant he wheeled right
round, staggered and fell. My father
entered just at the time. and both of
us fastened to raise Mr.. Tompkins and
place him on a chair We sent for his
physician right away, and when he
came he said that Mr.. Tompkins was
suffering from an attack of apoplexy.
He was conveyed to his home, and the
best attendance was procured for him.
"My fathers impression was that his
client had come to see him on some i'm
portant business, for he never visited
the office unless II matter in which he
WIS ucepiS anu apN'ous'! ih'e'e''eu
i''pei'eu ''''h F" w so' ii,e uSua' eus,
tom was ~ senu n's 'uir'ase 'o' NY
lu,her Wnen ue "es'eu " eo"e",' "',n
What the subject could be which in
uuceo Mr' ioinphihs W N's'' 'ne o'"',
mat morning he''her my i"'ner hor
coulu oi!'me'
we 'aiNeu "Ner 'he inc'"'"' 'o,is
anu careluiiS, anu W tue coufse VI .h'
cohVersa'io" h,ehUopeu 10 NY iu'nei
some l"c's "h'pn ~ ,"u NV on "'N ",'
before were OF surnc'eht impor'ance u
mention IL was not oiteh 'nat AT 'na'
tln'e III my history ''s''eu Ne" iu'N
anon,, hoa hoor 90 ,ho oity opIv twice
~ '.as, - o;rcunstonca which occrrref
-, NV lace v,sit that I mentioned :,
,,,,. ,,,hnr ,rha hrsinoss ,hot took M,
,o tho o,ty yas IN rcIation to some doc
wnan,s oeont,ng wooded lands nm IN,
stnta IN ,,'hich = cuont wos interested
a, -, o,1 oo,Iono rr,ond and an,
law ha ana w.nt down to Lon,
prarnh tnmathor Af,.r taking in IN,
s,,,hts wo wnre notuouv hungry an,
,,.on+ 90 ,ho hos, hotoI we could seloct
'"' W. Wv - : ~ .