The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-19
DISINHERlTED
their WIVES.
~ = KH
Efforts Made BY Many Men to
Keep PrOp3r'y From Widows
WILLIS FOLLOWS THAT PLAN.
Btrlaaths fIp Dollars and a Lot 10 Mrs.
Willis and III, R.mllnd,r Of His Prtp,rIy
ioa Woman frisn1.
WILLIS FOLLOWS THAT PLAN.

New York. July l9-In the majority Of
wills filed during the first half Of the
first year OF the new century husbands
have shown disposition to ignore the
rights OF their wives by leaving their
property 10 friends. The most recent be-
quest that kind was that OF Moses
Willis, which was fled for probate In the
surrogate's office yesterday
The testator cut his wife. Ellen Willis.
OF with legacy OF s. and lot In Sher-
man Park which he leaves to her instead
OF dover The residue of his estate goes
20 his friend. Sarah J. Brown. who is all
so appointed his sole executrix with full
power 20 dispose OF the property as she
may sec IN after paying the above men
toned legacy 10 Mrs. Willis.
Sarah j. Brown also gets the good VIII
of the testator's trucking business. The
value OF the estate is not given. but IL is
said that ~. ills was worth considerably
more than 100000
WILL EXECUTED JUNE ls
The will reads as follows:
II give and bequeath TO my wife. Ellen
Willis, the sum OF S. / give and be-
queath to my wife a lot of land at sher-
man Park. estchester. being half the
lot exclusively.
IL do hereby declare II TO be my ex-
press wish that the aforementioned gift
and devise to my wife, Ellen Willis, shall
be I'm lieu of dover and shall be null and
void in case the said Ellen Willis shall re-
fuse and neglect 10 give unto my exec
utrix, Sarah J. Brown. such and any re-
leases as may be required by law. And IL
is also my express wish that the afore-
them shall become null and void in the
event OF my said wife, Ellen Willis con-
testing this will or any part thereof"
The document then goes on to say that
the residue OF his estate, real, personal
property and business. is left to Sarah j.
as she may think fit. The will was exec
uted on June is and the subscribing wit
nesses are Thomas w. Baker, OF rs Hen
dirk street, in the borough OF good inten-
tions. and Frederick n. Berlin, NJ d. OF
1873 West Sixty-third street.
OTHERS HAVE DONE THE SAME.
NJ. III Grossman. OF the firm OF House,
Grossman IL Yoorhaus. said yesterday:
This firm has handled a number of
cases OF the kind II Is rapidly becoming
a regular custom for men who have
or separated from their wives
to disinherit them
1T has been my good fortune TO person
ally have charge OF several cases OF the
kind. The most important / conducted
was that of Stephen s. Stryker. He be-
longed 10 famous old Long Island fam
lily. Some years before his death he sep
arated from his wife. and, although he
died worth nearly a million dollars, he
left only $40 to his wife. The residue of
his estate went to other members OF the
family.
The widow contested the will. but at
the trial the relatives agreed TO settle the |
widows claims out OF court. / was Mrs. |
STRIKERS legal adviser, and as the |
amount offered was eminently satisfac- |
tory. the case did not come 10 trial
Another case OF the kind had charge |
Df was that OF w. j. Howells. He left an |
estate valued at $500 600. OF this but So |
100 was left to his widow. This legacy
was left with the proviso that In the
went OF the widow contesting the will IL
became null and void
est the will and forced the heirs to set
lie out OF court Mrs. Howells Is now liy-
ng in Europe on the income from the
money she obtained from her late hus-
ands estate"
FRIENDS EXPERIENCE
There are many cases OF husbands
wives" said Emanuel NJ.
Friend the lawyer yesterday. "A large
lIVrah Etak
Iotice and not few have been fought
" me. must say that yet have TO lose
he case OF disinherited widow
III the husband leaves any real estate
10 matter how his will reads. his lawful
widow is entitled TO a third of the prom
rty do not see why a husband has not
he right to do as he wishes with his
wn property. III he has quarreled with
nd does not live with his wife, there Ia
o reason in my opinion why he should
rovide for her after his. death.
There are" as / said before, "hun-
reds OF such cases. but they seldom
ONE TO trial. A trial generally means the
OF a family skeleton and the |
lembers OF the family concerned usually
refer to settle the case amicably out II
ourt."
SUFFERS CASE RECALLED.
The most recent case OF the kind IN
lis city Is that OF the late congressman
ermann Sulzer. He disinherited his
ife and children and A was only
trough court order the widow was al
wed 10 see the body OF her late hus- I
md. They had been separated for
ears. The Will ooes not even mention
ie widows pane.
Mrs. Sulzer on behalf OF herself and
miiy has decided TO contest the will.
ld the case. unless n settlement is
ached In the meantime. will be venti-
ted In the courts In the near future.