New-York tribune., 1901-07-09
uoNTFIGHT ROGERS WILL,
TUDE OF THE MILLIoNAIRE's
NEPHEW.

NEPHEW.
,,..srson y J.. July S.-The prospect of the
- Jacob S Rogers being contested by some
"" o+ber than the nephews and nieces and half
oH If the dead millionaire is a matter of much
s..st here 1t has frequently been asserted
-. Mr.. Rogers contracted a common law mar
. abroad when still young man. and that
.ud was the result of the union This story
ov being repeated showing a proba bIity
:. contest of the will from a source other than
- benefciaries of the will or relatives who
sre not remembered.
uViIiam Pennington, lawyer when asked if
- was any foundation for the report of Mr.
. Doserss common law marriage, said it was "all
- but there a number of persons here
I'm say they know positively that the dead man
..s a romance in France.
MS probable that the viii will not be filed in
.se Office of the Surrogate of this county. The
asad man always claimed legal residence in
xew-York Several years ago he evaded the
navnent of personal taxes in this city on the
-ound that he did not live here. In view of
=. fact that litigation is expected, il is prob
be that the executors will offer the will for
rrobate before Chancellor Magic, in the Pre-
roeative Court. No action will be taken until
,be will has been printed and papers sent TO
the heirs.
The first conference of the three executors was
held to-day al the office Of William Pennington.
preparations were made for the filing of the
will and the prospect of a contest was consid-
cred While nothing given out authori-
,a,iyely. il is understood that Theodore Rogers
the chief beneficiary outside the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art, is satisfied with the conditions
of the viii and viii not join in any movement
10 break il. Said Mir. Pennington:
oo.ors the eye~iltorS can take local stems
their appointment must, OF course, De approved by
ihe court and they must obtain the necessary
court order empowering them to hande the funds
Of the estate We believe that through the Pre-
Togative Court this business be handled more
expeditiousy than through any other channel. and
ii is the desire Of the executors TO do everything
IN their power TO hasten a legal settlement. BY
going directly to the Chancellor We hope avert
silatory tactics which might be less
elective in the lower courts. There other
reasons that have influenced this decision, but
mem do not feel liberty speak present.
1 unable TO say just when the viii is likely
10 be fled Tor probate Under the law OF this Stale
il is optional with us whether we ME II In PateT-
son or in Trenton and II may be hlei al any time
later than days after the death of The testator
The Chancellor al present Is apsent on MS Naca-
ton. and no steps VIII be taken until after ms re-
iurn.
no definite estimate than that already given.
An actual inventory OF the personal property in
the shape OF stocks and bonds is impossible The
law does not give the custody of these securities
until after our appointment as executors has Deen
or knowledge OF their character at present rests
molly upon the information obtained from Taeo-
s5mitteaiy not exact, because Of the tesIajor's
extreme reticence on all matters connected with
his persoyla fortune and his business affairs. 1t Is
safe 10 saw however that of these securities
sre of tae Kind generally designated as gilt edged.
Mr Rogers was a who would not buy or
hold securities OF any other kind.
DespiJe The reports that Mr.. Rogers had sub
nitted TO me and TO Judge Barkalow the text OF
The will at time he wrote il, want 10 say tnat
there is no truth in that statement. Mr.. Rogers
MS signature to each indiNldual page, nor na NJ
our advice or our approval of its validity do not
believe that any man besides himself vas tstl!laI @
with its provisions. put IN spite OF thaI lA 'ie
will is likely 20 be a hard one 10 preah;; 49,, t
II is difficult see upon what GROUNDS the rea 9a
when he was at the height of his activity and ms
given TO people usually promotes idleness and lack
nan is the money earned by himself The only
ground upon which they can fight IS that MT
Tropery have no idea Of whai they will advance
10 support such q theory. except the well known
snIiored = in the Viii never knew there was such
person until yesterday l understand she was at
Oh yes there is a possibility that woman
may come forward and say she is the wife OF
Jacob 5 Rogers. but ii is not probable There nave
been many stories at various times, but Mr.. Rogers
always natIy contradicted them.
Persons who knew Mr.. Rogers are not inclined to
believe the vineclad South Of France romance IN
his life. During the years he lived abroad NJ:
Rogers vas visited oy many Pa5erIon1aS @
the visitor from his home Iav4shly. Those who
romance. and say that Mr.. Rogers had neither
tine nor liking for that sort Of a life. His one
romance was. II is said, a pure one.
When MT. Rogers was IL Europe IN nose oaES'
between 1856 and 1870 he lived mainly IN Paris: The
nearest he ever came spending mucn line IN the
South Of France was when he lived for a couple OF
months il Nice. and then he had suite OF rooms
at the principal hotel of The place. This story OF
the child has been told before N various ways,
and il would be surprising II soTne claimant
Rogers's life and he never afterward lived IN
Paris. When his one romance enIed, JACOB ,
Rogers had 10 further use for the French capital,
where Il occurred. nor for any other woman n the
world.
That woman is alive to-day. and Jacob s ROGERS
never forgot her. DO you ever hear from hcf?
be was asked not so long ago by one Of the few
men who could talk TO Mr. Rogers on such a SUP;
iect Yes" he said cuietlE. on tns hoAdays and
anniversaries and" he added significantly. she
always hears from me- This woman makes no
claim on Jacob 6. Rogers. and there y nothing
connected with the life IN France of these two
which would give her any legai stanollg lot Soli
ing into aDv viii contest She has al she needs or
this worlds goods, and Jacob ) Rogers proVideo
them years ago Besides. she IS woman VINO
shrinks from publicity and spends large part or
her tine OF the ocean.
By a law enacted a few VARS ago tax OF
per cent is placed upon bequests to persons not
Of lineaI descent. The law eXemrts churches
anu other institutions of religious and charita-
bic character The question now asked is
whether the Metropolitan Museum Of Art can
escape such tax which would amount IN thls
case u something like 100000.
II is understood that the executors have re-
tained former Attorney-General John w. Grlsgs
70 represent them in establishing the will